Just shy of the 30-year anniversary of Polo production at Plant Kariega in 2026, Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) celebrated the production of their two millionth Polo.
The special milestone car, a smoky grey Polo which is destined for Australia, rolled off the production line earlier this month.
Plant Kariega started building the Polo in 1996, which was known as the Polo Classic. That year, around 5 460 units were produced. Since then, VWGA has been steadily producing Polos and has yielded four different generations of this model.
Out of the two million Polos built so far, 592 840 were made for the local market, while 1 407 160 were produced for export. In 2025 alone, Plant Kariega has already built 112 386 Polos, including 8 274 Polo GTIs.
This milestone underscores VWGA’s contribution to the local automotive market and economy. Since July 2024, plant Kariega has been the only Volkswagen plant exporting the Polo to Europe and the Asia-Pacific regions, reaching more than 30 countries, additionally the Polo was South Africa’s most exported car last year.
“It has been a year of milestones for Plant Kariega, but achieving this one is a very proud moment for the Home of Polo,” said Ulrich Schwabe, VWGA Production Director. “Contributing to the global success story of the Polo is a privilege for our team, and this is evident in the dedication of our employees, who have made this milestone possible.”