South Africa

On May 8, Volkswagen South Africa unveiled the Polo Sedan range which now includes the 85 kW 1.0 TSI engine, available in the Life and Style variants. The engine delivers 178 Nm of torque, reaching 0 to 100 km/h in 11.5 seconds with a top speed of 190 km/h and fuel consumption of 6.3 litres/100 km.

The Polo Sedan Life features keyless entry, a rearview camera, 10-inch touchscreen infotainment, and more. The style adds an 8-inch digital cockpit, rain sensor, tilt/slide sunroof, and others. Standard features in the Polo Sedan Life include Hill Start Assist and a leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel with shifting paddles.

Prices start at ZAR 421,100 for the Life variant and ZAR 454,900 for the Style variant.

Based on Volkswagen South Africa press release

On May 8, Chery South Africa introduced a smooth-shifting dual-clutch transmission (DCT) alongside enhanced technology and interior upgrades for its Tiggo 4 Pro series. The DCT gearbox is available in both the entry-level LiT variant, priced at ZAR 382,900, and the top Elite variant, priced at ZAR 415,900.

The new DCT offers fuel-saving benefits and saves nearly half a liter of fuel per 100 km, with estimated savings of around 1.6 liters per 100 km in South Africa, depending on driving habits and the environment. This improvement is particularly noticeable in the turbo-charged 108 kW engine version. The upgrades were implemented in both China and South Africa.

The company also introduced additional features such as a new center console, additional storage space, and touch-screen air conditioning screen with controls, a new high-resolution infotainment screen with offline navigation, and an integrated 15W wireless charging pad, depending on the model.

Additionally, the company also announced a new software update for the Tiggo4Pro CVT version which is currently being tested and will soon be available to customers.

Based on Chery South Africa press release

On April 16, it was announced that the VW Group will invest around ZAR 4 billion at its Kariega plant, in South Africa.

This investment aims to modernize the facilities in preparation for the launch of a new vehicle model in 2027. Most of the funds will be used for upgrading production facilities, manufacturing tools, local content tools, and quality assurance. Around ZAR 850 million will be invested to enhance automation in the body shop, while over ZAR 400 million will be invested in the press shop for the acquisition of new press tooling equipment.

This project is estimated to start by the end of 2024, during a plant shutdown.

The upcoming model, an SUV, is being developed by teams from Brazil and South Africa to meet both local and continental requirements.

Regarding EVs, Volkswagen anticipates a slower transition in Africa compared to other regions around the world, so the brand will keep on selling ICE vehicles for some more time in these markets, however, the ID.4 will be introduced for test fleet in Rwanda during 2024.

(Multiple sources on April 16, 2024)