Volkswagen has announced its expansion into Africa with a new production facility in Kenya that will start production at the end of 2016.

The plant in Kenya will be built just outside Nairobi and have the capability of producing 5000 units a year. The plant is the third of its kind in Africa, the others being in South Africa and Nigeria.

Thomas Schaefer, Chairman and Managing Director of Volkswagen South Africa commented, “We are taking the successful Polo Vivo from South Africa to Kenya to leverage the enormous growth potential of the African automobile market and participate in its positive development. This compact model is the best-selling car in the Sub-Saharan region – so it is the ideal entry model for the promising Kenyan market,”

The first Vivo is expected to roll off the production line by the end of 2016. The plant will also serve as a training facility for young people to develop and learn industrial skills.

A long tradition links Volkswagen and Kenya: back in the 1960s, Volkswagen assembled the Beetle in Kenya. The brand is now returning to the country, initially with the Polo Vivo. Volkswagen will review local production of further models should the new vehicle market showpositive development.

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