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Amid the Covid-19 pandemic and an ongoing semi-conductor shortage, Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) reached a momentous milestone, Tuesday, May 3, 2022, when the plant in Kariega built its 1-millionth Polo for export.
The plant has been building Polos since 1996 and began exporting Polo models in 2002. VWSA currently exports the Polo built in Kariega to 38 countries, building this vehicle for all right-hand-drive markets and supplementing production for left-hand-drive markets. The Kariega plant is also the sole manufacturer worldwide of the Polo GTI, and builds the popular Polo Vivo for the local market.
By the time the 1-millionth export Polo rolled off the line on 3 May, the plant had manufactured a total of 4 181 031 vehicles to date, of which 1 292 793 vehicles were built for export.
“Given the current climate, with the pandemic and the semi-conductor crisis, this milestone is an especially strong moment for VWSA,” said Robert Cisek, VWSA Chairman and Managing Director. “VWSA is the biggest private employer in Nelson Mandela Bay and a significant player when it comes to exports from this region. As a corporate citizen in Kariega and the Bay, and as the VWSA family, we are proud to have achieved this milestone and we look forward to the next million mark. I would like to thank every employee who has contributed to this achievement.”
