Latest news with #Tera
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘A story of triumph': Cocke County community continues cleanup eight months after Helene
COCKE COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) — It has been eight months since Hurricane Helene left portions of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina in ruin as flood waters took out everything in its path. The motto Cocke County strong has been ringing through the are since the storm first hit as the area continues to get back to a sense of normalcy. 'It's been an honor to be a part of it, especially to watch it happen and see how everyone is pulling together,' Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis said. 'We are not just rebuilding, we are continuing the momentum of growth and advancement that we are experiencing, that momentum we built is continuing even through this rebuilding phase.' Some of the areas hardest hit include Hartford, the Edwina community and those along Denton Road. One homeowner who lives along highway 73 says there are no words to describe what the last eight months have been like. Knoxville family wants 'substandard' conditions at apartment fixed 'It's different. It's very, I don't know how to explain it,' Tera who lives across from the Pigeon River said. 'It's something that I never thought we'd have to go through but you just keep going.' Tera and her family are not originally from the Cocke County area but say after seeing how the community came together, they made the right choice in moving there. 'We actually moved or bought the house two years ago,' Tera said. 'We didn't really know anybody, still don't. We just feel a lot closer, it feels like we picked the right place to live.' Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis saying they've already done a lot of work and are making progress, unemployment in the area has seen a decrease and is now below 4.5% and there is a new industrial park that will be opening, but there's still a lot to be done. 'This is a story in three acts. The first two acts are the stories of the disaster and the response and the recovery,' Mathis said. 'The third act is the recovery, ultimately it's not a story of disaster but at the end it will be a story of triumph. Right now, we are at the foothills of that third act.' Deadline to apply approaching for Tennessee governor's recovery fund Mathis adding, as they have been saying from the beginning of the recovery and rebuilding process, they will come out stronger than they were before the storm. Mayor Mathis also telling 6 News, it's going to take time to get back to a full sense of normalcy and bad things happen quick, but good things take time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
VW plant Kariega enters next phase for production of new SA-built crossover
Volkswagen's Plant Kariega in the Eastern Cape has entered the next phase in preparation for production of the third SA-built model. Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! As Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) continues to prepare Plant Kariega for production of its third South African-built model, the automaker has announced the Eastern Cape-based assembly facility has entered the commissioning phase for the highly-anticipated entry-level compact crossover/SUV. Related: VW's Kariega Plant Will Pause Production in 2025 For R4 Billion Investment of Tera SUV This announcement comes after VWGA halted production at Plant Kariega earlier in 2024 (from April 14 to May 12) to complete the upgrades, notably to the body shop, paint shop and final assembly areas, made to the manufacturing line in December 2024. Noteworthy, with the aforementioned upgrades completed, production of the Polo Vivo and Polo has returned to normal, while the commissioning phase is carried out over the weekends. The latter phase comprises the processes of bringing the new equipment online and carrying out the necessary checks to ensure it operates optimally. Related: VW Finally Unveils New SA-built Compact Crossover Built alongside the aforementioned two cars, the automaker's upcoming product will serve as the opening gambit to the company's local crossover/SUV portfolio, which currently comprises the Polo-based T-Cross and Taigo, T-Roc, Tiguan and Touareg. Positioned below the T-Cross, the Tera — as it is named in Brazil, where it is also manufactured — will officially be introduced in 2027. Locally, however, this model will be known by a different yet unannounced name. The German marque's SA arm has, however, confirmed that its moniker won't necessarily adhere to its 'T' naming convention. Related: Polo Production Halts at Kariega for Tooling of New A0 SUV VWGA production director Ulrich Schwabe said: 'We are happy to be back to normal production, with the knowledge that we are one step closer to our future of building three models in our plant.' Click here and browse thousands of new and used vehicles with CARmag! The post VW Plant Kariega Enters Next Phase for Production of New SA-built Crossover appeared first on CAR Magazine.
