Volkswagen has marked 75 years of vehicle production and sales in South Africa with a gala event in Kariega attended by President Cyril Ramaphosa, while also revealing the new Volkswagen Tengo, the third model to be built at the local plant. The Tengo will be produced for the South African and wider markets.
The milestone marks three quarters of a century since the first Volkswagen Beetle rolled off the production line at the plant on 31 August 1951. The factory, then operated by South African Motor Assemblers and Distributors (SAMAD), also produced Studebaker and Austin models.
For a third of the time there has been a Uitenhage, now Kariega, there has been Volkswagen in the town. Established in 1804, Uitenhage has been home to the Volkswagen operation for 75 years, during which the company has built a significant manufacturing operation in South Africa.
The Beetle quickly became established among South African motorists, followed by the Type 2, better known as the Kombi, in 1955.
In 1956, Volkswagenwerk in Germany acquired a controlling share in the factory, making it the company's first plant outside Germany. The operation was renamed Volkswagen of South Africa in 1966 before becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG in 1974.
Over the years, the Kariega plant has produced almost 40 models, including the Beetle, Kombi, Golf, Audi models, Citi Golf, Jetta, Polo and Polo Vivo. More than 4.8 million vehicles have been produced at the plant, with more than three million sold into the local market.
The company was renamed Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) in 2025 as part of its plans to expand its activities across the continent. The Kariega operation currently produces the Polo, which is exported worldwide, as well as the Polo Vivo, South Africa's best-selling passenger car. The Tengo will become the third model in the plant's current production line up.
President Ramaphosa, who attended the 75th anniversary gala dinner as the special guest, referred to Volkswagen's long presence in South Africa in his keynote address.
“Like me, many South Africans carry memories of the place of Volkswagen cars in their lives,” the President said in his keynote address. “This brand is so woven into our culture that we sometimes have to remind ourselves that Volkswagen is not a South African vehicle.”
He added: “Volkswagen has never been content simply to do business in South Africa. It has sought to become part of the fabric of our nation. We celebrate this proud history. We celebrate generations of Volkswagen employees who have built this company.
“We celebrate the suppliers, dealers, organised labour and communities that have been part of this journey, and we celebrate the contribution that Volkswagen has made to Kariega, Nelson Mandela Bay, the Eastern Cape and the South African economy.”
The company also highlighted its involvement in skills development and community initiatives. During the 1980s it trained black artisans at a time when segregation was enforced by law outside the factory. Since 1994, approximately R800 million has been invested in community projects through the Volkswagen Community Trust and other projects and partnerships.
VWGA Chairperson and Managing Director Martina Biene said the company intended to use its South African base as a platform for its wider African operations.
“Our roots run deep in this town and in the Eastern Cape, and from this foundation we intend to build a future for Volkswagen across the African continent,” said Biene.
Volkswagen brand CEO Thomas Schaefer, a former Managing Director of Volkswagen Group South Africa, also attended the event.
“Kariega has secured its place in the Volkswagen world over the past 75 years,” said Schaefer. “Generations of employees have built vehicles here that have won the trust of customers in South Africa and far beyond. The plant stands for quality, competitiveness and a clear commitment to performance.”
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