"Novo Polo" starts in Brazil
Beginning of a new era.
The new Polo was launched in Brazil to revolutionize the premium compact vehicles segment. In addition he is to be the ambassador for a new Volkswagen Brand era in the South American markets. In a futuristic setting specially built in Villa-Lobos Park, in Sao Paulo (SP), the car was presented to hundreds of journalists, clients, and employees participating in recognition campaigns and actions of the company.
"The new Polo sets new standards for safety, technology and innovation in its segment. It is the ambassador of a new Volkswagen. A more agile, efficient, modern, and connected company with its customers", the President and CEO of Volkswagen Brazil and South America Region (SAM), David Powels is convinced.
Natália Marion Madeira
Natália Marion Madeira a process engineer from the Anchieta plant adds: "It is very rewarding to be part of such an innovative project that is bringing so much technology".
According to Powels, one of the action fields of this new company is the total renovation of its product portfolio. "We started today with the new Polo and will continue in the first quarter of 2018 with Virtus. We will have another SUV and a pickup truck from this time on. There will be 20 new products by 2020", he highlighted.
In the next days, the new Polo will be presented also to dealers, suppliers, corporate clients and importers. The release actions involve people from Brazil, Argentina and other markets in South America (LAM region).
Exclusive Design for the Brazilian market
The new Polo has an exclusive front design for Brazil, developed based on surveys with Brazilian customers. The big difference from the European model is the crease that lines the air intake and cuts the space between the main optical assembly and the fog lights. Well marked, this line of character serves as a reference to the Arteon's style and gives the Brazilian Polo a distinctive visual identity.
Leonardo Gouveia Santos
"I am really proud to be part of the team that developed and produced the New Polo, a car with high quality level". States Leonardo Gouveia Santos, process engineer in the central planning team.
José Lopes
Investments and training
For the production of the new Polo and Virtus, the Anchieta plant in São Bernardo do Campo (State of Sao Paulo) received new equipment and technologies in all stages of the production process. In total, almost 700 million Euros have been invested in developing and producing the new models. Among the highlights, 214 new stamping tools were built and 373 robots were installed in the body shop area. "In production, everyone worked extremely motivated and engaged, as a team!" addsJosé Lopes, cell leader of Final Assembly
The new industrial facilities were developed under the industry 4.0 concept. It creates intelligent, connected and flexible processes, with productivity as one of the main results. The mission relied on the work of hundreds of employees from all areas of the company. The big challenge was to develop a totally new and highly technological one, almost simultaneously with the factories of Pamplona (Spain) and Uitenhage (South Africa). Countless tasks and challenges have been solved successfully!
In order to achieve excellence in new technologies, more than 100 employees from the areas of production, quality control, and manufacturing engineering were trained in Pamplona, Wolfsburg, and Setúbal (Portugal). Some went to China and South Korea, where they accompanied tooling suppliers.
Wilson Zatti, project manager, for the modular strategy explains the process of the months behind him: "Several areas of Volkswagen do Brasil have joined themselves and the employees worked together as a single team. Everyone believed that it was possible and we were able to meet the planned start of production."
Meanwhile, in Brazil, line operators worked directly in the construction of prototypes of the new Polo, in prototype engineering and central planing. Whenever they have returned, from abroad or from another area, they have multiplied knowledge. All the work was closely followed and received support from the Headquarters.
Wilson Zatti
The new Polo will be sold in Brazil from November in the versions: Polo, Polo MSI, Polo Comfortline 200 TSI and Polo Highline 200 TSI.