Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA)-South Africa, has achieved a remarkable milestone in its export performance for 2024, setting a new record with 131,485 vehicles exported.
This impressive feat underscores the company’s commitment to expanding its global footprint and catering to the growing demand for VW vehicles in international markets, especially the popular Polo editions for Europe and Asia Pacific with Plant Kariega as the sole exporter.
On top of ending last year with its best-ever export performance, Kaiega Plant also achieved a new record in terms of production volume for in 2024.
The company’s plant in Kariega, which has been exporting vehicles since 1992 and manufacturing Polos since 1996, exported 131,485 units of this popular vehicle in 2024. This is a strong increase from the previous export record, set at 108,422 vehicles in 2019.
As of July 2024, VWGA is the sole exporter of the Polo for European and Asian Pacific markets, delivering this model to 38 countries. Overall, these Polos accounted for 88 percent of exported vehicles through the Port of Port Elizabeth last year.
The Polo also performed strongly in the local market in 2024, selling 12,253 units and garnering a fourth position in the segment, while the locally-built Polo Vivo claimed the top spot in the segment with 25,914 units sold.
On top of this, both vehicles performed well at the Naamsa Accelerator Awards in October 2024: the Volkswagen Polo was named the ‘Top Locally Manufactured Vehicle of the Year’ and the ‘Top Exported Vehicle of the Year,’ while the Vivo landed the coveted ‘Passenger Car of the Year’ award.
The strong position of the Polo locally and abroad sets Volkswagen Group Africa for a good year, just in time for the 50th anniversary of this beloved car. Since 1975, more than 20 million Polos spanning six generations of the vehicle have been sold worldwide, and the Polo is considered one of the most successful models in its class.
VWGA Chairperson and Managing Director, Martina Biene, touching on the 2024 performance said: “What a privilege for Plant Kariega to be a part of the history of this fantastic car. We love the Polo as much as our customers do, if not more – and as the Home of Polo we will proudly continue building and sending this vehicle to the world.”
Additionally, she said: “The success of the Polo, both locally and internationally, is testament to what an icon this vehicle is. I want to thank every employee for their contribution to that success in 2024; with a team like the Volkswagen Group Africa family, I am confident that 2025 will be a year of achievements as well.”
Furthermore, a statement by the company signed by the its Head, Group Communications, Andile Dlamini, highlighted that VWGA has officially taken over the local retail operations of the Ducati Brand in South Africa, effective 1 January 2025.
The announcement of Ducati as the fourth brand in VWGA’s brand portfolio in South Africa was made at the annual media event hosted in Kariega.
The addition of Ducati diversifies VWGA’s brand portfolio which includes Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Audi and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
VWGA is planning to grow the Ducati brand, and broadened the client reach through integrating the Ducati brand into three dealer sites, which will be located in Gauteng, Western Cape and KwaZulu Natal.
The current approved retailer in Gauteng has been retained for the region. A new retailer in Cape Town, which is an existing Audi dealer, has been appointed. The plans are in progress to appoint a retailer in Durban for KZN.
