President Cyril Ramaphosa has hailed Volkswagen Group Africa’s 75-year manufacturing journey in South Africa, describing the company’s long-standing presence as a partnership that has helped shape the country’s automotive industry.

Speaking at the anniversary gala dinner in Kariega, Ramaphosa reflected on the first Volkswagen Beetle produced at the Uitenhage plant on 31 August 1951, marking the beginning of what would become the largest German investment in Southern Africa.

The Kariega facility, the oldest Volkswagen manufacturing plant outside Europe, has produced nearly five million vehicles, including the Beetle, Kombi, Golf, Jetta, Citi Golf, Polo and Polo Vivo. It is also the only Volkswagen plant globally producing the Polo and exporting it to Europe and the Asia-Pacific.

Ramaphosa highlighted Volkswagen’s contribution to employment, skills development, local suppliers and community investment, noting that more than 156,000 vehicles were produced at the plant last year, with almost 120,000 exported.

He also welcomed Volkswagen’s R4 billion investment linked to the new Volkswagen Tengo, which will become the third model produced at Kariega alongside the Polo and Polo Vivo.

As the automotive industry shifts towards electric, hybrid and other new-energy vehicles, Ramaphosa said South Africa must strengthen its manufacturing capabilities, develop local technologies and expand participation by black industrialists and South African suppliers.

“Much has changed since then,” Ramaphosa said, reflecting on the past 75 years. “But what has endured is the partnership between Volkswagen and South Africa.”

He said the next chapter should focus on building vehicles for South Africa, for Africa and for the world.