September 24, 2024 – After a four-decade journey, Volkswagen has brought the curtain down on the production of its iconic Polo in Europe, as reported by European Car News and Carscoops today. The small car, which was being manufactured at the company’s Pamplona factory in Spain, will now be exclusively produced at the Kariega plant in South Africa.
Meanwhile, the Spanish factory is undergoing a transformation, shifting its focus to the assembly of two new small electric vehicles. Despite a decline in sales in recent years, the Polo remains a significant model for the Volkswagen brand. In the first eight months of this year, the car sold slightly over 90,000 units, securing its position as the eighth best-selling vehicle in Europe.
Volkswagen will continue to produce the T-Cross and Taigo at the Pamplona plant while gradually transitioning to electric vehicles. From 2026, two new small electric SUVs will be assembled at the facility – one sold under the Volkswagen brand (expected to be the ID.2), and the other under the Škoda marque. These two new models will be smaller and more affordable than the Polo.
Since its launch in 1984, Volkswagen has produced a total of 8.4 million Polos at the Pamplona factory. The company revealed that the final model to roll off the production line in July was a blue Life variant, equipped with a 95-horsepower 1.0-liter TSi engine and a five-speed manual transmission.
In June this year, Volkswagen completed the design of its entry-level ID.2 electric vehicle, priced at $27,000. The automaker plans to unveil this new affordable EV before the end of the year, promising that it will be “better than the concept car.”
