Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) has reached a major milestone with the production of the one-millionth current generation Polo at its Kariega plant, in the Eastern Cape.

Lucky number one-million is a smoky grey, right-hand-drive Polo GTI destined for the local market.

VWGA’s Kariega facility started manufacturing the current generation Polo in 2017.

About 86% of these vehicles were exported to international markets such as Germany, the UK, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, whilst 14% were for the local market.

The current generation Polo accounts for nearly 21% of the 4 803 424 vehicles built at the Kariega plant over the past 75 years.

Meanwhile, the current generation Polo accounts for 48% of all Polo models ever manufactured at Kariega, signifying the importance of the model to VWGA.

VWGA has been manufacturing the Polo since 1996 and has produced four generations of the model.

The Kariega plant is currently the sole global manufacturer and exporter of the Polo to 38 countries, including markets in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

Germany and the UK are the biggest export destinations for the locally built Polo.

This achievement comes as VWGA celebrates 30 years of Polo production at the Kariega plant.

“This milestone is a proud moment for all of us at VGWA and reflects the dedication and passion of our employees over many years,” says VGWA production director Ulrich Schwabe.

“Producing one-million Polos in Kariega highlights the trust that global markets place in the quality of vehicles built in South Africa. It also reinforces the Polo’s legacy as one of the most loved and successful models produced at our plant.”

Established in 1946, the VWGA plant was initially called South African Motor Assemblers and Distributors, and used for the local assembly of Studebaker cars and commercial vehicles.

The first Beetle rolled off the line in Kariega (then Uitenhage) in 1951 and heralded the beginning of the largest German investment in Southern Africa.

VWGA celebrates its seventy-fifth year in South Africa this year.