by SAVIOUS KWINIKA
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – VOLKSWAGEN Group Africa (VWGA) has set a new monthly production record at its Kariega plant, manufacturing 17,009 vehicles in July 2026 as the South African operation marks 75 years of Volkswagen production.
The latest figure surpasses the previous monthly record of 16,670 vehicles, achieved in July 2025, underlining the scale and manufacturing capability of Volkswagen’s South African operations.
The July output is particularly significant given the plant’s long history.
Kariega has produced Volkswagen vehicles since 1951, although vehicle assembly at the facility dates back to 1948, when Studebaker and Austin models were also manufactured.
Remarkably, the 17,009 vehicles produced during July exceed the plant’s entire annual output during its earliest years.
In its first full year of production, the factory built just 977 vehicles.
Of July’s record production, 13,490 units were Volkswagen Polos, destined for both the South African and export markets. A further 3,519 Volkswagen Vivos were manufactured for customers in South Africa.
The latest milestone also pushes the plant’s cumulative production figure to 4,836,371 vehicles since 1948.
Almost 40 different models have rolled off its production lines during the facility’s long manufacturing history.
The achievement comes as Volkswagen prepares to officially celebrate its 75th anniversary in South Africa on 31 August.
Martina Biene, VWGA Chairperson and Managing Director, said the production record was particularly meaningful as the company approached the anniversary.
“Setting a record like this close to our anniversary is a reminder of just how far we have come as a company,” Biene said.
She said Volkswagen had established a legacy of quality and manufacturing excellence in South Africa, adding that the latest production achievement demonstrated the company’s continued commitment to strengthening its presence in the country.
For South Africa’s automotive industry, the record highlights the continued importance of local vehicle manufacturing to Volkswagen’s domestic and export strategy.
With more than 4.8 million vehicles produced at Kariega over nearly eight decades, the plant remains an important industrial asset, supporting manufacturing expertise, employment, exports and the broader automotive supply chain.
The July achievement therefore represents more than a production milestone.
It demonstrates the evolution of a South African manufacturing facility from modest beginnings into a major vehicle production hub serving both domestic and international markets.
– CAJ News