- Four Naamsa Accelerator Awards for Volkswagen Group Africa.
- Polo wins two manufacturing and export titles.
- Polo Vivo named Passenger Car of the Year.
- Next Gen Workforce award in Transformation category.
- Kariega built 156 837 vehicles in 2025.
At the 5th SA Auto Week in Durban, the Volkswagen Polo was named Top Locally Manufactured Vehicle of the Year and Top Exported Vehicle of the Year at the Naamsa Accelerator Awards. Its smaller sibling, the Polo Vivo, was crowned South Africa’s Passenger Car of the Year.
The awards honour automotive manufacturers, dealers and industry role-players for performance relating to sales and exports, as well as transformation and empowerment. All three vehicle titles fell under the Sales performance portion of the programme.
Polo and Polo Vivo built in Kariega
Plant Kariega has been building the Polo since 1996. The hatchback is built for export exclusively in South Africa and is shipped to over 30 countries, while also selling locally.
The Vivo has come off the same line for South African customers since 2010 and remains the best-selling passenger car in the local market for 2026 year-to-date. In 2025 the plant produced a total of 156 837 vehicles, of which 119 771 were built for export.
Third consecutive win for both models
This is the third time the pair has collected these titles, after receiving the same accolades in 2024 and 2025. They are currently the only vehicles built at the Kariega plant.
Next Gen Workforce award for Volkswagen
A fourth honour came in the Transformation portion, where Volkswagen Group Africa received the Next Gen Workforce award for Locally Producing OEMs. These awards recognise achievements in job creation and inclusive representation.
“Against the context of this being Volkswagen’s 75th year in South Africa, these awards are a clear reminder of the legacy and impact of our brand in the local market,” said Christiane Zorn, VWGA Chairperson and Managing Director. She thanked customers, dealers and colleagues for their part in the results.
Tengo to join the Kariega line-up
Production at the Eastern Cape facility is set to expand. The Tengo will soon be added to the line-up alongside the Polo and Polo Vivo.
Supplied by QuickPic (Volkswagen)
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