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Volkswagen South Africa Uitenhage Plant

Africa's most advanced automotive manufacturing plant — producing the Polo for the world.

Explainer film in production
§ 01About the project

Volkswagen South Africa (VWSA) operates one of Africa's most advanced automotive manufacturing plants in Kariega (formerly Uitenhage), Eastern Cape. Established in 1946, the plant has evolved into a major global export hub, producing the Volkswagen Polo and Polo Vivo for both domestic and international markets. The facility includes a full body shop, paint shop, and assembly line, and was selected as the sole producer of the right-hand-drive Polo for global markets. Under South Africa's Automotive Production and Development Programme (APDP), VWSA has invested billions of rand in modernising the plant, which exports approximately 70% of its production to over 30 countries.

§ 02What it aims to do
  1. 01Manufacture over 160,000 vehicles per year for domestic sale and export to global markets
  2. 02Serve as the global production hub for right-hand-drive Volkswagen Polo models
  3. 03Maximise local content and develop the Eastern Cape automotive supplier ecosystem
  4. 04Contribute to South Africa's automotive sector which targets 1% of global production by 2035
  5. 05Maintain world-class quality standards matching VW Group's global benchmarks
  6. 06Train and employ thousands of South Africans in advanced manufacturing
§ 03Milestones

  1. 1946 · completed

    Plant Established

    South African Motor Assemblers and Distributors (SAMAD) begins assembling Volkswagen vehicles in Uitenhage, marking the start of VW manufacturing in Africa.

  2. 1999 · completed

    Citi Golf Success

    The plant's Citi Golf becomes South Africa's best-selling vehicle, demonstrating the market strength of locally produced affordable cars.

  3. 2010 · completed

    New Polo Production Launch

    VWSA launches production of the new-generation Polo and Polo Vivo, marking a major investment in retooling. The plant becomes a key export hub for right-hand-drive markets.

  4. 2018 · completed

    R6.5 Billion Investment Announced

    VWSA announces a R6.5 billion investment to upgrade the plant for production of the latest Polo model, including a new paint shop and body shop modernisation.

  5. 2022 · completed

    Millionth Polo Exported

    The plant celebrates exporting its millionth Polo, cementing its status as one of VW Group's key global production sites for the model.

  6. 2025 · in progress

    Next-Generation Model Preparation

    VWSA prepares for the transition to next-generation models with ongoing investment in plant modernisation and supplier development.

§ 04Engineering & resources

Manufacturing

Body Shop

Highly automated body shop with over 600 robots performing spot welding, MIG/MAG welding, adhesive bonding, and component assembly.

Manufacturing

Paint Shop

State-of-the-art paint facility applying cathodic dip coating, primer, basecoat, and clearcoat. Uses water-based paints for environmental compliance.

Manufacturing

Assembly Hall

Final assembly line integrating powertrain, interior, chassis, and electrical systems. Produces over 700 vehicles per day at peak.

Supply Chain

Supplier Park

Cluster of Tier 1 suppliers located near the plant providing seats, dashboards, exhaust systems, and other components on a just-in-sequence basis.

Logistics

Port Elizabeth Harbour

Vehicles for export are shipped through nearby Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) harbour to over 30 countries worldwide.

  • Automated body shop with over 600 robots for welding, sealing, and material handling
  • Advanced paint shop with cathodic dip coating, primer surfacer, basecoat, and clearcoat application
  • Fully integrated assembly line with just-in-sequence parts delivery from local and international suppliers
  • Laser quality measurement systems for body-in-white dimensional accuracy verification
  • Water-based paint technology and regenerative thermal oxidisers for environmental compliance
  • Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems integrated with VW Group's global production network

What it means for the community

VWSA is the largest private sector employer in the Eastern Cape, directly employing over 4,000 people with approximately 11,000 indirect jobs in the supplier network. The plant contributes over R30 billion annually to South Africa's manufacturing GDP and accounts for a significant share of the country's automotive exports. VWSA has been instrumental in developing the Nelson Mandela Bay region as one of Africa's premier automotive manufacturing hubs alongside BMW, Ford, and General Motors operations in the area.

§ 05Articles

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§ 06Partners & owners
  • Volkswagen Group South Africa (Pty) Ltd

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