Leslie Massey
Although Volkswagen is a German car maker, it may come as a surprise that Australia once made Volkswagens. In fact, the very first Volkswagen in Australia was a Kubelwagen imported by the military and now on display in the Australian War Memorial. During WWII, ANZACs captured Kubelwagens from the enemy, and their effectiveness in the North African desert led local military minds to want to test the VW on Australian soil. However, Volkswagen has never been a low-cost, economic model for the average Australian worker; instead, it has always been a status symbol. In 1951, a German migrant, Therese Hanael, bought a VW from a British officer before she left Antwerp. It is believed that Hanael's VW was the first VW to be personally imported to Australia. Today, the Volkswagen Golf is made in Germany, but the company is considering plans to bring cars manufactured in China to Australian showrooms in the coming years.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country of Manufacture | Germany, South Africa, Mexico |
| Australian-made Volkswagens | Yes, in the past |
| Current Australian Stock | Golf, Tiguan, Touareg, T-Cross, Polo |
| Chinese-made Volkswagens in Australia | Possible in the future |
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What You'll Learn
History of Australian-made Volkswagens
Although Volkswagen is typically thought of as a German car manufacturer, Australia once produced its own Volkswagens. The history of the Australian Volkswagen spans over seven decades and began with the country's military. During World War II, ANZACs captured Kubelwagens from the enemy in North Africa. Local military leaders wanted to test the Volkswagen on Australian soil. In 1949, the military sold two of these Beetles to the public at auction. In 1951, a German migrant, Therese Hanael, bought a VW from a British officer before she left Antwerp. Hanael's VW was likely the first personally imported to Australia. Two years later, South Melbourne's Regent Motors secured the import and distribution rights for Volkswagen. These were imported VWs, but they marked a step toward Australia's first locally built VW.
In the late 1950s, tax concessions were introduced for cars assembled locally to boost the domestic car manufacturing industry. In June 1954, Regent Motors hired Martin & King Pty Ltd, railway carriage manufacturers, to assemble "completely knocked down" (CKD) VWs shipped in from overseas. By shipping the cars in parts, more VWs could be included in each shipment, and Regent Motors could benefit from local concessions. By 1957, Australia was manufacturing 51% of the components of the flatpacked Beetles.
However, by the late 1970s, the production of Australian Volkswagens had ended. In 1976, Nissan, which owned Volkswagen Australia, decided to discontinue the under-selling 1975 Beetle due to new emissions-capping legislation. While modifications were made to the Passat and Golf models, similar changes to the Beetle were deemed too costly for too little gain. In March 1977, Nissan concluded that the costs of building the remaining VWs in Australia to the expected level of quality were too high and ceased production of the Golf and Passat as well.
In recent years, Volkswagen has considered bringing cars manufactured in China to Australian showrooms, potentially including budget-priced electric cars. The Volkswagen Polo Classic, introduced in 2004, was the first Chinese-built passenger car sold in Australia. Outside of China, some Volkswagen models are also assembled in South Africa, Mexico, and Slovakia.
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Volkswagen Golfs made in Germany
The Volkswagen Golf is a compact car/small family car produced by the German automotive manufacturer Volkswagen since 1974. It is marketed worldwide across eight generations and various body configurations and nameplates.
The Volkswagen Golf has been manufactured in Germany, with the GTI MK6 built at the Wolfsburg plant. In 2014, Volkswagen launched sales of the e-Golf in Germany, with deliveries beginning in the UK at the end of June that year. The Golf GTE, a plug-in hybrid version of the Golf hatchback, was also released in Germany in August 2014.
While Volkswagen Golfs have been made in Germany, the company has factories in Europe, North America, South America, Asia, and Africa, and Volkswagen vehicles are manufactured in all these locations. However, not all factories can make every model, so the availability of each Volkswagen model varies by region.
In addition to Germany, Volkswagen Golfs have been produced in Mexico and South Africa. The Volkswagen plant in Puebla, Mexico, was the main supplier of the Golf for North America, but production moved back to Europe in 2017. The Golf is also assembled in South Africa, along with other Volkswagen models such as the Polo and the Amarok ute.
