Volkswagen Tengo 2027: production in South Africa and Kariega plant investment
Volkswagen will build the Tengo, a South African version of the Tera, at its Kariega plant from 2027 after investing 4 billion rand in the site.
Volkswagen has confirmed preparations to produce the Tengo crossover in South Africa, a local version of the Volkswagen Tera. The company has invested 4 billion rand in the plant, while the vehicle is being adapted primarily for South Africa and other African markets, including the development of a right-hand-drive version.
Volkswagen is preparing production of the compact Tengo crossover at its Kariega plant in South Africa. The model is based on the Volkswagen Tera developed in Brazil, and series production in Kariega is scheduled to begin in 2027.
The project itself is not new: Volkswagen announced the investment in the facility back in 2024. A total of 4 billion rand is being spent on upgrading production capacity, tooling, equipment for locally sourced components and quality control. For the new SUV, Volkswagen is targeting a local-content share of around 40%.
Development of the vehicle has been led by Volkswagen's Brazilian division, while Volkswagen Group Africa engineers are adapting the model to local and regional requirements. In particular, the company has officially confirmed development of a right-hand-drive version.