Volkswagen Africa

KARIEGA. – Following an investment of R20-million and construction of nearly two years, Volkswagen Group Africa officially opened its new airbag deployment centre on Wednesday 28 February.

The new facility, based at the company’s B Plant in Kariega, will boost the plant’s airbag testing capacity to 150% of its previous output. Whereas the existing facility is able to perform 48 tests per week, including three dashboards and 45 seats, the new airbag deployment centre can handle a total of 72 tests, comprising 10 dashboards, two curtain airbag tests and 60 seats per week.

With planning beginning in 2020 and construction taking place from June 2022 until February 2024, the centre totalled an investment of R20-million; R14-million alone was spent on the climatic chamber in which the tests are performed, with the rest of the funds spent on building and electrical supply, cameras, air supply to the chamber, and lighting.

The climatic chamber makes use of electrical heaters and two refrigerant circuits to control the temperatures required for the different tests, which are conducted between 90 degrees to -40 degrees Celsius.

At the start of the testing process, parts are delivered, prepared for testing, labelled and photographed. From here, parts are conditioned in the climatic chamber at specified temperatures; once the required temperature has been reached and has stabilised, the airbag is deployed using an electrical current. Lights and cameras in the chamber are activated so the deployment can be captured on film, which is then carefully analysed so a report can be compiled and sent to the supplier. The actual deployment is done in 100 milliseconds; however, the preparation and soaking of parts lengthens the testing process to 6-8 hours per test.

As with the previous facility, the airbag deployment centre will perform test on the locally built Polo and Polo Vivo models, though the centre will also be able to test future Volkswagen models and perform tests for external customers if this arises.

“Our promise to customers has always been high-quality vehicles, and that includes the safety standards of our products,” said Martina Biene, Volkswagen Group Africa Chairperson and Managing Director. “This new facility is proof that we remain committed to that promise. I am proud to open this airbag deployment centre and want to thank everyone who has worked tirelessly to make it a reality.”

At the 6 February media presentation in the Volkswagen Africa Kariega Plant (or is to become the VW Africa Head Office?), Ulrich Schwabe, VWSA Production Director, presented some numbers that were, along with being ambitious, provable and a strong statement that VW is here to stay to make a difference.

Aligning with the priorities of the Volkswagen brand worldwide, Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) has set its sights on an ambitious goal: for its Kariega plant to become a carbon neutral production plant by 2030.

VWSA is already well on their way to achieving this, putting environmental sustainability first through a range of projects being implemented at its Kariega plant, as well as its sites in Sandton and Centurion.

Under the umbrella of their Zero Impact Factory programme, VWSA has placed its focus on biodiversity, clean energy, efficient resource management and waste reduction, to name a few.

Notably, VWSA has installed solar photovoltaic panels at its sites capable of generating 4 488 MWh of electricity annually, with R34 million invested to date. Additionally, solar panels installed at the employee car park for the Kariega plant will be added to this from September 2024, accounting for an additional investment of R55 million and a further 4 500 MWh in generation capacity.

In terms of water consumption, VWSA has installed rainwater harvesting tanks capable of storing 1,2 million litres of rainwater, for use in various Production areas. This is in addition to the wastewater recycling facility VWSA built on-site in 2021, which has the capacity to reduce the plant’s use of freshwater in Production by 26%.

Meanwhile, the company’s waste reduction initiatives have delivered impressive results, with a 5% reduction in landfill waste in 2023. VWSA has reduced its cardboard box waste by 17 tonnes and its plastic waste by 46 tonnes in 2022 and 2023. The company also continues its efforts to promote biodiversity through projects such as spekboom planting and the removal of invasive alien plant species at its Kariega sites.

Through all these and other projects, VWSA has already reduced its environmental impact by 57% compared to the baseline measured in 2010.

This includes reductions of:

• 56% in energy usage
• 53% in CO₂ emissions
• 73% in use of freshwater
• 76% in waste

The company was also recognised for its environmental sustainability efforts in 2023, garnering the international Lean & Green Management Award, as well as the SJM Flex Environmental Award at the local Exporter of the Year awards.

“With these results, VWSA is synonymous with environmental sustainability,” said Ulrich Schwabe, VWSA Production Director. “We remain committed to minimising our environmental impact on all possible aspects of our operations, and the results speak for themselves. I am grateful to every employee who has contributed to these achievements. As VWSA we will continue building on the good work that has already been done by our teams and pave the way to our carbon neutral future.”

