Inaugural Volkswagen Indaba Serves as Preview of Product Offensive in 2024

Volkswagen recently hosted the inaugural “Volkswagen Indaba” media day at its Eastern Cape facility, shedding light on its 2023 milestones and outlining ambitious projections for 2024.

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Last year marked significant achievements for the company – notably the production milestone of the 100 000th unit of the current-generation VW Polo on the 1st of March. Additionally, Volkswagen saw a production increase, manufacturing 140 430 vehicles, which was a total that surpassed the previous year’s output by 7 182 units. Notably, the T-Cross emerged as Volkswagen’s top-selling imported vehicle, while the Polo Vivo retained its status as the best-selling locally manufactured model in the passenger vehicle segment.

Looking forward and becoming more continent-centric, Volkswagen South Africa is rebranding as Volkswagen Group Africa, reflecting a strategic shift towards inclusivity and recognizing Africa as a pivotal frontier for automotive growth. With ambitions to expand its footprint across the continent, Volkswagen underscores its commitment to Africa’s burgeoning automotive market. It’s worth noting that Africa now stands as Volkswagen Group’s fifth region, joining the ranks of Europe, Asia, North America, and South America.

A significant development for 2024 is the Kariega plant’s role as the exclusive manufacturer of the Volkswagen Polo. Chairperson and Managing Director, Martina Biene, outlined plans to ramp up Polo production to 150 000 units this year, catering to both local and export markets. This increase of approximately 10 000 units from the previous year underscores Volkswagen’s commitment to meeting the growing demand for the popular hatchback. Notably, over 70% of locally produced Polos are destined for export markets, with production slated to continue until around 2029. However, the Kariega-built Polo will exclude the Chinese market from its export destinations.

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The media day provided attendees with a comprehensive tour of the facility, offering insights from Volkswagen’s product and engineering teams, as well as the quality assurance team. This firsthand