PoloDriver

The best-selling car brand in South Africa now has another reason to stay at the top of the charts. The Polo Vivo now comes with air-conditioning as standard, with the exception of the 1.4-litre 74bhp three-door base model hatchback. ‘The new Polo Vivo is manufactured in South Africa exclusively for South African motorists. In fact, local content levels in the new Polo Vivo now exceed 70% – illustrating the true South African colours of the Polo Vivo. The inclusion of air conditioning as standard throughout the range should make the Polo Vivo proposition to South African motorists even more enticing,’ said Mike Glendinning, Director Sales and Marketing, Volkswagen Group South Africa. Prices of the air-conditioning equipped Polo Vivo hatchback and sedan ranges from 1 September 2010 (including VAT and CO2 emissions tax) are detailed below.

Polo Vivo hatchback
1.4 3dr 74bhp, R104,065
1.4 5dr 74bhp, R116,065
1.4 5dr Trendline 84bhp, R127,465
1.6 5dr 104bhp, R142,320
1.6 5dr Trendline 103bhp, R150,320

Polo Vivo sedan
1.4 4dr 74bhp, R121,965
1.4 4dr Trendline 84bhp, R133,365
1.6 4dr 104bhp, R148,220
1.6 4dr Trendline 104bhp, R156,220

The fifth-generation Polo and new Polo Vivo are among the jewels in Volkswagen South Africa’s 2010 range of cars, so it’s only right that they are the stars in the latest issue of the company’s customer publication, Volkswagen magazine. From the New Polo’s World Car of the Year and European Car of the Year awards to the technologically innovative Polo Skylab launch event, there’s plenty of coverage of the latest model, and even a behind the scenes story from the ‘Expect Big Things’ snow in Cape Town TV commercial (we covered it first, though, of course). There is a report on the Polo Vivo’s entertainment extravaganza launch party at the Sun City Superbowl – where international music acts performed with South Africa’s finest homegrown musicians – as well as the story behind the new top-selling, unique-to-South-Africa Volkswagen entry-level model. Read all this and more in the latest issue of Volkswagen magazine, available to download here.

Spain’s football team weren’t the only winners celebrating in South Africa in July. Volkswagen South Africa was punching the air, too, as two members of its model range finished first and second in the country’s new car sales charts. Lifting the trophy for the most units sold, the Polo Vivo achieved record monthly sales of 3141 cars, keeping its lead as South Africa’s favourite passenger car brand. The fifth-generation New Polo stood just below the Vivo on the podium in second place, with sales of 1505 units.

‘Of significance was the July export volume of 7728 New Polos to global right hand drive markets. Our global markets are holding up well and we are on track to achieve the full year planned export volume of 75,000 Polos,’ commented Mike Glendinning, Director of Sales and Marketing, Volkswagen Group South Africa. ‘Volkswagen Group South Africa was again the front runner in the passenger market with sales of 6949 cars and a resultant market share of 23.8%,’ he continued.

During July 2010, a total of 29,203 new passenger cars were sold in South Africa, up 9% when compared to June, and by 32.4% when compared to July 2009. This brings the overall year-to-date market in 2010 to a level 28.6% above the same period last year. ‘As is usually the case for the month of July, sales to rental car companies provided an elevated base of support for new car sales during the month, despite the above average demand from rental car companies during the first quarter of the year ahead of the Soccer World Cup,’ Glendinning stated.

June 2010 saw a total of 26,810 new passenger cars sold in South Africa. The total number of new passenger car sales in the country increased by 4.2% when compared to May 2010, and by 25.8% when compared to June 2009, bringing the year-to-date June market in 2010 to a level 27.9% above the same period for 2009. And the top-selling car of June 2010? Following on from April and May’s impressive figures, the new Polo Vivo is again the best-selling car in the market.

‘Volkswagen Group South Africa was again passenger car leader with 22.1% share of the total passenger market. Significantly, the Group’s passenger car sales year to date, are 35.6% ahead of the same period in 2009,’ said Mike Glendinning, Director of Sales and Marketing, Volkswagen of South Africa. ‘The uniquely South African Polo Vivo was the number one passenger car Brand for the third consecutive month, selling 2471 units. The no compromise value proposition of the Polo Vivo has clearly resonated with the South African consumer,’ he continued.

The Polo Vivo, which was launched in March 2010 as an entry-level model for the South African market. Available as both a hatchback and saloon with 74bhp/84bhp 1.4-litre and 103hp 1.6-litre units, two trim levels are available: base and Trendline. Costing from R101,500 for the most basic 1.4 model, the Polo Vivo is based on the facelifted version of the Series 4 Polo, built from 2005 to 2009. Changes include front and rear bumpers, as well as a revised front grille and other minor bodywork changes.

May 2010 saw a total of 25,724 new passenger cars sold in South Africa. The total number of new passenger car sales in the country increased by 9.1% when compared to April 2010, and by 36.3% when compared to May 2009, bringing the year-to-date May market in 2010 to a level 28.3% above the same period for 2009. And the top-selling car of May 2010? The new Polo Vivo, with 2546 units finding homes.

‘Volkswagen of South Africa continued to dominate the passenger car market with 22.6% share and total sales of 5808 units. We are very encouraged by the reaction from the market to our new entry level Polo Vivo,’ said Mike Glendinning, Director of Sales and Marketing, Volkswagen of South Africa. ‘The new car sales cycle therefore appears set to continue growing through 2010, but possibly characterised by slower rates of growth during the second half of the year than what have been experienced so far in 2010,’ he continued.

The Polo Vivo, which was launched in March 2010 as an entry-level model for the South African market, was also the country’s best-selling passenger car brand in April 2010, shifting 2187 units. Available as both a hatchback and saloon with 74bhp/84bhp 1.4-litre and 103bhp 1.6-litre units, two trim levels are available: base and Trendline. Costing from R101,500 for the lowliest 1.4 model, the Polo Vivo is based on the facelifted version of the Series 4 Polo, built from 2005 to 2009.