| NAACAM CEO Renai Moothilal joined other NAACAM members and other industry leaders at the Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) 75th Anniversary Gala Dinner in Kariega, marking 75 years of Volkswagen manufacturing in South Africa. The event saw the reveal of the new Volkswagen Tengo, which will become the third model manufactured at the Kariega plant alongside the Polo and Polo Vivo, supported by a R4 billion investment. Delivering the keynote address, President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted the importance of growing domestic production and increasing the value created locally: “We must not only assemble the vehicles of the future. We must increasingly manufacture the components, process the materials and develop the skills and technologies that go into them.” Thomas Schäfer, CEO of the Volkswagen brand globally, reflected on the significance of the Kariega plant: “Kariega has secured its place in the Volkswagen world over the past 75 years. Generations of employees have built vehicles here that have won the trust of customers in South Africa and far beyond. The plant stands for quality, competitiveness and a clear commitment to performance.” Reflecting on the milestone, Moothilal said: “Long-term OEM investment provides the foundation for a stronger local supplier base. The opportunity now is to translate such assembly investments into greater market share, deeper localisation, new value chain capabilities and sustainable manufacturing jobs” NAACAM congratulates Martina Biene, the leadership team, employees and suppliers of Volkswagen Group Africa for 75 years of manufacturing excellence in South Africa and its continued investment in the country’s automotive industry. |