For me, personally, the announcement that the Volkswagen Africa’s test fleet was about to be joined by the ID.4 Electric Vehicle was music to my ears. When challenged as to why I am an advocate the answer was simple; “Cleaner on the road and part of the business ecosystem that I have been in since birth; Electricity and, more recently, Solar or Renewable Energy. And, it has been our experience that people buying EV’s become more inclined to install solar power to charge their new vehicles for as close to free as possible and enjoy further renewable energy benefits at home and/or the office!”

Volkswagen is set to make a significant impact on the South African passenger car market with the 6 February launch of three new models in 2024.

The new T-Cross,new Tiguan, new Touareg and the ID.4 were unveiled at a special media event hosted at the Volkswagen manufacturing plant in Kariega.

“As we embark on the journey that is 2024, we cannot help but feel a positive sense of anticipation for the exciting year ahead. For the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand, 2024 holds immense significance as we set our sights on re-establishing our presence in the local market and reclaiming our position in the fiercely competitive automotive landscape. In the coming months, we are thrilled to announce the launch of new and refreshed models that embody the innovative spirit and unwavering commitment to excellence that define Volkswagen. With a renewed focus on quality, performance, and customer satisfaction, we are confident that 2024 will be a pivotal year for the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand” said Niels Wichmann, Head of Brand, Volkswagen Passenger Cars.

T-Cross – A Versatile Compact SUV for Every Lifestyle

With more than 1.2 million sales globally since it was introduced in 2019, the T-Cross is the smallest member of Volkswagen’s all-important “T” family of SUVs. Sharing its MQB A0 platform with the sixth-generation Polo hatchback, T-Cross has been the best selling imported model for Volkswagen in South Africa with 34 261 units sold since it was launched in 2019. Launching in the second half of 2024, the new T-Cross is set to redefine the compact SUV market in South Africa with its fresh design and a range of engine options.

Modern exterior design and fresh new colours. From the outside, the updated T-Cross is immediately recognisable by the new design of its front and rear with new integrated LED headlights, LED daytime running lights and LED taillight clusters. The IQ.LIGHT LED matrix headlights are a completely new Volkswagen development and are offered for the first time on the T-Cross. Three new, fresh colours have been added to the model range: the solid colour Grape Yellow (a crisp, sporty yellow), Clear Blue Metallic (an elegant and friendly light blue) and Kings Red Metallic (a vivid, striking red).

New infotainment system generation and high-quality interior. The central element in the interior of the new T-Cross is the free-standing infotainment display. The standard touchscreen measures (8 inches) across the diagonal; the top-of-the-range version has a 9.2inch display. In addition, all versions of the four-door five-seater will now be fitted with digital cockpit as standard. The dash panel in the T-Cross has also undergone a complete redesign: as in larger Volkswagen models, the dash panel features soft-upholstered and significantly higher-quality surface materials. The same applies to the front door trims.

LED headlights, LED taillights and “Digital Cockpit” as standard. The significantly upgraded base derivative of the T-Cross will now include features such as the new LED headlights (instead of halogen), new LED taillight clusters, the Digital Cockpit, and a new, free-standing infotainment display. The top derivative remains as the R-Line with sporty accents specification package.

Tiguan – Redefining SUV Elegance and Performance

Set to launch in the second half of 2024, the all-new third-generation Tiguan looks set to build on the success of VW’s top-selling global SUV package. Volkswagen has sold more than 7.6 million units of this model since it was introduced in 2007. The Tiguan has been in the market for over a decade in South Africa and sold 50 832 units since its launch. The all-new Tiguan redefines SUV aesthetics with a confident and modern design.

New design. The confident design is typically Tiguan and typically Volkswagen but still completely new. A distinctive feature is the higher, more powerful-looking front end. The standard LED headlights are integrated here. In-between, a glass-covered horizontal bar with an optionally integrated LED strip replaces the traditional radiator grille. The Tiguan is optionally available with the new IQ.LIGHT HD matrix headlights; this high-tech lighting system with 38,400 multi-pixel LEDs has been derived from the new Touareg. The cleanly designed front highlights the fact that the drag coefficient has improved from 0.33 to 0.28. Athletic shoulder sections above the wheel housings dominate the silhouette. The wheels are up to 20-inch in size. A horizontal LED strip between the tail light clusters emphasises the width of the Tiguan’s new rear end.

