Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) is marking a double milestone in 2026, celebrating 75 years in South Africa and 30 years of Polo production at its Kariega plant in the Eastern Cape.
These anniversaries highlight the enduring success of both the company and one of its most iconic models.
The Polo story began in 1996 with the launch of the Polo Classic, a four-door saloon that bridged the gap between the Citi Golf and the Jetta/Golf ranges. In its first year, 5 460 units rolled off the production line, quickly winning favour among South Africans.
The hatchback version followed in 1998, cementing the Polo’s place in the market. By 2003, the updated Polo Classic had won the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists “Car of the Year” award, with the Polo later sharing the same accolade in 2011.
Since then, Plant Kariega has produced four generations of the Polo, with the latest model in production since 2021. In 2024, the plant became the sole manufacturer and exporter of the Polo for Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, supplying vehicles to 38 countries.
That year, VWGA achieved its highest-ever production record of 167 084 vehicles, including 131 485 Polos exported and 35 599 Polos and Polo Vivos sold locally. The Polo GTI, a high-performance variant, is also built at Kariega.
By the end of 2025, more than two million Polos had been produced in Kariega, with 595 043 sold in South Africa and 1 421 960 exported. On average, it takes three days and nearly 2 000 sets of hands to assemble one Polo, made up of around 1 400 individual parts.
“Reaching 75 years in South Africa and 30 years of Polo production is not only a proud milestone for our company, but also for our Kariega plant and our employees,” says Ulrich Schwabe, VWGA Production Director. “Their dedication and passion have been the driving force behind the Polo’s success both locally and internationally.”
