Volkswagen Uitenhage FactoryTour vehicle turns 3

A vehicle factory tour is an informative and interesting experience, though the walking to get to the different sections and the standing when looking at certain stations can be tiring… but not at VWSA’s Uitenhage factory in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, where VWSA employees cleverly devised and custom built their own “FactoryTour” vehicle.

While undergoing the VW factory tour, visitors are towed in 3 open-top carriages which can let 21 visitors enjoy the sights in seated comfort.  Much like the small trains found at parks or playgrounds, the VW FactoryTour vehicle is towed by a battery-powered electric cart, but the VW carriages are not just square containers – these towed vehiles are styled with the rear of the VW Polo, complete with a pair of VW alloy wheels.

Introduced in 2013, this FactoryTour vehicle turns 3 years young, and has taken almost 40 000 visitors throught the Uitenhage facility.

“The FactoryTour vehicle is a comfortable and inventive way of showing our technical process to visitors.  A large number of the visitors on the factory tours are school children and I am proud that we are able to ignite engineering and manufacturing passion in young minds by allowing them access to the factory,” said Thomas Schaefer, Chairman and Managing Director of Volkswagen Group South Africa.

Tour times and bookings

The VW Uitenhage Factory Tours take place Mondays to Thursdays at 09h00 and 12h00, and on Fridays at 09h00.  Bookings can be made through the Volkswagen AutoPavilion on 041 994 5941/3.  The FactoryTour includes the tour of the AutoPavilion, where some of Volkswagen South Africa’s classic cars are on display.