{"id":569,"date":"2025-10-08T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in4ride.com\/?p=569"},"modified":"2025-10-11T14:30:40","modified_gmt":"2025-10-11T14:30:40","slug":"volkswagen-group-africa-celebrates-3-millionth-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in4ride.com\/?p=569","title":{"rendered":"VOLKSWAGEN GROUP AFRICA CELEBRATES 3 MILLIONTH CAR"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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Kariega – For almost 75 years, the Volkswagen plant in Kariega has been home to many iconic vehicles \u2013 three million, in fact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The employees of Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) recently celebrated a significant milestone, as a smoky grey Polo Vivo became the 3-millionth car built for the South African market at Plant Kariega.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Though VWGA marks its birthday as 31 August 1951, the date on which the first Volkswagen (a Beetle) rolled off the production line, Plant Kariega has actually been manufacturing vehicles since November 1948. Under the umbrella of SAMAD (South African Motor Assemblers and Distributors), selected Studebaker and Austin models were built here before the first Volkswagens were added to the production line-up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The three million vehicles built to date also include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VW Beetle (1951 \u2013 1979)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VW Type 2 (1955 \u2013 2002)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VW Type 3 Sedan, Variant and Fastback (1963 \u2013 1969)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Audi Super 90 (1968 \u2013 1972)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VW Type 4 – 411 and 412 Sedan and Variant (1969 \u2013 1974)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Audi 100 (including Coupe S) to Audi A4 (1972 \u2013 2001)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Passat sedans, hatchbacks and station wagons (1974 \u2013 1987)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Audi 80 sedans and station wagons (1975 \u2013 1981)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VW Fleetline range, Kombi, Panel van, Pickup (1975 \u2013 1978)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Golf 1 to 5 (1978 \u2013 2009)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jetta 1 to 5 (1980 \u2013 2009)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VW Golf 1 Pickup (1980 \u2013 2007)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VW Citi Golf (1984 \u2013 2009)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VW Fox\/Trippa (1987 \u2013 1995)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VW Polo Classic (1996 \u2013 2002)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VW Polo Playa (1998 \u2013 2002)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VW Polo range including Cross Polo and Polo Vivo (2002 \u2013 2017)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VW Polo, including Polo Vivo and Polo GTI (2018 \u2013 current)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The milestone underlines the contribution of the Volkswagen plant to the local automotive market and economy. The plant currently builds the Polo, which is sold locally and was also the most exported car in South Africa in 2024, while the proudly South African Vivo has been the best-selling passenger car in the country since 2010. Both models were also honoured at the Naamsa Accelerator Awards held last weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis milestone affirms Volkswagen\u2019s legacy in Kariega and the South African market at large,\u201d says Ulrich Schwabe, Production Director at VWGA. \u201cThis plant has produced many icons over the past seven decades, including the Beetle, the Citi Golf and now the Vivo, and we intend to make our Tengo the next icon when we start manufacturing it in Kariega from 2027. Thank you to everyone who has played a part in shaping the history of our plant and achieving this momentous milestone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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STORY COURTESY OF VOLKSWAGEN GROUP AFRICA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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