After two years of work, Volkswagen do Brasil has inaugurated its rebuilt Anchieta plant, in São Paulo state, which has started to build the new Polo, writes Rogerio Louro Alves.
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To produce the new model for the local market, Volkswagen has invested $US700 million since 1999 to rebuild and modernise the assembly line.
The Anchieta plant was the first large car maker#;s factory in Brazil and was opened in 1957 to produce the Kombi (Transporter) van. Two years later it started Beetle production.
Following the plant#;s revamp, Volkswagen expects to produce 50,000 Polos this year and double that in 2003. The Brazilian-made model will be sold locally from April and in other Latin American countries.
Launching the new Polo will not end production of the unique Volkswagen Gol compact, the top selling vehicle in Brazil for 15 years. Anchieta builds some Gol versions.
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By GlobalDataThe Gol will be repositioned as Volkswagen#;s entry level compact car and the new Polo will be the top model. The Gol will also be face-lifted at the end of this year.
