Volkswagen

Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) is proud to announce its partnership with the South African Football Association, SAFA. The vehicle partnership between VWGA and South African Football Association marks a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to support the development of girls’ and women’s football in South Africa.

All the national women’s teams including the under-20 (Basetsana), the under-17 (Bantwana), and under-15 stand to benefit from the partnership.

Niels Wichmann, Volkswagen Brand Head of Marketing said: ”Volkswagen believes that in South Africa, sport, especially soccer, is more than just a game, as it has the potential to play a vital role in youth development. Volkswagen is passionate about ‘Moving People Forward’ and is committed to the growth and sustainability of women’s soccer.”

Wichmann added: “Just as Volkswagen empowers people everyday to reach their destinations, we hope to empower the national women’s soccer teams to reach their top level on the continent in their respective age groups. “

SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan echoed the sentiments: “We welcome Volkswagen to the SAFA partner family. The pathway of women’s football needed partners that will support football at grassroots through scouts, women’s competitions all the way to all women’s national teams including Banyana Banyana. Our ability to go far and wide to find the new gems and attend to administrative logistics is important.”

Volkswagen aims to empower women’s football by supporting player development, amplifying community impact, and promoting role models to inspire future participation of young female players.

The partnership includes the following Volkswagen vehicles, Caddy Kombi Maxi, Crafter 50 23-seater, Tiguan Allspace and T-Cross.

With effect from October 1, 2024, David Powels will take over the responsibilities of Patrik A. Mayer as CFO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars.

“In these times, the finance department is undoubtedly of great importance. As CFO of the Volkswagen brand, Patrik Mayer made a significant contribution to the structured and successful launch of the performance program. David Powel will build on this. And at the same time – under even more difficult conditions – provide impetus for competitive costs and structures. It is also about leveraging the synergies within the Brand Group Core with the utmost consistency,” says Thomas Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, Brand Group Core & CEO Volkswagen Brand.

“David’s contribution has been crucial to the transformation of our company and has helped us achieve our best financial results to date. His role in returning SEAT S.A. to profitability has been key to the growth of our company. I thank him for the support he has given me and SEAT S.A. and I am convinced that he will continue to do a great job as he joins the Board of the Volkswagen brand and we count on his support in the implementation of the SEAT and CUPRA strategy,” says Wayne Griffiths, CEO SEAT and CUPRA. “To continue our journey towards sustainable profitability, it is essential to have experienced and qualified leaders like Patrik Mayer on board. We are very pleased to welcome him to SEAT and CUPRA.”

David Powels graduated in Commerce from Nelson Mandela University of Port Elizabeth and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in South Africa. He also completed a postgraduate degree in Management Development at the University of Cape Town. Powels started his career at Volkswagen South Africa in 1989. After working in Germany and Brazil, he was appointed CEO of Volkswagen Group South Africa in 2007.

He then became President and CEO of Volkswagen Brazil and the Volkswagen Region South America. Since the end of 2017, he has held the position of First Vice-President and Executive Vice-President for Commercial at SAIC Volkswagen Automotive Co. in China, and since September 1, 2021, Powels has been Board Member for Finance and IT at SEAT S.A.

KARIEGA – Volkswagen Group Africa commemorates World Water Week this week with an awareness campaign aimed at encouraging employees to be more mindful of their water usage.

During National Water Month in March, the South African government highlighted that the average South African consumes 237 litres of water per day, significantly higher than the global average of 173 litres per day. Despite this, South Africa ranks among the 30 driest countries in the world, with an average annual rainfall of just 460mm, less than half the global average, according to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

Volkswagen Group Africa is committed to water conservation. Since 2010, the vehicle manufacturer has successfully reduced its water consumption in production by 73%. “We continue to explore ways to further reduce our usage,” said Ulrich Schwabe, Production Director.

Schwabe noted that the rainwater harvesting at the engine plant and the component plant which was installed last year saved approximately 5 000 kilolitres of fresh water in 2023. “This year we have significantly increased our storage capacity by repurposing the old paint shop tanks into water storage tanks. Rainwater which is harvested would have been lost to stormwater drains,” said Schwabe.

Additionally, the wastewater recycling plant can recycle about 200 kilolitres per day. Clean water is reserved for processes that require uncontaminated water, while treated effluent water is used in ablution facilities and other processes that are less dependent on clean water.

