News
After 40 Years, Production Of The VW Polo Ends In Spain
The Volkswagen Polo no longer has a European birthplace. After more than 40 years, the curtain falls on production in Pamplona, Spain. The hatchback must make way for production lines where electric cars see the light of day.
On 20 March 1984, the first Volkswagen Polo rolled off the production line in Pamplona, Spain. The last example rolled off the production line on 2 July this year. Does this mean the end of the Polo? As far as European production is concerned, yes, but the Polo will remain available in Europe for the time being. The examples destined for Europe will now be produced in Kariega, South Africa. Incidentally, this Polo Vivo is also built there, a visually refreshed version of the previous generation Polo.
It is not that Volkswagen Navarra – as the Pamplona factory is called- has suddenly lost interest in the Polo. However, the Spanish factory is preparing for the arrival of two fully electric models that will see the light of day there. These are compact electric crossovers for Skoda and Volkswagen. Skoda already gave a fairly accurate preview of its compact electric crossover: the Epiq. We have not yet seen much of the Volkswagen equivalent that will be built in Spain. It is the crossover brother of the upcoming ID2. Volkswagen only showed a shadowy silhouette of this electric alternative to the T-Cross at the end of 2023. The T-Cross and Taigo that Volkswagen currently produces in Pamplona will be assembled alongside these electric newcomers.
The Skoda Epiq and its Volkswagen cousin won’t be the only Volkswagen Group electric models built in Spain. Seat’s Martorell plant will be the birthplace of two electric hatchbacks: the Volkswagen ID2 and the Cupra Raval. Like the electric crossovers to be produced in Pamplona, these hatchbacks will be based on the MEB Entry platform: a cheaper and shortened MEB base that you’ll currently find under the Volkswagen ID3, ID4, ID5, ID7, Skoda Enyaq and Cupra Born.
Last Spanish Polo
In total, Volkswagen produced no less than 8,422,161 Polos in Spain. The last example was not an exuberant party animal or a sporty GTI, but simply a modest Life version with a 1.0 TSI of 95 hp and a manual five-speed gearbox.
