WOLFSBURG: Volkswagen has ended production of its Polo model in Europe after 40 years, marking a big shift in the company’s manufacturing strategy.
Built at its Spanish plant in Pamplona since 1984, the Polo has been a best-seller in the small car category with 8.4 million units produced over four decades.
Despite a decline in sales, the Polo still sold over 90,000 units in the first eight months of 2024, making it Europe’s eighth top-selling small car.
Volkswagen is shifting its focus to electric vehicles (EVs) and will no longer produce the Polo in Europe, instead moving its production to its Kariega plant in South Africa.
The Pamplona facility will be repurposed for the assembly of two new electric SUVs by 2026.
One of these, the ID.2all, will be Volkswagen’s entry-level EV, priced at under €25,000 ($27,500) and expected to offer up to 450km of range. It will be based on a modified version of the MEB platform, which underpins Volkswagen’s current ID series, including the ID.3.
Skoda, Volkswagen’s subsidiary, will also launch a small electric SUV from the same platform, branded as the Epiq. Both models will be built at the Pamplona plant, while a related Cupra EV will be produced in Martorell, Spain.
The end of Polo production in Europe highlights Volkswagen's growing emphasis on affordable EVs as part of its broader shift towards electrification and future mobility.
However, the Polo will still be available in European markets, albeit built outside the continent.
