Volkswagen Argentina

Volkswagen Group Argentina

File:Volkswagen Group logo 2019.svg Volkswagen Group logo
Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Automotive
Founded	1980
Headquarters	General Pacheco , Argentina
Area served	Argentina
Products	Automobiles, pickups, minibuses, trucks, transmissions
Parent	Volkswagen Group

Volkswagen Group Argentina serves as the Argentine branch of the German automotive giant Volkswagen Group. Founded in 1980 through the acquisition of the defunct Chrysler Fevre Argentina along with its manufacturing sites in San Justo and Monte Chingolo, Volkswagen Argentina currently manages two facilities: a vehicle assembly plant located in General Pacheco and a transmission-only factory in Córdoba, where all produced transmissions are exported to Europe. These factories commenced operations in 1995 and 1996, respectively.

In 2010, Volkswagen Argentina reported deliveries totaling 135,600 vehicles. Over four decades, the firm has been involved in both manufacturing and importing a diverse range of vehicles, including cars, pickups, minibuses, and trucks.

History

Volkswagen's presence in Argentina began in 1980 with the takeover of Chrysler Fevre Argentina’s manufacturing plants, marking it as the eighth subsidiary within the Volkswagen Group globally. The company inherited production of the 1500, previously marketed under Chrysler’s Dodge brand. From 1982 onward, this model was rebranded as the "Volkswagen 1500" and manufactured locally until 1990. Throughout its production span, a total of 262,668 units bearing Dodge or Volkswagen badges were assembled.

The year 1982 also saw Volkswagen Argentina initiate production of the second-generation Transporter, commonly referred to locally as "Combi." This model was available in configurations such as minivan, panel van, and pickup truck. Among these, the minibus variant achieved notable popularity with 11,331 units produced.

By 1983, the product lineup expanded to include the "Gacel," a four-door adaptation of the Brazilian Volkswagen Gol. Additionally, VW imported models like the Volkswagen Passat and Santana, known locally as "Carat," from Brazil.

Amid economic difficulties during the late 1980s, Volkswagen entered into a joint venture with Ford Motor Argentina named Autolatina in 1987, consolidating operations at Ford’s Pacheco plant. Throughout this collaboration, Volkswagen continued marketing models such as the Gol and Saveiro pickups. Autolatina was dissolved by mid-1994, after which Volkswagen resumed autonomous operations under the name "Volkswagen Group Argentina."

Following economic stabilization in the mid-1990s, Volkswagen invested significantly in new production facilities. In 1995, it inaugurated a General Pacheco plant to manufacture models including the Gol (with 190,511 units produced until 2003), Polo Classic (Derby), and the second-generation Caddy van—originally developed by SEAT. By 2008, local production of Polo and Caddy vehicles surpassed 287,000 units. The "Suran," a station wagon derivative of the Fox model, also achieved commercial success with over 440,000 units produced between 2006 and 2019. A separate transmission manufacturing plant was established in Córdoba in 2001.

In 2009, Volkswagen commenced production of the Amarok pickup—the group’s inaugural global pickup model—at its Pacheco facility. By July 2013, this plant had reached a milestone of producing one million vehicles. Since 2011, Volkswagen has collaborated with the National Technical University through the Ferdinand Porsche Institute located in Pacheco.

By 2019, Volkswagen Argentina had maintained its leadership position in vehicle sales for sixteen consecutive years. Production volumes reached approximately 1.5 million vehicles at General Pacheco and about 14 million transmissions at Córdoba—all transmissions being exclusively exported. By mid-2020, Amarok output had surpassed 568,000 units with exports extending to more than 35 countries.

In April 2021, following an investment of US$650 million, Volkswagen Argentina began manufacturing the Taos—the company’s first crossover SUV produced domestically.

Currently Manufactured

Model	Type	Origin	Original name	Manufactured	Image
Amarok	Pickup	GER	Amarok	2009–present
Taos	Crossover SUV	GER	Taos	2021–present

Formerly Produced

Model	Type	Origin	Original manufacturer	Original name	Manufactured	Image
1500	Sedan	Template:Country data UK	Rootes Group	Hillman Avenger	1982–1988
Combi	Minivan / Panel van / Pickup	GER	Volkswagen	Transporter (Second generation)	1981–1990
Gacel	Sedan / Station wagon	Template:Country data BRA	Volkswagen	Gol (First generation)	1983–1996
Gol / Voyage	Subcompact / Station wagon / Pickup	Template:Country data BRA	Volkswagen	Gol (First to third generation)	1993–2021
Polo Classic	Sedan	GER	Volkswagen	Derby (Third generation)	1996–2008
Caddy	Van	Template:Country data SPA	SEAT	Inca	1996–2008
Suran	Mini MPV	Template:Country data BRA	Volkswagen	Fox (Station wagon variant)	2007–2019

Notes

Imported Vehicles

• Beetle (1980–1984)
• Passat (1980-1982, 1994–1996, 1998-2006, 2006–2018)
• Carat
• Quantum (1991–1996)
• Golf
• Sharan (2001–2010)
• Polo
• Bora (2001–2014)
• Volkswagen Fox (2005–2020)
• Tiguan (2008–present)
• Vento (2010–present)
• Scirocco (2012-?)
• New Beetle (2014–2017?)
• Up! (2015–2020)
• Virtus (2018–present)
• T-Cross (2019–present)
• Touareg
• Nivus (2020–present)
• Delivery (2008–present)
• Constellation (2008–present)
• Multivan (2008–2010)
• Volksbus (2008–2011)

Notes