For more than 70 years Volkswagen vehicles have traversed the roads of South Africa and have become one of the most loved vehicle brands in the country.
Its heritage remains proudly preserved at the Volkswagen AutoPavilion in Kariega. This quaint town, formerly known as Uitenhage, is the second oldest town in the Eastern Cape and is home to Volkswagen Group South Africa’s (VWSA) manufacturing plant where the first Volkswagen Beetle rolled off the production line at the end of August 1951.
More than 40 classics are displayed inside the AutoPavilion museum, with the oldest being a 1938 DKW F5 Reichklasse.
The Volkswagen AutoPavilion is open to the public and offers plant tours where visitors have the opportunity to experience the production of two of South Africa’s most popular vehicles, the Polo and the Polo Vivo.
Open five days a week, the Volkswagen AutoPavilion has welcomed more than 14 000 visitors this year (as at the end of August).
Andile Dlamini, Head of VWSA Communications, said visitors come from across the country to view the museum and to experience the motoring entertainment on offer at the AutoPavilion.
“The museum is dedicated to preserving and showcasing an impressive array of our classic and iconic cars, which were assembled at our Kariega plant over the past seven decades. Many young children and school groups visit our facility to learn about the evolution of the automotive industry,” said Dlamini.
He added that visitors to the AutoPavilion also gain insight into the craftsmanship and engineering behind these remarkable vehicles and learn about the contribution of Volkswagen to the local automotive industry.
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Geely Auto has been recognised in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2026 (Global), marking a significant milestone for the brand’s global sustainability efforts and the first and only Chinese vehicle manufacturer to make the list.
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You can't buy happiness but you can buy cars and that's kind of the same thing.
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Geely Auto has been recognised in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2026 (Global), marking a significant milestone for the brand’s global sustainability efforts and the first and only Chinese vehicle manufacturer to make the list.
Volkswagen Motorsport driver Jonathan Mogotsi has earned his Nürburgring Permit A ‘Ring Licence’ to qualify to race in the legendary circuit’s 24-Hour from 18 – 19 May 2026.
While the decision to keep the repo rate unchanged offers a degree of short-term stability, if current global events continue for the long term, the prospects for a prolonged high-interest rate environment will place significant pressure on consumer affordability and, in turn, vehicle retail activity.
