The Polo is South Africa's most prolifically produced vehicle at the moment.
The Volkswagen Polo is one of South Africa’s export heroes, and last month it helped set a production record at the local plant in Kariega in the Eastern Cape.
In July, the VWSA plant produced 17,009 vehicles, beating its previous record of 16,670 units set in July 2025. This is likely also the highest number of vehicles ever produced by a single South African manufacturer in a month .
To put that number into context, that is more vehicles than the plant produced each year during the first 15 years of its existence, from 1948 until 1963, when it churned out Studebakers, Austins and, of course, the evergreen Beetle. In fact, in its first full year, the plant produced just 977 units.
Since opening its doors 78 years ago, the Kariega, formerly Uitenhage, plant has produced a total of 4,836,371 vehicles, comprising 40 different vehicle models.
