South Africa Will Export The New Volkswagen Polo
Miscellaneous | Dean | November 20, 2009 at 16:46
Volkswagen South Africa has said that they will export the Right Hand Drive Polo. South Africa will export about 19,000 RHD Polo’s around the world by the end of 2009, and then another 55,000 during 2010. Countries receiving the new Polo include the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore.
“By the end of 2009, Volkswagen of South Africa will have invested R3.5 billion in new plant, local content development and new product. A further R500 million will be invested in 2010 to complete the process and ensure that the Company is well placed to capture future opportunities both in the South African and global markets” outlined David Powels, Managing Director of VW of SA.
“Production of the all New Volkswagen Polo commenced at the Uitenhage plant in July 2009. By the end of the year, 19 000 New Polo’s will have left the Port Elizabeth harbour destined for customers around the world.”
“The New Polo hatch will be introduced to the South African market early in 2010 and will replace the current Polo, which has consistently been South Africa’s favourite passenger car Brand in recent years.”
“One of the key factors enabling Volkswagen of South Africa to capture the Volkswagen Group Polo RHD global market contract has been the investment on the part of a number of suppliers in the NMBLP. Collectively, Rehau, Benteler, Flextech, Faurecia and Grupo Antolin have invested approximately R600 million into the Park. This investment has contributed significantly towards enabling Volkswagen of South Africa to take local content levels in the New Polo to 70%.”
“The investment on the part of these five suppliers into the NMBLP has resulted in the creation of 685 highly skilled, new jobs in the Metro with upside potential in coming months.”
“The establishment of the NMBLP has been a crucial step in the process to enable Volkswagen to become a globally competitive manufacturer of vehicles in the Eastern Cape. As a result of the investment on the part of key suppliers into the Park, 77% of suppliers to Volkswagen of South Africa are now based in Nelson Mandela Bay. This is a critically important factor in the company’s globalisation strategy.”
“The key elements of the Volkswagen strategy to ensure cost competitiveness not only in South Africa, but around the world, have revolved around platform reduction, a renewed manufacturing environment, dramatically increased local content, significant investment in skills development, transformation and investment in new product.”
“Historically Volkswagen of South Africa built cars on five platforms. This was reduced to three platforms in 2008 and will from 2010, reduce to two platforms. The one platform will be the all New Polo for both the domestic and export markets and the second platform will be a new A0 entry level car to be announced towards the end of the first quarter of 2010.”
“Volkswagen’s strategic intent has embraced the principles upon which the MIDP has been established and the intent of the new APDP which has been mapped out between the motor industry and Government in recent months” said Powels.
Tags: Polo, VW, vw polo
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Nice one. I think this news is suited for readers everywhere on the globe. Even America could get the Polo in the future. Here in India, we expect the Polo to arrive during the next few months.
I like the new Polo.
It’s also really good news for South Africa, ‘coz it’s nice to know our home market is finally growing
The new polo is so beautiful im thinking of buying a car next yr n would like to know how much is the 1.6 with a sunroof to 2.0.
I will appreciate ur feedback.
We have not yet come across any pricing for this car. Be sure to stay tuned and when we receive the pricing we will post it
Hi dean I was involved in an accident driving my seat ibiza 1.4 model from there i went to some panelbeaters most in jhb, pretoria n durban. Ive seen different kinds of seat n never seen even one with an airbag out is there any airbags in all seat models or isit a money making scam?
Hey Kay — Thanks for the comment!
The SEAT’s definitely do have airbags, and the Spanish brand is part of VW. They use similar parts to create the cars. However, I don’t know why the airbags wouldn’t deploy.
I was reading about some people ‘missing’ some parts for air bags and this is why the hooter or something wouldn’t work, but not deploying is just crazy.
My only guess would be that they would have to be hit really hard on the right spot for them to deploy. These cars wouldn’t pass any road safety tests without the airbags in their segment.
Maybe the panel beats do something with the airbags before anyone can ever see them?
To be honest I’m not sure why they don’t deploy, but I do know that they do have airbags (quite a few actually). Another reason could be that the older models only use airbags as option extras.
Either way, SEAT is no longer in South Africa so I guess once they are all crashed it’s sadly time to move on