Parliament expressed concern regarding the future of the Volkswagen South Africa plant in Kariega following reports of a large-scale global restructuring by the Volkswagen Group. This restructuring could potentially lead to job cuts of up to 100,000 and a reduction in production capacity.
Although full details of the plans have not been disclosed, there are indications that the Volkswagen Group aims to optimize its global model lineup, reducing annual production capacity from approximately 10 million to around 9 million vehicles. Most of the capacity and cost review is expected in Europe, and no factory closures outside this region have been announced yet.
The chairman of the local parliamentary committee called Volkswagen's global challenges a 'wake-up call' for South Africa. Sonja Boshoff, chairperson of the Economic Development Committee, emphasized that these events serve as a stark reminder that South Africa cannot afford complacency in an increasingly competitive global manufacturing environment.
Boshoff stated: 'The reality is that every country is aggressively competing to retain automotive investment. South Africa cannot simply assume that future production lines and new model allocations will come to us. We must earn them by creating an environment where manufacturers can successfully compete.'
She warned that weakening South Africa's automotive sector would have consequences extending far beyond the factory floors, as the industry supports hundreds of thousands of direct and indirect jobs. To maintain South Africa's attractiveness for automotive investment, political certainty, reliable power supply, efficient ports and rail infrastructure, reduced regulatory burden, and rapid implementation of measures are necessary.
Boshoff added that special economic zones must become true drivers of competitiveness by eliminating unnecessary regulatory barriers, simplifying approvals, and creating conditions that stimulate investment, innovation, and job creation. She insisted that South Africa must ensure it is one of the most attractive destinations for investment as global manufacturers reassess their investment decisions.
The Volkswagen South Africa plant in Kariega has long been considered a cornerstone of the country's automotive industry, annually producing over 100,000 Polo hatchbacks, most of which are intended for export. However, the facility finds itself at a critical juncture as key export markets, such as Europe, transition to electric vehicles.
While the free trade agreement between South Africa and Europe helped establish it as an attractive export base, the excess production capacity of the Volkswagen Group on the old continent, combined with difficulties in establishing a local EV ecosystem, makes the business case for EV production in Kariega challenging at this stage.
The shift to EV production will require significant investment, while South Africa's relatively small EV market, limited charging infrastructure, and lack of a local battery supply chain remain obstacles to large-scale localization. Nevertheless, Volkswagen South Africa has committed investments of 4 billion rand to build a new compact crossover, the Tengo, at this plant, which is set to start operations in 2027.
The Tengo will provide Kariega with a third locally produced model and strengthen the plant's production base; however, questions remain about whether it will achieve the same export reach as the Polo, especially given that it is not expected to sell in large volumes in Europe. There have also been suggestions of a possible derivative version of the Tengo for local needs, although this has not been confirmed.
The 46mm Garmin Forerunner 265 is available on sale on Amazon for R$ 2,648 when paid via Pix. This Garmin smartwatch features a 43% reduction from its original price of R$ 4,649.
This model has a 1.3-inch AMOLED screen that reaches a brightness of up to 2,000 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in outdoor environments. Furthermore, the display is protected by Gorilla Glass, providing greater durability against impacts.
Advanced sensors and developed software allow tracking of a wide range of sports modalities, including cardio, strength, rope, cycling, rowing, swimming, tennis, basketball, and archery. The smartwatch also offers health monitoring features, such as electrocardiogram, sleep tracking, stress levels, and female health.
In medical emergencies, when connected to a mobile phone, the device has the ability to notify previously defined contacts. These alerts can be triggered automatically or manually by pressing the Power button for six seconds. The set of sensors on the Garmin Forerunner 265 includes an accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, compass, thermometer, ambient light sensor, and gyroscope, providing detailed data on physical performance and health.
According to Garmin itself, this watch's lithium battery offers up to 13 days of autonomy in smartwatch mode. When using multiband GPS, which locates the user in real time, the duration reaches 20 hours. The 46mm model has 8 GB of internal storage and allows playback of locally stored music. Additionally, it has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity and is resistant up to 5 ATM, making it suitable for water activities.
Representatives of Temiryulkargo JSC, the branch located in Tashkent, and the Chinese company Guizhou Dongxun Technology Co., Ltd. held discussions on prospects for deepening partnership in the field of railway logistics.
O.N. Khudoykulov, head of the Tashkent branch of Temiryulkargo JSC, and Xun Xin, director of Guizhou Dongxun Technology Co., Ltd., participated in the meetings. The parties focused on issues of increasing the efficiency of using rail transport in logistics processes.
Furthermore, the organization of timely and reliable supplies of modern Chinese equipment and technologies to Uzbekistan via rail transport was discussed. Participants also reviewed proposals for increasing cargo handling capacities and creating new freight terminals.
The head of the Tashkent branch of Temiryulkargo presented potential sites and opportunities for implementing investment projects at the Akhangaran station, which could contribute to the development of logistics initiatives. At the conclusion of the negotiations, both companies confirmed their interest in further developing logistical cooperation and supporting promising business ventures.
The Minister of Transport of Uzbekistan, Ilhom Makhmudov, met with Wang Jinsi, a member of the board of directors and deputy chairman of the China State Railway Group, to discuss bilateral transport cooperation and the advancement of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project.
During the negotiations, both sides noted that construction work is proceeding according to the approved schedule. Participants emphasized the strategic importance of this project for developing regional transport corridors, increasing volumes of international freight transport, and strengthening trade and economic ties.
Particular attention was paid to enhancing the attractiveness of the existing multimodal transport corridor connecting China with Uzbekistan via Kyrgyzstan. Furthermore, the parties discussed the need to improve logistics processes and the possibility of granting Kashgar border station export status.
At the conclusion of the meeting, an agreement was reached on regular monitoring of the railway construction pace, further expansion of practical interaction, and maintaining close coordination in all areas of the transport sector.
