Volkswagen plans to launch a new vehicle in the Indian market that will be the company's most budget-friendly SUV. The company confirmed the development of a compact SUV under 4 meters, scheduled for launch in India next year.
Meanwhile, in South Africa, Volkswagen has already introduced the Tengo model, which has similar characteristics. This model was originally produced in Brazil as the Volkswagen Terra, but the company has now announced the start of Tengo production also in South Africa.
The Tengo is positioned below the T-Cross model (Volkswagen Tiguan). It is planned that this car will go on sale in 2027 and will be manufactured at the Kariega plant, which has been operating since 1951. Thanks to this, the Tengo will be a more affordable option compared to the T-Cross. This new product will allow the company to compete in the African market with offerings from Indian and Chinese brands.
For the South African market, this SUV will undergo several modifications and will be equipped with a right-hand drive transmission. It will be built on the MQB A0 platform, which is also used for producing the Terra in Brazil, as well as models like the Polo, Virtus, and T-Cross.
Although Volkswagen has introduced the Tengo, official information about its specifications for South Africa is currently unavailable. It is assumed that the Tengo may be equipped with a 1.6-liter naturally aspirated engine capable of developing 105 horsepower and 153 Nm of torque. Additionally, the company may later add a 1.0-liter TSI engine.
In parallel, the brand is preparing to introduce a compact SUV under four meters in India. Although the name of this model has not yet been revealed, the most likely candidate is the Terra. This car, expected in 2027, will be based on the Skoda Kodiaq and assembled on the MQB-A0-IN platform.