There is also a renewed effort to raise awareness among employees and their loved ones about the importance of water conservation. “Each of us needs to adopt habits that reduce our water consumption. While we recognise that issues such as ailing infrastructure and poor maintenance in the public sector contribute to water wastage, individual responsibility is crucial,” Schwabe emphasised.

Volkswagen Group Africa is committed to reducing its environmental impact, with water conservation playing a vital role in reaching this goal.

Volkswagen returns to the Festival of Motoring after a 5-year hiatus which was also punctuated by Covid-19. The 2024 Festival of Motoring is taking place at Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit from 30 August – 1 September 2024.

“Volkswagen is excited to be back at Festival of Motoring to showcase its latest model range and to thrill its customers and visitors with fun filled family activities. The show presents our brand with the opportunity to introduce our customers to our new T-Cross which will be launched at the show and the refreshed Polo Vivo which will start retailing in September”, said Niels Wichmann, Head of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars Brand.

Visitors to the Volkswagen stand will be offered a chance to get on the track, feel the thrill of the new Volkswagen cars. Volkswagen Motorsport drivers will give visitors exhilarating rides in a Super Cup racing Polo.

The other cars on display will be the new ID.4, new Tiguan (launching in September) and the new Touareg.

An array of family-friendly activities, including simulator competitions, kids’ sand art fun and Volkswagen merchandise will be on offer for the visitors of the Volkswagen stand.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will be in the 4×4 Village displaying the ID. Buzz (long-wheel base), Crafter and Amarok.

A project involving the recycling of plastic parts not used in the production process, has earned Volkswagen Group Africa’s plant in Kariega an international award.

The Challenge of the Brands competition, which received more than 140 entries in five categories from across the Volkswagen Group, awarded Plant Kariega top honours in its Zero Impact Factory environmental category.

The winning project has seen the Kariega plant divert 132 tons of plastic waste (equivalent in weight to approximately 105 Polo GTIs) from landfill since the project was initiated in 2023.

Forming part of the plant’s 2Y24 programme for Production and Logistics, the recycling process entails collecting discarded plastic parts such as grommets and plastic caps from engines and components, and then sorting and transporting these parts to local non-profit organisation Vistarus. At Vistarus, which provides shelter for impoverished and substance dependant individuals, the plastic parts are extruded into pellets that is then sold before being upcycled into new items such as crates. The income generated from recycling projects covers a large portion of Vistarus’s operating expenses and enables them to provide employment for the community.

The success of this project is only part of VWGA’s efforts to reduce landfill waste. The company’s waste reduction initiatives have resulted in a 14% reduction in landfill waste since 2021.

“On behalf of the Plant Kariega team, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for this award,” said Ulrich Schwabe, VWGA Production Director. “This recognition not only validates our work but also motivates us to continue supporting as well as finding new initiatives to contribute to the Volkswagen Group environmental strategy. As we strive to achieve a Zero Impact Factory in our production plant by 2030, it is essential that we demonstrate a similar commitment to the community, and this particular project allows us to have a direct impact on the lives of those in need in our community.”

Volkswagen Group Africa’s (VGA) investment of R4 billion in their assembly plant in Kariega, in the Eastern Cape, has been welcomed by Trade, Industry and Competition Minister, Ebrahim Patel.

The investment will introduce a new SUV model built on the Polo platform.

The move also positions the facility as the sole manufacturer of the Polo brand globally and the new SUV model will be exported to global markets.

Patel addressed the public announcement on Wednesday held at VWSA’s facility in Kariega.

He said the investment was a testament to the country’s industrial policy, and it will not only strengthen the assembly plant but also secure the livelihoods of approximately 3 500 people who are directly employed by VWSA.

“Moreover, this investment has rippled through this part of the Eastern Cape, fostering an ecosystem of prosperity and industrialisation, supporting an estimated 50 000 indirect jobs and livelihoods.”

In the last five years, the department said government has undertaken significant work to bolster automotive production in South Africa.

