VOLKSWAGEN celebrated a major milestone on 31 August, marking 75 years of building and selling Volkswagens in South Africa.
The German automaker built its first Beetle at its Kariega factory in 1951. The plant was known as Uitenhage, before later renamed Kariega.
At the time, the factory was owned by South African Motor Assemblers and Distributors (SAMAD). From the moment the first Beetle rolled off the production line on 31 August 1951, it became an icon in the minds of South African customers.
The introduction of the Type 2, better known as the Kombi, in 1955 further cemented Volkswagen’s popularity in the local market.
In 1956, Volkswagenwerk in Germany acquired a controlling share in the factory, making it the company’s first manufacturing plant outside Germany. The SAMAD factory was renamed Volkswagen of South Africa in 1966, and in 1974 the factory became a wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG.
To date, Plant Kariega has manufactured nearly 40 models, including the Beetle, Kombi, Golf, Audi, Citi Golf, Jetta, Polo and Polo Vivo.
More than 4.8 million vehicles have rolled off the production line, with over three million built for the local market.
The company was renamed Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) in 2025, reflecting its plans to expand its operations across the African continent. It is currently the sole producer and exporter of the Polo worldwide.
Plant Kariega also produces South Africa’s best-selling passenger car, the Polo Vivo, and will soon add a third model, the Tengo, to its production line-up.
In addition, VWGA serves as the headquarters for Region Africa, which includes assembly facilities in Kenya, Rwanda and Ghana.
To celebrate its 75th anniversary, the company partnered with Mastertons Coffee and Tea Specialists, South Africa’s oldest coffee roasters, to produce a special-edition People’s Blend coffee.
The milestone was also marked by a gala dinner, with President Cyril Ramaphosa as a special guest.
“Like me, many South Africans carry memories of the place of Volkswagen cars in their lives,” the President said in his keynote address. “This brand is so woven into our culture that we sometimes have to remind ourselves that Volkswagen is not a South African vehicle.”
The gala event was followed by a full-day celebration for employees on 1 September. Both events included a first look at the Tengo, the new model set to be built in Kariega for the South African and wider African markets.
“Our roots run deep in this town and in the Eastern Cape, and from this foundation we intend to build a future for Volkswagen across the African continent,” said Martina Biene, VWGA Chairperson and Managing Director.
“As the second-oldest vehicle brand in South Africa, there are not many companies that can say they have been operating in one place and delivering quality products for 75 years, and we are only able to make this claim because we have had a long history of dedicated employees building not just vehicles, but a legacy for our brand and company,” added Biene.
“I am deeply grateful to our employees, past and present, our customers, suppliers, dealers, government stakeholders and Volkswagen fans, for how they have shaped our journey in South Africa so far,” concluded Biene.
“As we celebrate this milestone, we look ahead with confidence, determined to build on this foundation, develop skills and deliver world-class products for customers across Africa and around the globe,” said Thomas Schaefer, CEO of the Volkswagen brand globally and former Managing Director of Volkswagen Group South Africa.
“Generations of employees have built vehicles here that have won the trust of customers in South Africa and far beyond. The plant stands for quality, competitiveness and a clear commitment to performance.”
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