Volkswagen of South Africa (VWSA) will export 55 000 new generation Polos in 2010, almost doubling 2009's exports of 28 000 units, of which 19 000 will be new Polos.

VWSA’s new undertaking has come about due to major investments into the Nelson Mandela Bay Logisitics Park by international component suppliers. It will enable the new Polo to be made up of about 74% of locally made components by the second half of 2010.

VWSA's export programme follows a four-year, R3.5-billion investment in plant, equipment, training and product development.

A further R500-million is to be spent in 2010 to complete the process, noted Powels.

Reported by Engineering News