Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) has appointed a new Human Resources Director and Board member.
Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) has appointed a new Human Resources Director and Board member, to be based in Kariega, Eastern Cape.
Russell Coleman will join the VWSA Board of Management from 1 April 2022. Russell brings with him over 20 years of experience in the manufacturing space, both in the automotive and FMCG industries.
Russell Coleman joins VWSA Board of Management
Born and raised in Gqeberha, he joins VWSA from Beiersdorf in KwaZulu Natal, where he held the position of HR Director Southern Africa. Before this, he occupied various Human Resources positions with companies such as Danone, Parmalat, Mondelez International and Faurecia Automotive.
“We are excited to welcome Russell to the Board of Management,” said VWSA Chairman and Managing Director, Robert Cisek. “I have no doubt that his decades of knowledge and experience of people operations within a manufacturing environment will greatly benefit VWSA and our employees.”
Starting 2022 off on a strong note, Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) celebrated a production milestone this week, with the 100 000th unit of the current Polo Vivo rolling off the production line at the plant in Kariega (formerly Uitenhage).
The Vivo is built exclusively in Kariega for the South African market and this milestone comes just over four years after the plant began manufacturing the current Vivo model in 2018.
Prior to this, VWSA built the first generation Vivo from 2010 to 2017, with a total of 254 683 units built in this generation. This means the plant has built just over 354 000 Vivos to date.
In turn, South African consumers have shown their appreciation consistently for this uniquely South African vehicle: the Vivo has been the best-selling vehicle in the passenger car market every year since its introduction in 2010.
A total of 350 289 Vivos have been sold between 2010 and 2021, of which 251 726 were during the first generation and 98 563 of the current model (up until December 2021).
The best annual sales performance for the current Vivo model was recorded in 2019 when VWSA sold a total of 29 618 Vivos in one year. In terms of monthly performance, the Vivo proved most popular in October 2018, when 3 009 Vivos were sold in a single month.
The Vivo is one of two vehicles currently being built at the Kariega plant, the other being the Volkswagen Polo. The Polos built in Kariega are exported to all right-hand-drive markets worldwide, while VWSA also supplements production for left-hand-drive markets.
“This milestone means a lot to our team, both in Production and in the rest of the company,” said Ulrich Schwabe, Production Director at VWSA. “Given the challenges of our industry and of the Covid-19 pandemic, this achievement is a proud moment that sets the tone for a successful year ahead. I am grateful to every VWSA employee for their dedication, and the part they played in making this milestone a reality.”
Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) has welcomed Marubini Raphulu to their Board of Management.
Raphulu, who serves as a non-executive Director, joined the Board effective 1 December 2021. He is an entrepreneur with extensive experience across various industries, including the energy sector. His most recent role was as the Chief Executive Officer of Hulisani, a company he also co-founded.
In addition to this, Raphulu is an admitted attorney. He holds a B.Proc. and LLB degree, as well as an LLM degree in Tax.
Raphulu is one of two non-executive Directors currently serving on the VWSA Board of Management. The Board also welcomed Reverend Nomgando Matyumza as non-executive Board member in March 2020.
“We are proud to welcome Mr Raphulu to our Board of Management, and we firmly believe our business will benefit greatly from his input,” said VWSA Chairman and Managing Director Robert Cisek.
In a year that has been adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic as well as a global shortage of semi-conductor chips, Volkswagen has remained South Africa’s best-selling passenger car brand in the first 10 months of 2021.
In the first 10 months of 2021, the Volkswagen Passenger Car brand has sold 51 381 vehicles in the local market. The Volkswagen Polo Vivo is the best-selling model with 18 241 units sold (2 747 more units when compared to the same period last year). The T-Cross, the leader of the A0 SUV segment, is now the best-selling imported model with 5 912 units sold from January to October.
“Despite the vehicle supply challenges our Brand is experiencing, our dealer partners, which account for over 75% of total Volkswagen sales, displayed resilience to ensure that we maintain our leadership in the passenger car market in South Africa,” said Steffen Knapp, head of the Volkswagen Passenger Car Brand.
The Volkswagen model range was bolstered by the market introduction of the new Tiguan in July and new Golf GTI in September. The new Tiguan, which is Volkswagen’s second best-selling SUV, has sold 1 301 units since its launch. Meanwhile, the new Golf GTI has sold 201 units during its first two months of retail.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has improved its market share to 3.7% when compared to the same period last year. The brand delivered 4 356 units to customers in the first 10 months of 2021.
The Amarok double cab is the best-selling model with 1 485 units sold and accounted for over 30% of the Brand’s sales. The T6.1 Kombi and Caravelle also reported good sales of 853 units during this period.
