Volkswagen drive local business

With the devastating effects the resulting national lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic had on communities and businesses around the country, the Volkswagen Group South Africa launched its Drive Local campaign to endorse supporting South African’s in the recovery process.

“The Drive Local campaign is our way to help South Africans get back on their feet and on the road – whether economically or through Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiatives. We support the buying of locally manufactured goods, local businesses as well as initiatives that help our communities. Our proudly South African Polo and Polo Vivo, which are the only locally-manufactured compact hatch models in their segments, have enjoyed exceptional sales performance in the local market and we want to express our gratitude through the Drive Local campaign,” said Mike Glendinning, Sales and Marketing Director, Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA).

Launched in June 2020, the campaign made its first appearance to the public as a television commercial. It plays out in a small town after the initial lockdown and then showcases vehicles coming off the production line as it communicates that the businesses are slowly returning to operational levels. Those same vehicles find their way to a remote and small town and is meant to resemble to goodwill and optimism experienced in South Africa. The advert is meant to depict how resilient and supportive South Africans are amongst themselves and on to others.

Following the message conveyed in the advert, Volkswagen SA has been investing in CSI initiatives that are aimed towards alleviating the impact of the pandemic and resulting lockdown. Volkswagen has also recently completed the first phase of the Rev. Dr Elizabeth Mamisa Chabula-Nxiweni Field Hospital it constructed in an unused Port Elizabeth Plant Facility in the Eastern Cape. In its first phase, the Field Hospital has made available 1 485 beds for the Eastern Cape Department of Health in its efforts to treat Covid-19 patients including those who require oxygenation. The future phases will result in more than 3 300 beds being available for patients.

Supporting local communities, the Volkswagen Community Trust has handed over more than 50 000 meals to primary schools in the Nelson Mandela Bay area as well as donated R340 000 to local Non-Profit Organisations. In its continued support of the schools in the region, more than 5 000 protective face masks that have been sewn by a local woman co-operative, Gusco, have been handed over. Gusco is also in the process of making 10 000 children masks for the greater Uitenhage community.

Volkswagen recently launched a Lionesses Den competition where female entrepreneurs have the opportunity to share a two-minute business pitch, the top three pitches will secure capital to be invested in the female-owned businesses. Female entrepreneurs can enter the competition until 2 August 2020 after which the top three female-owned businesses will win a total cash injection of R175 000.

“As a company that has been operating in South Africa for almost 70 years, we are deeply invested in the local economy and we are committed to seeing the citizens of South Africa thrive in order to secure our future together,” concluded Glendinning.