From record production volumes to strong export performance, Volkswagen Group Africa’s (VWGA) first year as the Home of Polo has been a year of achievement.
Though VWGA’s Plant Kariega has been building the Polo since 1996 and the Polo Vivo since 2010, it has only been the self-proclaimed Home of Polo since 1 July 2024. This was when the plant officially became the sole exporter (for left- and right-hand drive European and Asia-Pacific markets) of the Polo in the Volkswagen Group, sending this hatchback to 38 markets around the world.
In fact, Polos account for 88% of exported vehicles through the port of Port Elizabeth. Between July 2024 and June 2025, 119 336 Polos were exported from Kariega to Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Of these, the biggest receivers of Polos were Germany, France and the United Kingdom. On top of this, the Polo was South Africa’s most exported vehicle in 2024.
During this same 12-month period, the plant celebrated a record production volume. A total of 167 084 vehicles were built in Kariega in 2024, of which 131 485 units were Polos for export, and 35 599 vehicles were Polos and Polo Vivos for the local market. A record-breaking 13 930 Polos were built in October 2024 alone.
The Polo also performed strongly in the local market last year, selling 12 253 units and being named the Top Locally Manufactured Vehicle of the Year at the Naamsa Accelerator Awards in October 2024.
“The Polo is unquestionably an icon, and we are proud to call Plant Kariega its home,” says Ulrich Schwabe, Production Director at VWGA. “Our first year as the sole exporter of the Polo was certainly a strong one, and we plan to build on the foundation of this success continuously and consistently, with the Polo, Vivo and our upcoming third model, the Tengo.”
Hyundai Automotive South Africa officially opened Hyundai Midrand, a new dealership aimed at strengthening the brand’s presence in Gauteng and responding to growing customer demand in one of the province’s fastest-growing commercial corridors.
The compact SUV market in South Africa has gained a new contender with the arrival of the GAC Emzoom Nova. It joins the existing Emzoom Executive and Emzoom R‑Style models, broadening the range offered by Salvador Caetano South Africa, the official distributor of GAC Motor.
Chinese vehicle brand Changan has strengthened its South African retail presence with the opening of a new flagship dealership in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal, as the company pushes ahead with plans to establish about 45 dealerships nationally during 2026.
Advertisement
Advertisement
You can't buy happiness but you can buy cars and that's kind of the same thing.
Unknown
A South African dealership has been instructed to remove or amend an advertisement for a new Jetour T2 after the Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB) ruled that the listing created the impression that a specific vehicle was immediately available for purchase when it was not.
If you were hoping to experience the roaring streets of the Isle of Man TT in 2026, you are already too late. This event, with practice sessions starting on 25 May 2026 and racing commencing on the 30th, requires at least six to twelve months of planning, along with a substantial budget.
Pinewood.AI has added two new embedded modules to its Business Intelligence Solution, giving dealers and OEMs greater insight into financial performance and the customer journey, it says.
