Kariega plant reaches one million mark for Polo production

The vehicle marking the occasion is a smoky grey Polo GTI with right-hand drive, built for the South African market.

Production of the current-generation Polo began at the Kariega plant in 2017 and the model has since become a key part of VWGA’s output. Of the total produced, 86% have been exported to international destinations such as Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, while 14% have been sold locally.

Over the last 75 years, the Kariega plant has manufactured 4 803 424 vehicles, with the current-generation Polo contributing almost 21% of that total. It also makes up 48% of every Polo ever built at the plant, highlighting the model’s lasting value to the company.

VWGA first began building the Polo in 1996 and has since assembled four generations of the vehicle in Kariega.

The plant now operates as the only global production and export centre for the Polo, supplying 38 countries across Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Among these, Germany and the United Kingdom stand out as the leading export destinations for the South African-produced model.

The milestone comes at a notable time for VWGA, which is marking both 75 years of vehicle manufacturing in South Africa and 30 years of Polo production at the Kariega site.

Urich Schwabe, Production Director at Volkswagen Group Africa, said the achievement reflects the dedication of the company’s workforce and the reputation for quality built over many years. He noted that reaching one million units demonstrates the confidence placed in South African manufacturing and confirms the Polo’s status as one of the plant’s most successful models.