Since 2002, Volkswagen’s Kariega plant in the Eastern Cape has been producing the Volkswagen Polo for export to 38 countries. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing semi-conductor shortage, Volkswagen Group SA has reached an astonishing milestone, that being the 1-millionth Polo to roll off the production line for export.
Since 1996, the Kariega plant has been manufacturing Polos and the first export units rolled off the line in 2002. The majority of Polo’s exported are right-hand drive units, with some left-hand drive units being exported to supplement those markets, too. Impressively, the Polo GTI is manufactured exclusively at the Kariega plant, for the world, and the venerable Polo Vivo is built there for the local market, too.
In total, the impressive facility has manufactured 4 181 031 vehicles to date, of which 1 292 793 were destined for export markets.
Of this milestone, Robert Cisek, VWSA Chairman and Managing Director said, “Given the current climate, with the pandemic and the semi-conductor crisis, this milestone is an especially strong moment for VWSA,”
VWSA is the biggest private employer in Nelson Mandela Bay and a significant player when it comes to exports from this region. As a corporate citizen in Kariega and the Bay, and as the VWSA family, we are proud to have achieved this milestone and we look forward to the next million mark. I would like to thank every employee who has contributed to this achievement.”
