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Volkswagen Group Africa has temporarily halted production of the Polo and Polo Vivo as the plant continues to undergo upgrades in preparation for the introduction of its AO SUV Entry project.
In a statement on Wednesday, VWGA said production was halted on Monday until 12 May to enable their teams to complete the required work in several areas, including the body and paint shops and final assembly.
“The planned work builds on the foundation of the installations performed in December 2024 during the plant’s annual shutdown.
“Approximately 60% of the required changes were effected over the 25 days of shutdown, including the installation of 38 new fixtures and seven new robots, along with other modifications.
“The completion of this work will also mark the start of the commissioning phase of the A0 SUV Entry project,” VWGA said.
The company announced the new model at its indaba in February last year, as well as a R4-billion investment in the facility. Suppliers have also been identified for the new vehicle.
“This project is understandably a very exciting one for us,” said VWGA production director Ulrich Schwabe.
“When the first unit of this new vehicle rolls off our production line, it will be a proud moment for the entire Volkswagen Group Africa family, and I firmly believe this new vehicle will be just as iconic as the beloved Polo and Vivo we are already building.”
