The Volkswagen Polo is now produced in South Africa
- In a previous Auto Analysis, we announced the end of production in Europe of the Volkswagen Polo (B-segment sedan) at the beginning of July 2024, while the car still found 136,000 customers last year on this market and 67,000 over the first half of 2024.
- The carmaker has announced that it wants to continue deliveries of the Polo but from its South African factory in Kariega (formerly Uitenhage) which already produces this model for the local market as well as for Europe but in reduced quantities.
- From now on, this factory founded in 1951, which produced 101,557 Polos in 2023 compared to 108,422 in 2019, will become the production site dedicated to the production of the Polo for all African and European markets.
- This site will therefore have to increase its production capacity to be able to absorb the annual sales of the Polo in Europe (which should gradually decline), in addition to the 50,000 annual sales made in South Africa.
- As for the Spanish plant in Pamplona where the Polo was assembled until now, it will continue to produce the B segment SUVs with thermal engine (Taigo and T-Cross) and will receive two new battery electric models in 2026: the SUV version of the future Volkswagen ID2 (perhaps named ID2 X) and its Skoda derivative known as Epiq. The Pamplona factory will therefore become a factory fully dedicated to SUVs from 2026. Remember that the future Volkswagen ID2 sedan (considered by VW as the real replacement for the Polo) will be assembled in Martorell (Spain), as for its Skoda and Cupra derivatives.