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Volkswagen completes first factory updates for ‘Tera' production
Joint venture product with Brazil and India will, seemingly, enter production next year before arriving on dealership floors in 2027. The first phase of Volkswagen Tera production readiness in South Africa has been completed. Image: Volkswagen do Brasil Volkswagen has entered what it describes as the next phase of its factory overhaul in preparation for the commencement of local production of its still unnamed MQB A0 Entry SUV in 2027. Shutdown Last month, the automaker confirmed a four-week shutdown of its Kariega Plant in Eastern Cape for the installation of 100 robots, revisions to conveyor belts in the final assembly area, and upgrades to the body shop and paint shop for the newcomer that will become the third model assembled locally alongside the Polo and Polo Vivo. ALSO READ: What South Africa can expect: Volkswagen Tera detailed in Brazil While well known to be a South African-market version of the Tera that went on sale in Brazil this week, a different name will be used. Volkswagen hinted that its annual product Indaba in February will have a distinctly African-flavoured moniker. The next phase In its latest update about the plant being back in operation, Volkswagen stated that the 'Tera' has entered the 'commissioning phase', which it defines as 'a systematic process of bringing the new equipment online and performing necessary checks to ensure these are functioning optimally'. It added that this will be implemented over weekends to avoid delays in the regular three-shift running of the plant located in the town formerly known as Uitenhage. It remains to be seen whether the interior, apart from the shift from left to right-hand drive, will undergo any additional changes for South Africa. Image: Volkswagen do Brasil The result of an R4-billion investment into the plant last year, the joint venture between Volkswagen Group Africa, Volkswagen do Brasil and Skoda India has seen South Africa take the lead on project development, despite it being the final market to receive it. Unveiled last year in India as the Skoda Kylaq, the 'Tera' will seemingly be positioned between the T-Cross and Taigo, although it could become Volkswagen's smallest SUV locally as production of the former, in Europe, is anticipated to end next year in readiness for its all-electric replacement, the ID.2X. What to expect In Brazil, the Tera occupies the position below the Taigo's South American sibling, the Nivus, with pricing ranging from below R330 000 to a smidgen over R440 000 when directly converted from reais to Rands. While normally aspirated and turbocharged versions of the 1.0-litre three-cylinder are offered, South Africa is likely to receive only the latter combined with either the five-speed manual gearbox or the optional six-speed Tiptronic. Tera's name will be dropped for South Africa. Image: Volkswagen do Brasil 'We are happy to be back to normal production, with the knowledge that we are one step closer to our future of building three models in our plant,' Volkswagen Group Africa's Production Director, Ulrich Schwabe, said in a statement. 'I would like to thank every employee who has played a part in the process of preparing for this future icon in our Volkswagen line-up, and I look forward to working with these colleagues, as well as our Brazilian counterparts, as we continue on this journey'. More soon Hinted at the Indaba possibly being showcased in pre-production form early next year, speculation has stated that assembly will start late 2026 before the onset of sales in 2027. As it stands though, this is purely speculative and could well change over the coming 18 months or so. NOW READ: Volkswagen halts local production in preparation for 2027 SUV
TimesLIVE
4 days ago
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
VW's Kariega plant enters next phase of new budget SUV production
Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) has completed the latest round of production facility upgrades at its Kariega plant as it moves forward with preparations to manufacture a third vehicle model from 2027. The new model, a compact A0 SUV known as the Tera in Brazil, will join the Polo and Polo Vivo on the production line. Built on the same chassis as the Polo, the Tera is positioned below the T-Cross in Volkswagen's global SUV line-up. Plans to produce it locally were announced in February during the VW Indaba media event. The vehicle will adopt a different moniker when it goes on sale, with VW planning to open a naming campaign across the African continent in the coming months. By the end of 2024, about 60% of the required production upgrades had been completed during the plant's December shutdown. The remaining 40% was addressed during a planned production pause from April 14 to May 12 this year. This included final work in the body shop, paint shop and final assembly areas. Specific tasks involved:
The Citizen
5 days ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
What South Africa can expect: Volkswagen Tera detailed in Brazil
Production at the Kariega Plant will seemingly start in mid or late-2026 before the commencing of sales in 2027. Shown globally in March, the Volkswagen Tera has officially gone on-sale in Brazil. Image: Volkswagen do Brasil Its world debut having taken place in March, Volkswagen has released complete details of the all-new Tera in Brazil that will debut under a different name in South Africa in 2027. Finer specifications The 'third model' Wolfsburg will produce alongside the Polo and Polo Vivo at its Kariega Plant in the Eastern Cape, the Tera's market launch in the South American nation this past weekend sees the disclosing of several details not known until now. ALSO READ: Coming to South Africa in 2027: Wraps come off Volkswagen Tera A joint venture product between South Africa, Brazil and India where it premiered last year as the Skoda Kylaq, the Tera is based on the same MQB A0 platform as the Polo and measures 4 151 mm long, 1 777 mm wide and 1 504 mm wide. Entry-level Tera will have starting price, directly converted to Rands, of less than R330 000. Image: Volkswagen do Brasil Riding on a 2 566 mm long wheelbase, the Tera has a reported boot capacity of 350-litres with the rear seats down, and, in Brazil, will be positioned above the Polo but below the Nivus known in Europe and South Africa as the Taigo. Spec Likely to become Volkswagen's smallest SUV in developing markets as production of the T-Cross is expected to end in 2026 due to the arrival of the all-electric ID.2X, the Brazilian-spec Tera will be made at the São Bernardo do Campo plant and come in four trim grades; base, Plus, Comfort and Comfort+. Range-opener rides on 15-inch steel wheels with plastic covers as standard. Image: Volkswagen do Brasil In terms of specification, all model are fitted as standard with six airbags, Automatic Emergency Braking, cruise control, LED headlights, Driver Attention Alert, rear parking sensors, electric windows and mirrors, a height adjustable steering column, Post Collison Braking and a height adjustable steering column. On the base and Plus, the digital instrument cluster measures eight-inches, as does the 10-inch infotainment system with integrated wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Depicted Comfort variant rides on 16-inch alloy wheels and step-up Comfort+ on 17-inch wheels. Image: Volkswagen do Brasil Key differences are 16-inch steel wheels with plastic covers for the Plus as opposed to the base's 15-inches, and a leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel. Building on the Plus, the Comfort gets 16-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and push-button start, paddle shifters and Adaptive Cruise Control as standard, with a wireless smartphone charger and climate control forming part of the optional comfort package priced at R $1 400 or a directly converted R4 418. Base grade gets a digital instrument cluster and the 10-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. Image: Volkswagen do Brasil At the range's summit, the Comfort+ nets the climate control and wireless charger, plus the bigger 10.25-inch instrument cluster, a reverse camera, 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels and ambient lighting. An optional driver assistance package with Blind Spot Monitoring and Lane Change Assist can be had for an additional R $2 839, which, directly, converts to R8 959. N/A or TSI On the power front, the Tera retains the Volkswagen Group's familiar 1.0-litre three-cylinder engines, but with or without turbocharging. Depicted Comfort+ has a darker upholstery interior trim, as well as the 10.25-inch instrument cluster as standard. Image: Volkswagen do Brasil For the latter, outputs range from 56kW/92Nm when using petrol to 62kW/101Nm on ethanol. The sole transmission is a five-speed manual. With the TSI suffix, the 1.0-litre serves-up 81kW/165Nm when paired to the manual 'box and 85kW/170Nm paired to the six-speed Tiptronic. Brazil pricing Note: Pricing has been directly converted to Rands and thus excludes the various taxes locally assembly models will be slapped with once sales start. In terms of pricing, the Tera range is as follows: Tera 1.0 – R $103 990 (R327 493) Tera 1.0 TSI Plus – R $116 990 (R368 434) Tera 1.0 TSI Comfort Tiptronic – R $126 990 (R399 927) Tera 1.0 TSI Comfort+ Tiptronic – R $139 990 (R440 867) Production likely to start in 2026 Hinted by Volkswagen South Africa at its annual product Indaba in February as possibly showing itself in pre-production guise next year before the commencing of sales, operations at the Kariega Plant have already started after the halting of production last month for the installation of 100 robots, refurbishments to the paint shop, body shop and final assembly area. Part of a record R4-billion investment announced last year, the local market Tera will seemingly go on-sale in early 2027 as production looks set to formally start either in the middle or towards the end of 2026. As such, expect pricing to only be announced then. Information from Brazil. ALSO READ: Volkswagen lowering output for 2025 as it prepares for new SUV