Modern cockpit design, based on customer feedback. Volkswagen has also completely redesigned the interior of the Tiguan. With its high-quality materials and high finish standard, it breaks down conventional class boundaries. In addition, the components of the latest modular infotainment matrix (MIB4) are merged on board to create a clearly designed and closely integrated cockpit landscape that is intuitive to operate. The modules include the new Digital Cockpit (digital instruments with anti-reflective coating in tablet landscape format), a large infotainment screen with a completely new menu structure and graphics (standard display: 12.9 inches, optionally (15 inches), a new optional head-up display (information projected on the windscreen) and a new multifunction driving experience switch with an integrated OLED display.

Seats for long journeys. The new optional ergoActive Plus seats with pneumatic four-way lumbar adjustment and a pneumatic 10-chamber pressure massage function are a perfect match for the high-quality character of this SUV. These leather seats are optional on the Life models but come standard on the R-Line models.

Touareg – Enhanced Luxury SUV with High-Tech Features

Since its introduction in 2002, the Volkswagen Touareg has achieved remarkable success with over 1.3 million units sold globally. This popularity attests to the enduring appeal of the Touareg, establishing it as a true icon which has been trusted and celebrated by drivers around the world for over two decades. The Touareg has sold 8 671 units in South Africa since it was launched in 2004. The Touareg, Volkswagen’s premium SUV which will launch in the second half of 2024, has received an update that includes new design elements and high-tech features.

The new lighting system. Another advantage of the new IQ.LIGHT HD matrix headlights is the glare-free main beam: this continuous main beam can permanently be left switched on outside of towns because the interactive LEDs make sure that the masking area for oncoming traffic and vehicles driving in front is more precise than ever before.

Sharpened design. The new premium SUV can be recognised immediately by the new front and rear design. At the front, the unit formed by the radiator grille, headlights and the front apron have been given a new look. The design of the rear end is also sharper: it now has a continuous horizontal LED strip for the taillight clusters and incorporates a Volkswagen logo which is illuminated in red.

Update for the interior. The standard equipment of the new Touareg has been enhanced. The standard voice control has also been improved. USB-C connections with a charging capacity of 45 watts (previously 15 watts) permit significantly faster charging of electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets or laptops. In addition, by evaluating customer feedback, the high-quality level of the Touareg interior has been further improved. For example, the centre console trims are now softer than before, providing extra comfort.

Efficient driving assistance systems. The Touareg is equipped with several convenience and assistance systems as standard. In addition, an extensive range of optional systems is available. These include among others the following technologies.

• “Travel Assist” (assisted driving up to maximum speed)
• “Trailer Assist” (for assisted maneuvering with trailer)
• “Night Vision” (assistance for night drives)

Powertrains –diesel engine. The new Touareg will be offered with the 3.0 TDI 190 kW engine paired with an 8-speed automatic gearbox and the 4MOTION permanent all-wheel drive.

ID.4 – Volkswagen’s Vision of Sustainable Driving

As Volkswagen’s first fully electric SUV, the ID.4 embodies the brand’s commitment to sustainable mobility. The ID.4 is an all-round talent that can be driven in a sporty, yet also easy and comfortable way. The battery stores up to 77 kWh of energy (net) and enables ranges of up to 520 km . The battery is installed below the passenger compartment which guarantees a low centre of gravity. The electric drive motor, positioned at the rear axle, generates 150 kW – enough to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.5 seconds and deliver a top speed of 160 km/h. ID.4 is also set to be introduced in the first half of 2024 in South Africa as a test fleet.

Dynamic appearance. The ID.4’s exterior has athletic proportions for an ultra-modern appearance. Its clear, flowing design is inspired by nature and guarantees very good aerodynamics with a drag coefficient of 0.28. The ID.4 is equipped with interactive IQ.Light LED matrix headlights which welcome drivers with swivelling lens modules and generate an intelligently controlled main beam. These headlights have been paired with the new 3D LED tail light clusters. Their tail light is particularly homogeneous and lights up in an intensive red colour.

“Volkswagen’s commitment to excellence is evident in the comprehensive lineup of the new T-Cross, new Tiguan, new Touareg, and ID.4. These vehicles represent a convergence of performance, design and innovation, setting new benchmarks in the South African automotive market. The launch of these models reaffirms Volkswagen’s dedication to providing consumers with an array of choices, from versatile and family-friendly SUVs to cutting-edge electric mobility solutions. As the automotive landscape evolves, Volkswagen continues to lead the way with a focus on sustainability, advanced technology, and a commitment to meeting the diverse needs of South African drivers” concluded Wichmann.