Volkswagen celebrates 2-million Polos built in Plant Kariega
Just shy of commemorating the 30-year anniversary of Polo production at its Kariega plant, in the Eastern Cape, in 2026, Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) celebrated the production of its two-millionth Polo.
The special milestone car, a smoky grey Polo which is manufactured for export to Australia, rolled off the production line earlier this month.
This achievement underscores VWGA’s contribution to the local automotive market and the South African economy, as the Polo was the country’s most exported car last year.
The Kariega plant started building the Polo Classic in 1996, producing about 5 460 units that year. Since then, VWGA has been steadily producing Polos and has yielded four different generations of this model.
Most of the two-million Polos built (1 407 160) at the plant were produced for export, with 592 840 made for the local market. In 2025 alone, the Kariega plant has already built 112 386 Polos, including 8 274 Polo GTIs.
Since July 2024, plant Kariega has been the only Volkswagen plant exporting the Polo to Europe and the Asia-Pacific regions, reaching more than 30 countries.
“It has been a year of milestones for the Kariega plant, but achieving this one is a very proud moment for the home of Polo. Contributing to the global success story of the Polo is a privilege for our team, and this is evident in the dedication of our employees, who have made this milestone possible,” says VWGA production director Ulrich Schwabe.
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