Scheduled to launch in South Africa in 2027, local production of the Volkswagen Tengo has kicked off at Plant Kariega in the Eastern Cape.
Production of the Volkswagen Tengo, of which we’ve had an exclusive first look ahead of its local launch in 2027, has officially kicked off at Plant Kariega. As a reminder, the Eastern Cape-based facility also produces the Polo hatchback and Polo Vivo, thus making the Tengo the third modern Volkswagen product built at Plant Kariega.
The Tengo shares its MQB architecture with the Polo hatch, allowing it to use up to 75% of the latter’s componentry. The new entry point to Volkswagen’s T SUV lineup will be available with the choice of two petrol powertrains: 1.6-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder sourced from Brazil and the German marque’s proven 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder. A six-speed automatic is on offer across the three-strong range – which comprises Tengo, Life, and Style trims – with the entry and mid-tier variants also featuring a five-speed manual transmission option.
- Also read: Crossing the T’s: 2027 Volkswagen Tengo
Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) has placed considerable emphasis on the Tengo being as much of an African product as possible. This stretches to the extent that its name, chosen through a naming competition in 2024, means “strength”, “resilience”, and “purpose” in multiple African languages. In addition, approximately 45% of its components is sourced from local suppliers. While the Tengo shares similarities with the Brazilian market’s Tera, there are several key differences differentiating the two for their respective markets.
Said Christiane Zorn, VWGA Chairperson and Managing Director, “The VWGA team has showed exactly what we are capable of, and they can be incredibly proud of this phenomenal achievement. I also want to thank our suppliers, dealers, stakeholders and loyal fans who are part of this journey. I hope our customers are ready for this iconic vehicle, built in Africa and for Africa.”
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