2022 will be an exciting year for Volkswagen. The Brand will introduce the new Polo, all-new compact SUV, the Taigo, and the new Polo Sedan. Performance will be taken to the next level with the market introduction of the new Golf 8 R and Tiguan R.
For Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, 2022 will also be an important year with the market introductions of the new Caddy and the highly anticipated new generation Amarok.
The eighth generation Volkswagen Golf GTI will be launched in South Africa from the third quarter of 2021.
The Golf 8 GTI is Volkswagen’s highly anticipated vehicle launch this year. South Africa is one of the biggest Golf GTI markets outside of Europe.
The Golf 7 GTI has sold over 14 000 units since its launch in South Africa in July 2013. The Golf was also the best-selling model range in the A Hatch segment in South Africa last year with a 29.1% segment share.
The most digitally advanced Golf GTI has been given 11kW more power than its predecessor. The 2.0l turbocharged engine now develops 180kW with a torque peak of 370Nm.
The four-cylinder engine is coupled with a 7-speed dual clutch transmission. It takes 6.4 seconds to complete the 0 – 100km/h sprint.
Recommended Retail Price (VAT and emissions tax included): Golf GTI 2.0 TSI 180kW DSG® R669 300
The Volkswagen Golf GTI comes standard with a 3 year/120 000km warranty, 5 year/ 90 000km EasyDrive Service Plan and a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty. The service interval is 15 000km.
To empower its employees and the larger community in the fight against Covid-19, Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) has begun vaccinating its employees in Kariega against the virus.
The VWSA vaccination centre, which was set up at the VW PeoplePavilion near the plant in Kariega, began administering the Pfizer vaccines to VWSA employees on 2 August. In its first week, the centre vaccinated 426 employees, with plans to vaccinate 150 employees per day from this week onwards.
The process to establish this vaccination centre started a few months ago, with the centre being approved and accredited by the Department of Health as a workplace vaccination site. The centre is staffed with four professional nurses, some of whom are contract staff and some from the company’s Wellness Centre, as well as two administrators.
As one of the largest employers in the Eastern Cape, we take the responsibility of protecting our employees and the community against Covid-19 seriously
– Dr Robert Cisek, VWSA Chairman and Managing Director
At the current pace and envisaged planning, it would take the vaccination centre approximately 16 working days to vaccinate all willing employees who have not yet received both doses of the vaccine, after which the company plans to expand the vaccination programme to VWSA’s on-site service providers and then the loved-ones living in the same household as VWSA employees.
VWSA employee Siphiwo Alwyn receiving his first Covid-19 jab from Sister Zanele Mboniswa
The vaccination centre functions separately from the Covid-19 testing facility which was set up by VWSA last year, and which continues to provide free drive-through Covid-19 testing for employees in Kariega. By the end of the first week of August, the facility had performed in excess of 6 800 tests since its opening.
“VWSA has played an instrumental role in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic so far,” said Dr Robert Cisek, VWSA Chairman and Managing Director. “As one of the largest employers in the Eastern Cape, we take the responsibility of protecting our employees and the community against Covid-19 seriously. This vaccination centre is an important part of fulfilling that duty, and I am proud of each employee who supports us in our duty by choosing to vaccinate.”
Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) celebrated another production milestone today, when the 400 000th unit of the current Volkswagen Polo rolled off the production line in Kariega (formerly Uitenhage).
By the time the 400 000th Polo rolled off the production line, the plant had produced a total of 61 635 Polos and 10 373 Polo Vivos this year.
This is a proud moment for our team, who have proven their dedication to delivering for our customers in abroad and in South Africa.
– Ulrich Schwabe, Production Director, VWSA
This achievement comes less than four years after the plant began manufacturing the current Polo model in September 2017. Of the 400 000 Polos manufactured locally since 2017, 73 786 vehicles were made for the local market and 326 214 were built for export. The Polos built in Kariega are exported to all right-hand-drive markets worldwide, while VWSA also supplements production for left-hand-drive markets.
“This is a proud moment for our team, who have proven their dedication to delivering for our customers in abroad and in South Africa,” said Ulrich Schwabe, Production Director at VWSA. “I would like to thank every employee, whether on the production line, in the office or working from home, for continuously striving for excellence. This milestone could not have happened without their contributions.”
The Golf 8 GTI, Volkswagen’s highly anticipated hot hatch is set to launch in the third quarter of this year.
The eighth generation Volkswagen Golf GTI will be launched in South Africa from the third quarter of 2021.
