Edited: Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) is celebrating 75 years of operation in South Africa in grand style on Monday evening next week in Nelson Mandela Bay in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.
And at the this grand event Volkswagen will officially unveil a new vehicle model to be built at the Kariega plant, demonstrating its commitment to local manufacturing and future growth. The theme of the event is: “A Legacy in Motion: Honouring the past, celebrating today, driving tomorrow.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the keynote address at the 75th Anniversary Gala Dinner at the Volkswagen Plant in Kariega (fornerly known as Uitenhage), in Nelson Mandela Bay, Eastern Cape. The celebration will commemorate the company’s longstanding contribution to the country’s automotive industry, economy, skills development and communities.
The first Volkswagen Beetle to roll out in South Africa occurred on 31 August 1951 at the Kariega plant. The plant was originally established in 1946 by South African Motor Assemblers and Distributors (SAMAD) for the local assembly of Studebaker cars and commercial vehicles.
Since 2010, the company has invested more than R13 billion in its facilities in South Africa, while its Corporate Social Investment investment since 1994 totals more than R800 million. Volkswagen Group Africa employs about 3600 people and supports 1440 suppliers, with its wider operations estimated to support about 50 000 indirect jobs.
During the past 75 years, the Kariega plant produced nearly 40 different models and built more than 4.8 million vehicles, of which more than three million were produced for the local market. Today, Volkswagen Group Africa’s Kariega plant is the sole manufacturer of the Volkswagen Polo worldwide, exporting the model to 38 countries, while also manufacturing the Polo Vivo for the local market.
Volkswagen Group Africa also established a growing footprint on the African continent, with assembly facilities in Kenya, Rwanda and Ghana. The company remains a significant contributor to South Africa’s automotive manufacturing sector and to the economy of the Nelson Mandela Bay region.
The 75th Anniversary Gala event will reflect on Volkswagen’s journey and contribution to South Africa’s automotive industry, economy and communities. It will honour past employees, partners, dealers, suppliers and customers who shaped the company’s legacy.
It will also highlight key milestones and achievements over the past 75 years. Plus, the celebration will provide an opportunity to reflect on the state of the local automotive industry, including industry challenges, competitiveness, policy requirements and the future of manufacturing in South Africa.
And the event will further showcase Volkswagen’s expanding footprint across Africa with its strategy to develop sustainable automotive ecosystems and strengthen mobility solutions across the continent.
St Francis Chronicle 