Volkswagen Polo production has ceased in Europe after 40 years. Now this car will be manufactured in South Africa. Let us know its details.
The Volkswagen Polo has been in production since 1975. This car is a popular choice in many markets across the world. In 2023, the Volkswagen Polo was ranked 20th in the list of the 50 best-selling cars in the world. The VW Polo was also a preferred option in India, but it was discontinued in 2022. Today, its production has been stopped in European countries as well. Its production has been stopped in Europe after 40 years.
European car brands are facing major challenges due to low demand and the availability of cheaper alternatives from Asian brands. If Volkswagen is planning a comeback, it needs to take some major steps. The decision to move Polo production to South Africa could be part of a global strategy.
For the past four decades, the Volkswagen Polo has been manufactured at the Pamplona plant in Spain. It has been decided to completely stop Polo production in Spain. The Polo will now be manufactured exclusively at the Kariga plant in South Africa.
It is worth noting, however, that the Spanish factory remains operational. It will be modernized to support the production of two new small electric cars. Other models such as the T-Cross and Taigo will be manufactured at the Pamplona plant in Spain.
Polo shirt sales to continue in Europe
Manufacturing is now being moved to South Africa. Polo will be available in European markets. Even though the Volkswagen Polo has left its peak of popularity behind. For example, more than 90,000 units were sold in Europe in the first 8 months of 2024. This makes the Polo the 8th best-selling car in Europe. Polo still generates significant revenue. However, it is unlikely that Volkswagen will withdraw the sedan from Europe or other markets.
The cumulative production of the Volkswagen Polo at the production plant in Spain amounts to more than 8.4 million units. However, other Volkswagen models such as the T-Roc are selling much better. It may be necessary to move the production of the Polo to South Africa to reduce production costs.
two new EVs
The production capacity freed up by Polo at the Spanish plant will be used to manufacture two new small electric SUVs. One of them will be branded Volkswagen, while the other will be a Skoda variant. These new electric SUVs will be based on the MEB platform and will use a front-wheel drive layout.