Volkswagen Unveils Tengo as Kariega Plant Celebrates 75 Years of Production

Volkswagen Unveils Tengo as Kariega Plant Celebrates 75 Years of Production. Volkswagen has unveiled its new Tengo, which will be produced at its Kariega plant for the South African and African markets as the manufacturer marks 75 years of vehicle production in the country.

The Tengo was showcased for the first time during events commemorating Volkswagen’s South African manufacturing history. The new model will become the third vehicle produced at the Kariega plant.

The unveiling coincides with the anniversary of the production of Volkswagen’s first locally built vehicle, a Beetle, at the plant on 31 August 1951.

The Kariega facility was initially operated by South African Motor Assemblers and Distributors (SAMAD), producing several vehicle brands including Studebaker and Austin. Production of the Beetle was followed by the Type 2 Kombi in 1955.

Volkswagenwerk in Germany acquired a controlling interest in the plant in 1956, making it Volkswagen’s first production facility outside Germany. The operation was renamed Volkswagen of South Africa in 1966 and became a wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG in 1974.

Over the decades, the plant 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 been produced at the facility, with more than three million built for the South African market.

Today, Volkswagen Group Africa uses the Kariega plant as a production and export base. The facility is the sole producer of the Polo for export worldwide and also manufactures the Polo Vivo, which is South Africa’s best-selling passenger car.

The addition of the Tengo will bring a third model into production at the plant as Volkswagen seeks to expand its presence across Africa.

Volkswagen Group Africa also serves as the headquarters for Volkswagen’s Africa region, covering assembly operations in Kenya, Rwanda and Ghana.

The 75th anniversary celebrations included a gala dinner in Kariega attended by President Cyril Ramaphosa and a full-day employee event on 1 September.

Volkswagen’s South African operations have also supported community initiatives, with the company reporting approximately R800 million invested in community projects since 1994 through the Volkswagen Community Trust and other projects and partnerships.