Volkswagen’s launch plans for the Golf 8 GTI include a digital South African premiere and countrywide customer events which will allow enthusiasts to be among the first to experience the new Golf GTI.
“The Volkswagen Group has been impacted by the global shortage of the semiconductor chips and all vehicles built on the MQB platform have been affected. For this reason, the launch of the Golf 8 GTI in South Africa will now move to the third quarter,” said Steffen Knapp, Head of the Volkswagen Passenger Car Brand.
“We are working closely with our German counterparts to ensure that we get as many Golf 8 GTI units for the local market as possible. A few Golf 8 GTI units started arriving in the country from mid-April. These units will be stockpiled until we have enough vehicles for the launch at the beginning of the third quarter,” added Knapp.
The Golf 8 GTI is Volkswagen’s highly anticipated vehicle launch this year. South Africa is one of the biggest Golf GTI markets outside of Europe. The Golf 7 GTI sold over 14 000 units since its launch in South Africa in July 2013. The Golf was also the best-selling model range in the A Hatch segment in South Africa last year with a 29.1% segment share.
The Volkswagen Tiguan, which was launched in the South African market for the first time in 2008, will be getting a new look in 2021.
Now in its third generation, the Tiguan has sold over six million units globally since launch and over 41 000 units in South Africa. The Tiguan was the best-selling medium SUV in South Africa last year, with 4 280 units sold and a 16.2% share of the A SUV segment.
The Tiguan is currently manufactured at four Volkswagen plants spread across four time zones; China, Germany, Mexico and Russia. The Tiguan for the local market, which will be manufactured in Germany, will go on sale from the third quarter of this year.
New interior and exterior features.
The Tiguan will come with a host of new interior features; a new steering wheel with touch controls is among the key interior highlights. The air conditioning functions have also been digitalised by means of touch sliders and touch buttons. A first for the Tiguan and the Volkswagen model range is the premium and optional Harmon Kardon sound system, with a 16-channel amplifier, eight speakers and a subwoofer.
One of the striking new exterior features of the Tiguan includes the redesigned front bumper. The bonnet is more concise in its appearance and the new radiator grille with LED headlights is also wider. The Tiguan’s new IQ.LIGHT – LED matrix headlights features 22 individual LEDs per headlight offering enhanced convenience for night-time driving At the rear, the Tiguan lettering is now central below the Volkswagen badge. New exterior metallic colours include Ginger Brown, Kings Red, Lapiz Blue, Night Shade Blue and Dolphin Grey.
New specification lines for the Tiguan model range.
The model range comes in three specification lines; the base derivative called the Tiguan, the Tiguan Life and the Tiguan R-Line.
The base derivative Tiguan comes standard with features like 17-inch Montana alloy wheels, LED headlights, leather multi-function steering wheel, cruise control and the new MIB3 Infotainment system’s Composition radio (with eight speakers).
Positioned above the base derivative is the “Life” specification line. In addition to the standard features on the base derivative, the Tiguan Life comes standard with 18-inch Frankfurt alloy wheels, LED headlights with cornering lights, Climatronic air conditioning, Park Distance Control in the front and rear as well as an electric tailgate for easy opening and closing. Optional alloy wheels on the Tiguan Life include 18-inch Nizza and 19-inch Victoria Falls.
The top-of-the-range derivative is the Tiguan R-Line. Standard features include the R-Line exterior package, 19-inch Valencia alloy wheels, ambient lighting with 30 interior lighting options, Vienna leather seats with the R-line Logo in the two front seats, Active Info Display, Composition Media Radio with App Connect, multi-functional steering wheel with touch and swiping actions and the R-line logo as well as keyless entry. Optional alloy wheels on the R-Line derivative are the 20-inch Suzuka alloy wheels in chrome and black.
The new Tiguan can also be upgraded with optional features such as the panoramic sunroof, trailer hitch, Black Style Package (black roof rails and decorative trims, black exterior mirror housing, privacy glass for the rear windows, and black 20-inch Suzuka alloy wheels), Discover Pro entertainment system with wireless App-Connect, Heads-up display, Harmon Kardon sound system, IQ Lights: Matrix LED, Area view camera system with Park Assist, IQ Drive Package (Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Assist, Park Assist and Autonomous Emergency Braking) and the Trailer Manoeuvring System which includes Park Assist.
One diesel and two petrol engines.
The Tiguan model range will come with a choice of three engines which are carried over from the previous model; two petrol and one diesel with power outputs ranging from 110kW to 162kW.
