Triton brings the challenge to competitors
The bakkie war has intensified with the local launch of Mitsubishi’s next-generation Triton, an evolution in the iconic bakkie’s 46-year legacy.
- Product News
- 21 November 2024
More than 4 million vehicles and 7 decades later… this is the story of Volkswagen South Africa’s manufacturing plant in Kariega.
The first Volksie rolled off the assembly line on 31 August 1951 and today the plant is part of VW’s global manufacturing structure.
The story of VWSA, a company that is currently a market leader and the largest private employer in Nelson Mandela Bay with over 4 000 employees, has included many achievements and milestones along the way.
Aside from the vehicles imported for the local market, the plant in Kariega has manufactured many iconic vehicles, including the Volkswagen Beetle, the Type 2 Kombi, various Audi models, the Golf (including Citi Golf), the Polo range and the Polo Vivo. The plant also began manufacturing the latest facelift of the Volkswagen Polo this month.
The plant has manufactured over 4 million vehicles, having reached the 4-million mark in November 2020. VWSA has been the sole manufacturer of all new right-hand-drive Polo hatchbacks since 2010 and is the exclusive manufacturer of the flagship Polo GTI.
VWSA also achieved a record production year in 2019, when the plant manufactured 161 954 vehicles. Another milestone achievement came in 2020, when the Volkswagen brand in South Africa achieved a local market share of 21.6% - the highest in the history of VWSA and the highest market share for Volkswagen worldwide last year.
The sub-Saharan Africa region is a crucial part of the VWSA story. This region officially became a part of VWSA in March 2017, only three months after Volkswagen opened its vehicle assembly facility in Kenya. Since then, the brand has established assembly facilities in Rwanda (in 2018) and Ghana (in 2020).
Outside of the plant, VWSA has also demonstrated its continuous commitment to the communities of Nelson Mandela Bay and other parts of the country. The Volkswagen Community Trust, which was established in 1989, has invested R268 million to date to empower communities in the fields of education and youth development.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company has offered its support to local communities. This has included the establishment of a temporary COVID-19 field hospital, assisting the National Health Laboratory Service to upgrade and optimise its Gqeberha branch, and various donations in support of non-profit organisations and schools since March 2020.
“To reflect on a history that spans seven decades of hard work and excellence is an immense task,” said Dr Robert Cisek, VWSA Chairman and Managing Director. “Though I have only been part of the VWSA story for just over a year, I have been incredibly proud to be associated with this organisation – and we have seven decades of exceptional employees to thank for the reputation we are honoured to have today. I would like to congratulate all members of the VWSA family for their part in this milestone.”
The bakkie war has intensified with the local launch of Mitsubishi’s next-generation Triton, an evolution in the iconic bakkie’s 46-year legacy.
Unlike in the past, when dealerships primarily waited for customers to come to them, we now take a more proactive approach, bringing our vehicles directly to places where people gather, allowing them to experience the product first-hand, including offering test drives,” says Gerrie van der Kaay, Dealer Principal at Supergroup Dealerships Jetour Midrand.
JAC Motors added ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) to its X200 2.8L TDI 1.5-tonne single-cab, enhancing safety for both the crew and cargo. This latest upgrade complements the ABS-equipped X200 1.3-tonne double-cab targeted at organisations with labour-intensive crews.
Advertisement
Advertisement
I always do like seeing other people dance in their cars. It's one of the things that makes me happy.
Ariel Gore
Leading used car trader, WeBuyCars, which listed on the JSE in April this year, is expanding its business focus to include third party sales and is rapidly expanding its vehicle supermarket and buying pods presence in South Africa.
The Isuzu Foundation, in collaboration with IRONMAN4theKidz, donated R250 000 to three Mossel Bay charities dedicated to uplifting vulnerable youth, families and individuals in need.
Hino South Africa has handed over four mobile offices to the Gauteng Government Roads and Transport Department, which are to be used as Smart Driving Licensing Testing Centres by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC).