Latest news with #VolkswagenTera
IOL News
6 days ago
- Automotive
- IOL News
Volkswagen SA's locally produced entry-level SUV now a step closer: here's what to expect
The new Volkswagen Tera, to be marketed with a different name locally, will be positioned below the T-Cross. Image: Supplied Volkswagen South Africa is gearing up to build a brand new entry-level SUV at its production plant in Kariega, Eastern Cape. The new model is now a step closer to reality following a recent plant upgrade that saw the facility halt production of its existing Polo and Polo Vivo models for four weeks. VWSA said 60% of the preparation work for the new SUV product had taken place during the December 2024 shutdown period, while the most recent shutdown, from April 14 to May 12, saw the remaining 40% of upgrades being implemented. This included the programming of robots in the paint shop, completing all installations in the Body Shop, and modifying conveyors in the Final Assembly area. This means the production of the new 'AO SUV Entry' project, as it's called, has now entered the commissioning phase, with remaining work set to take place in order to prevent any further production disruptions. VWSA said it was working closely with their colleagues in Volkswagen of Brazil to develop, build and launch this new model. It is believed that the AO SUV Entry product will be closely based on the Brazilian-developed Volkswagen Tera, albeit with a few modifications for the African market. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading The Tera was designed and developed in Brazil, but will be adapted for the SA market. Image: Supplied It is also set to receive a new name for our market, which reportedly will be determined through a public vote. The new entry SUV is closely related to the current Polo, formed around Volkswagen's MQB-AO platform, but featuring unique body panels and interior components. South African specifications will be announced closer to launch, but for what it's worth, the Brazilian model is offered with a choice of normally aspirated and turbocharged 1.0 TSI petrol engines, culminating in the 85kW version also seen in the Polo. plied The interior bears some resemblance to the latest Tiguan and T-Cross models. Image: Supplied It is likely, however, that SA's entry-level models will be powered by the current 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre MPI normally aspirated engines, as they are locally produced. It's too early to speculate on pricing, but VWSA has previously stated that it will slot beneath the T-Cross, which currently starts at R399,900.
The Citizen
7 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
The Citizen
26-05-2025
- 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