1.4 TSI with 110kW of power. The entry engine in the Tiguan model range is a 6-speed DSG with a power output of 110kW and torque of 250Nm. With a top speed of 200km/h, it reaches 0 – 100km/h in 9.2 seconds.
2.0 TDI with 130kW of power. The only diesel engine in the Tiguan model range has a power output of 130kW and 380Nm of torque. The 7-speed DSG has a top speed of 207km/h and completes the 0 – 100km/h sprint in 8.3 seconds.
2.0 TSI with 162kW of power. The most powerful engine in the model range has a power output of 162kW and torque of 350Nm. It takes just 6.5 seconds for it to complete 0 – 100km/h. This 7-speed DSG engine’s top speed is 225km.
New Tiguan pricing.
Pricing for the new Tiguan will be announced closer to the launch date.
Volkswagen won three category awards at the annual Cars.co.za Consumer Awards which were broadcast on national television on 15 February 2021.
….as Volkswagen we are proud of how our customers continue to put their trust behind our incredible range of vehicles
– Mike Glendinning, Director: Sales and Marketing at Volkswagen Group South Africa.
The wins at the 2020/2021 Consumer Awards come after a record-breaking 2020, where the Volkswagen brand in South Africa achieved a 21.6% passenger car market share, the highest in the history of the brand as well as the highest of all Volkswagen markets worldwide.
“With 50% of the final scores being based on after-sales data that incorporates customer feedback from South African vehicle owners, as Volkswagen we are proud of how our customers continue to put their trust behind our incredible range of vehicles,” said Mike Glendinning, Director: Sales and Marketing at Volkswagen Group South Africa.
Widely regarded as South Africa’s most definitive and prestigious automotive awards programme, the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards, which are supported by WesBank, have become a highlight in the automotive calendar since the inaugural event six years ago.
Volkswagen’s first win of the night was the Compact Hatch category which went to the Polo. The Polo has won this category for the last three years. The Polo is also South Africa’s second best-selling passenger car with 16 335 units sold in 2020.
The second award for Volkswagen went to the Golf GTI TCR which is a final swansong of the Golf 7 model range. With less than a year on sale in South Africa, the Golf GTI TCR won the fiercely contested Hot Hatch category. This is the fifth time in the six-year history of the Cars Awards that the Golf GTI has won this category.
With less than two years since being introduced in the local market, the T-Cross defended its Compact Family Car title with a back-to-back win. The T-Cross has also become Volkswagen’s best-selling imported vehicle with 5 693 units sold in 2020.
“The fact that the locally-manufactured Polo has won the Compact Hatch category for three years in a row, is a testament of our world-class manufacturing facility in Uitenhage. I am also incredibly proud of the how our compact SUV, the T-Cross, has managed to not only defend its title with another win this year, but has become a dominant player in the A0 SUV segment. As Volkswagen gears to launch the Golf 8 GTI in South Africa from the second quarter of this year, the win by the Golf GTI TCR is a fitting tribute to the Golf 7 range in South Africa,” concluded Glendinning.
The Volkswagen brand still holds the record of the most category wins in the history of the Cars Awards; since inception Volkswagen has won 19 categories at the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards.
Despite a year that was severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA), which consists of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars and Commercial Vehicles brands as well as Audi, ended 2020 as the passenger car market leader in South Africa.
“2020 was a challenging year not just for our brands but for the motoring industry as a whole and to come out of 2020 still holding onto our leadership of the passenger car market, is an incredible feat,” said Mike Glendinning, VWSA Sales and Marketing Director.
According to naamsa, 380 449 vehicles were sold in South Africa last year, a 29.1% decline when compared to 2019. “VWSA was severely affected by the pandemic which ground vehicle sales to a halt in April; our 2020 sales are down by 28.9% year-on-year when compared to 2019,” said Glendinning.
In what was been an unprecedented year, VWSA’s performance in 2020 is thanks to our dedicated Dealer Network who pushed for every sale.
“Despite the difficulties we faced in 2020, the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand posted a record market share last year; the 21.6% market share achieved by the brand in 2020 is 1.2% higher than the one in 2019 and is the highest market share in the history of the brand as well as the highest market share of all Volkswagen markets across the world,” added Glendinning.
The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand recorded total sales of 53 319 units last year. With 19 750 units sold in 2020, the locally-manufactured Polo Vivo is not only Volkswagen’s top-selling vehicle, but it is also the South Africa’s best-selling passenger car. The compact SUV, the T-Cross, is now Volkswagen’s best-selling imported vehicle with 5 693 units sold in 2020. With less than two years since being launched in South Africa, the T-Cross is now sitting in second position in the A0 SUV segment in the local market.
