After making many important strides in the continent in recent years, Volkswagen has accelerated its plans for growth in Africa by taking over the responsibilities of the assembly facility in Ghana. VW has been manufacturing vehicles at this location for the last 72 years and it is the fourth Volkswagen assembly location in Sub-Saharan Africa after Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa.
Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) Chairperson and Managing Director, Martina Biene is confident that this growth will be extremely positive. Biene remarked: “We are encouraged by the automotive policy changes which some of the countries have implemented or in the process of implementing. These policies will help us to sell new high quality vehicles which are backed by a well-established global brand to our African customers.”
With a presence already established in 17 Sub-Saharan African countries, Volkswagen has been successfully delivering passenger and commercial vehicles through licensed importers for many years. “We will continue to grow the Volkswagen brand in these markets and strengthen our after sales support to customers. Ongoing training is provided to technical staff at the Volkswagen locations to meet customer requirements and expectations,” said Biene.
When it comes to the world’s ten fastest-growing economies, five are in Africa. These are Rwanda, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Ethiopia and Tanzania.
Biene concluded by stating: “Rwanda has been the success story of our growth plans in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is also the innovation hub of our sustainable mobility lighthouse projects on the continent. Our mobility solutions services business, which includes ride hailing and corporate car sharing, broke even last year. Rwanda was also the first country in Sub-Saharan Africa to launch a Volkswagen electric vehicle with the e-Golfs.”
