Volkswagen marks 75 years of building cars in South Africa

Quick Facts

• The first South African-built Volkswagen, a Beetle, rolled off the line in Uitenhage (now Kariega) on 31 August 1951.
• Plant Kariega has built nearly 40 models and more than 4.8 million vehicles to date, over three million of them for the local market.
• President Cyril Ramaphosa attended the 75th anniversary gala dinner on 31 August, where the upcoming Tengo was given its first showing.

For a third of the time there has been a Uitenhage, now Kariega, there has been a Volkswagen factory there. The Eastern Cape town was established in 1804, and for the past 75 years it has been the home of Volkswagen in South Africa.

The milestone dates back to 31 August 1951, when the first locally built Beetle rolled off the production line in Kariega.

The factory originally belonged to South African Motor Assemblers and Distributors (SAMAD), and its early production line-up included Studebaker and Austin models alongside the Beetle. From the moment that first Beetle appeared, it became an icon for South African motorists. The arrival of the Type 2, better known as the Kombi, in 1955 strengthened the brand’s popularity even further.

In 1956, Volkswagenwerk in Germany bought a controlling share in the factory, making it the company’s first plant outside Germany. SAMAD was renamed Volkswagen of South Africa in 1966, and in 1974 the factory became a wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG.

Over the decades, Plant Kariega has produced nearly 40 models, including the Beetle, Kombi, Golf, Audi, Citi Golf, Jetta, Polo and Polo Vivo. More than 4.8 million vehicles have left the production line, with over three million of them built for South African buyers.

Renamed Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) in 2025 to reflect its plans to expand across the continent, the company is currently the sole exporter of the Polo worldwide. Kariega also builds the Polo Vivo, South Africa’s best-selling passenger car, and will soon add a third model, the Tengo, to its line-up. VWGA also serves as headquarters for Region Africa, which includes assembly facilities in Kenya, Rwanda and Ghana.

Volkswagen’s South African story extends well beyond the production line. In the 1980s, the company trained black artisans at a time when segregation was enforced by law outside the factory gates. Working alongside figures such as John Gomomo, who became one of Volkswagen’s first shop stewards and later a Member of Parliament, these efforts laid the foundation for strong, ongoing union representation at the company.

Since 1994, Volkswagen has invested approximately R800 million in community projects through the VW Community Trust and various partnerships. During the Covid-19 pandemic in the early 2020s, it opened a field hospital and a vaccination centre and funded upgrades to the NHLS testing laboratory, among other initiatives.

To mark the anniversary, Volkswagen partnered with Mastertons Coffee and Tea Specialists, South Africa’s oldest coffee roasters, to produce a special-edition People’s Blend coffee.

A gala dinner was held on 31 August, with President Cyril Ramaphosa as the special guest. It was followed by a full-day employee event on 1 September, and both occasions offered a first look at the Tengo, the new model to be built in Kariega for South African and African markets.

“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.”

“Volkswagen has never been content simply to do business in South Africa. It has sought to become part of the fabric of our nation. We celebrate this proud history. We celebrate generations of Volkswagen employees who have built this company.

We celebrate the suppliers, dealers, organised labour and communities that have been part of this journey, and we celebrate the contribution that Volkswagen has made to Kariega, Nelson Mandela Bay, the Eastern Cape and the South African economy.”

“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.

Thomas Schaefer, CEO of the Volkswagen brand globally and former Managing Director of Volkswagen Group South Africa, also reflected on the plant’s significance.

“Kariega has secured its place in the Volkswagen world over the past 75 years,” said Schaefer. “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.”

“At the same time, Kariega demonstrates a simple truth: global success is not created at headquarters. It is built by strong teams, strong locations and strong local roots. South Africa is far more than a manufacturing base for Volkswagen. It is the strategic anchor for our business in Africa and an important part of our global success story.”

“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.”

Seventy-five years on, there has never been a better time to experience a locally built icon. Get in touch today to explore the range and book your test drive.