In a year that was particularly challenging for the premium market, the Audi brand increased its market share by 0.3% when compared to 2019 and recorded full-year sales of 5 819 units last year. The Audi Q2 was the best-selling model range for the premium brand last year posting sales of 1 131 units.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, which is responsible for vehicle derivatives like the Amarok, Caddy, Kombi, Caravelle, Panel Van and the Crafter, posted total sales of 4 344 and ended the year with a 3.7% market share in 2020. The Caddy was the brand’s best-selling derivative with 1 730 units sold in 2020.
I’d also like to thank our loyal Audi and Volkswagen customers who continue to ensure that VWSA is South Africa’s most loved passenger brand year after year.
“In what was been an unprecedented year, VWSA’s performance in 2020 is thanks to our dedicated Dealer Network who pushed for every sale. I’d also like to thank our loyal Audi and Volkswagen customers who continue to ensure that VWSA is South Africa’s most loved passenger brand year after year,” concluded Glendinning.
Looking ahead at 2021
This year, Volkswagen South Africa will be turning 70 years old in August. The first Volkswagen rolled off the production line in Uitenhage in 1951. Besides Volkswagen’s special birthday, there are also some exciting vehicles making their way to South Africa this year. The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand will start off the year with a bang with the launch of the highly-anticipated hot hatch, the Golf 8 GTI. A Tiguan facelift, as well as the Golf 8 R, will also be launched in the local market this year.
2021 will also be an action-packed year for the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand as they kick off the year with sales of the most powerful bakkie in South Africa, the Amarok 190kW, from the first quarter of this year. New model introductions include the T6.1 Kombi, Crafter Auto, as well as the fifth generation of the best-selling Caddy model range.
Besides the introduction of a totally refreshed and extensive R and RS performance range (new RS4, RS5, RS6, RS7, RSQ8, RSQ3, R8 are all due in 2021), key model introductions for this year for the Audi brand in South Africa include the all-new Audi A3 model range. The Audi Q5 and Q2 model ranges are also due for a facelift in 2021 as well.
Volkswagen has updated the Polo Vivo model range by adding a stylish special edition to the range
With 261 285 units sold since its market introduction in March 2010, the Volkswagen Polo Vivo hatch has been the best-selling passenger car model in South Africa for the past decade. Being the only locally manufactured model in the competitive A0 segment, the Polo Vivo has been a dominant brand in the entry-level hatch segment in spite of new models being launched on a regular basis.
Polo Vivo’s key product attributes such as affordability, German build quality, safety, space and comfort have a set an unparalleled benchmark in the segment. The cost of ownership over a 3-year cycle makes Polo Vivo one of the most affordable cars to own in the South African market.
Image courtesy of Quickpic
Image courtesy of Quickpic
Image courtesy of Quickpic
Image courtesy of Quickpic
“The Polo Vivo Mswenko, which is based on the 1.4 63kW Comfortline manual, is a fashion-inspired derivative which features unique styling details and serves to appeal to customers that are dynamic and young at heart,” said Mike Glendinning, Sales and marketing Director for Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA).
In the interior, the Polo Vivo Mswenko differentiates itself from the rest of the range with unique standard features
Mswenko (pronounced m-swe-nkoh) is the isiZulu expression for the slang word “swag”. Swag is an expression of attitude and confidence. A self-confident and stylish person is said to have swag. Mswenko, which is unique to South Africa, refers to a person’s style, attitude and general demeanour.
In the exterior, the Polo Vivo Mswenko is easily recognisable by the Mswenko side decals, a chrome tip exhaust, 16-inch Portago alloy wheels in Anthracite, a black painted roof, privacy glass and mirror covers in two colour variants.
In the interior, the Polo Vivo Mswenko differentiates itself from the rest of the range with unique standard features such as the new Ocean Blue seats, Anthracite headliner, silver dashboard inserts, App Connect, six speakers and a leather package (leather multi-function steering wheel, gearshift lever and gear knob).
Image courtesy of Quickpic
Image courtesy of Quickpic
Image courtesy of Quickpic
This special edition model will only be available in the following exterior colours; Pure White, Reflex Silver, Limestone Grey and Reef Blue. The Polo Vivo Mswenko will be available at Volkswagen dealers from October 2020.
The Polo Vivo Mswenko comes standard with a 3 year/120 000km warranty and a 6-year anti-corrosion warranty. A Volkswagen Maintenance Plan as well as a Volkswagen Service Plan are available as options. Service interval is 15 000km.
Recommended Retail Price (VAT and emissions tax included)
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.
