Four decades have passed since Volkswagen started production of its B-segment supermini car, the VW Polo, in Spain. However, from now on this model for the European market will be produced in South Africa.
The VW Polo was introduced in 1975 and over time became one of the German manufacturer’s best-selling cars, with over 8 million cars produced in the Spanish factory. The growing pressure to produce electric cars forced Volkswagen to transfer the production of this model to another contingent. Two new affordable electric cars that Volkswagen plans to launch by 2026 will be produced in Spain. It will be the Volkswagen ID.2 X and Škoda Epiq, based on the MEB Entry platform.
Thus, VW plans to invest more than one billion euros in order to adapt the production plant to new electric models. However, the workers employed in this factory are asking what will happen until the moment when the production of electric cars starts. We are talking about a period of less than two years. Forecasts say that the factory will produce 1/4 million vehicles this year and only 150,000 units in 2025.
The new VW ID.2 will be produced at the Martorello plant and will hit the market at the end of 2025, while its SUV version will be built in Navarre and will have to undergo a transformation to adapt to these new small electric cars.
Source: Volkswagen