While Volkswagen is a German car maker, it is worth noting that the company has considered plans to bring cars manufactured in China to Australian showrooms. This strategy would allow Volkswagen to sell Chinese-built cars in Australia at a lower price than those made in Europe.
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Volkswagen Golfs made in China
Volkswagen Golfs are made in several countries, including Germany, Mexico, South Africa, and China.
In China, Volkswagen has 23 production plants, with a total output of 4.1 million units annually. The Volkswagen Group has been operating in China since 1978, when they were first contacted by Chinese partners. In 1984, they founded their first joint venture in the country, the SAIC Volkswagen Corporation Ltd., in Shanghai. This was followed by the FAW-Volkswagen Corporation Ltd. in 1991. In 2017, they launched another joint venture, the Volkswagen (Anhui) Automotive Company Limited, with the aim of producing NEVs (New Energy Vehicles).
While there are currently no specific models of the Volkswagen Golf made in China that are sold in Australia, Volkswagen is considering bringing Chinese-manufactured cars to Australian showrooms in the coming years. These cars would be sold at a lower price than their European-produced counterparts.
In conclusion, Volkswagen Golfs made in China undergo the same strict quality and safety standards as those produced in other parts of the world. While there are currently no Golf models made in China sold in Australia, this may change in the future as Volkswagen considers expanding its market.
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Volkswagen Golfs made in South Africa
Volkswagen Golfs have a long history of being made in South Africa. The Golf 1, also known as the Citi Golf, was produced in South Africa from 1978 to 1983, and was available for purchase until 2009. In 1984, the Golf 2 was introduced to the South African market, followed by a GTI model. This generation of the Golf was credited with bringing new technologies to the "lower medium class", such as ABS brakes, power steering, and regulated catalytic converters.
The Golf 3 was launched in Europe in 1991 and went on sale in South Africa in 1992. This generation of the Golf offered front airbags in overseas markets, but these safety features were not included in the South African models. In 1990, Volkswagen reintroduced the Golf Mk.1 GTi in South Africa under the name Citi CTi, which was the fastest Citi Golf ever built.
The Golf 7 was revealed in 2012 and launched in South Africa in 2013. It was the first VW product to be based on the company's new MQB modular platform, which helped reduce its weight. It also introduced new technologies such as active cruise control, second-generation Dynamic Chassis Control, fatigue detection, and lane assist.
In addition to the Golf models assembled in South Africa, it is worth noting that the Volkswagen Polo city hatch is also produced at a VW factory in the country.
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Volkswagen Golfs made in Mexico
It is unclear whether Australian Volkswagen Golfs are made in Mexico, but it is known that Volkswagen Golfs sold in the US are made in Mexico.
In 2024, Volkswagen announced plans to cut production in Germany and move Golf assembly to Mexico. The Golf has been made in Wolfsburg, Germany, for over 50 years, but Volkswagen said factory costs in Germany were 25% to 50% higher than planned, making plants in the country twice as expensive as their competitors. The Future Volkswagen agreement will reduce production capacity "on a lasting basis" across German plants by 734,000 units and 35,000 jobs will be cut by 2030. The Golf assembly will move to VW Group's plant in Puebla, Mexico, from 2027.
In 2023, it was reported that Volkswagen was considering bringing cars manufactured in China to Australian showrooms in the coming years. The Volkswagen Group operates no fewer than 10 factories in China, the world's largest car market. However, it is unclear whether these would include the Volkswagen Golf.
It is fair to assume that the bulk of cars imported to Australia come from Japan, followed by Germany and South Korea. However, in recent years, Thailand has assembled the most cars sold in Australia, outstripping South Korea, Germany, and the US combined.
The Volkswagen Golf is Europe's third most popular passenger car, with almost 200,000 sold in the year up to October 2024. The Golf will join the Jetta, the Jetta SportWagen, and the Beetle, all of which are currently produced in Mexico.
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Frequently asked questions
Australian VW Golfs are made in Germany. However, in the past, Australia made Volkswagens on its own shores. During WWII, desert-stationed ANZACs captured Kubelwagens from the enemy, and local military minds wanted to test the VW on Australian soil.
VW Golfs are also made in Mexico and South Africa.
Yes, German carmaker Volkswagen is considering plans to bring Chinese-manufactured cars to Australian showrooms in the coming years.