Patel highlighted 10 actions, which have been taken in the sixth administration to support the industry:

• New Automotive Masterplan crafted together with the industry was implemented in July 2021, setting the policy framework for the next decade.
• The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) has concluded modalities, including rules of origin for a first list of auto products, opening up a vast market.
• A free-trade agreement with the United Kingdom after Brexit was concluded and implemented, which enabled South Africa to retain access to preferential terms in the United Kingdom market.
• The establishment of the R6 billion Auto Industry Transformation Fund, which VWSA and other Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) contribute to bringing Black component manufacturers into the supply chain.
• A major agreement with tier 1 auto component manufacturers has been concluded that will ensure greater opportunities for Black manufacturers in tier 2 or tier 3 levels.
• R50 billion in investment commitments in the auto sector have been secured.
• A landmark agreement with Stellantis for the construction of a new R3 billion plant in the Coega Special Economic Zone has been reached.
• Semi-knocked down (SKD) production by BAIC, also in the Coega Special Economic Zone, has commenced as a first phase toward more value-additive complete knocked down (CKD) production.
• A new Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone has been established, with 10 factories for Ford suppliers already built by March 2024, employing 3 300 workers.
• The Electric Vehicle Policy was finalised by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic), and a new incentive package to assist the transition was announced by the Minister of Finance in the 2024 Budget.

According to the department, the automotive industry plays a crucial role in our economy, contributing significantly to gross domestic product (GDP) and employment.

The manufacturing component of the auto industry contributed 2.9% of South Africa’s GDP in 2022.

With over 115 000 direct employees and an additional 240 000 indirect jobs, the department said the auto industry remains a cornerstone of South Africa’s manufacturing sector.

“Despite global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain disruptions, South Africa’s automotive industry has continued to grow.”

Over the past five calendar years, South African OEMs produced 2.7 million vehicles and exported 1.7 million vehicles.

In 2023, South Africa exported a record 399 594 vehicles, a milestone for its industrial resilience and global competitiveness.

Notably, last year, South Africa exported its six millionth vehicle since the start of the democratic era. – SAnews.gov.za

Kariega – Today, Volkswagen Group Africa announced a R4 billion investment in its manufacturing plant in Kariega.

The investment will be used to upgrade facilities in various areas in preparation for the addition of a third model to its production line-up from 2027.

Most of the R4 billion investment will be allocated to capital expenditure for production facilities, manufacturing tooling, local content tooling and quality assurance. Nearly R877 million will be spent to enhance automation in the Body Shop. In the Press Shop, an estimated R418 million will be utilised to procure new press tooling. The first phase of the plant facility upgrade will begin at the end of 2024 during the plant shutdown.

Martina Biene, Chairperson and Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Africa, said the investment announcement reaffirms Volkswagen Group’s commitment to South Africa, where it has been manufacturing vehicles for nearly 73 years.

“Plant Kariega is an important manufacturing plant within the Volkswagen Group production network. Since 2011, Volkswagen has invested R10,28 billion in production facilities, manufacturing equipment, local content tooling and training of people. The new investment is a vote of confidence in the future of the plant. It also futureproofs jobs, not only for our people but also those employed in our supplier network,” explained Biene.

The third model, which will be a SUV, will be manufactured on the same production line as the Polo and Polo Vivo. The Polo and Vivo models are currently the top selling passenger models for the Volkswagen Passenger Cars Brand in South Africa.

The changes being made in preparation for the production of the new SUV also affords training and upskilling opportunities for Volkswagen Group Africa’s production employees.

Localisation remains a key priority for Volkswagen Group Africa. Polo and Vivo currently have 46% and 58% local content levels respectively. The trend is set to continue with the new model, which aims to achieve approximately 40% local content through a R1,2 billion investment.

Volkswagen Brazil is leading the design and development of the new SUV. Volkswagen Group Africa’s Engineering team has collaborated with Volkswagen Brazil for the adaptation of the new model to the local and continental requirements, that for example includes the development of a right-hand drive version.

Biene added: “South Africa is an important market for the Volkswagen Group, particularly in terms of our long-term goal to establish our footprint on the African continent, which is seen as the last frontier for automotive development. As such, we have recently renamed our local company to Volkswagen Group Africa, to represent our steering responsibilities and ambitions to grow the Volkswagen brand on the continent. The new model has the potential to be sold in other African markets where Volkswagen has a presence.”

Biene further added: “As most global vehicle markets transition to electric vehicles, African markets like South Africa will continue manufacturing and selling vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICEs) for the foreseeable future, owing to customer demand for ICEs and slow introduction of electric vehicles in these markets. However, for the Volkswagen Brand the electrification journey begins this year with the introduction of our ID.4 test fleet in South Africa and Rwanda.”