Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) has appointed Marc Stephan as its new production director, with the German executive taking charge of production operations at the company’s Kariega plant.
Stephan assumed the role on 1 August 2026, succeeding Ulrich Schwabe, who served as production director from April 2021 to July 2026.
Stephan joins VWGA from Volkswagen’s Zwickau plant in Germany, where he served as head of production and played a key role in transforming the facility into the Volkswagen Group’s first fully electric vehicle manufacturing plant. During his more than 20 years with the group, he has held positions in Wolfsburg, Chattanooga in the United States, and Pamplona in Spain.
ALSO READ: KCB’S ROSALIND GICHURU REFLECTS H1 2026 & CONSUMER-CENTRED STRATEGY
At Zwickau, he oversaw production of electric models including the Volkswagen ID.3, ID.4 and ID.5, as well as the Audi Q4 e-tron and Cupra Born. He holds qualifications in engineering and economics.
His appointment comes as VWGA prepares for the start of production of the Tengo, the third Volkswagen model to be manufactured at Plant Kariega. Stephan will also be responsible for developing the plant for future models and supporting the expansion of Volkswagen’s production network in Africa.
VWGA chairperson and managing director Martina Biene thanked Schwabe for his contribution during his five-year tenure. Under Schwabe’s leadership, Plant Kariega achieved a record production volume of 167,084 vehicles in 2024. The company also expanded its manufacturing footprint across Africa and advanced its environmental sustainability initiatives.
“I also want to extend a warm welcome to Marc, who we believe will lead our production teams into our Tengo chapter and beyond,” Biene said.
By
