2026 VW Amarok W-Series could go global

The eagerly anticipated 2026 VW Amarok W-Series could follow the Premcar-developed Nissan Navara Warrior and become a global model, likely starting with South Africa.

As reported yesterday by carsales, the second-generation W-Series will launch early next year and be produced in Dandenong South by Walkinshaw Automotive, possibly as a permanent addition to the wider Amarok portfolio given demand for the previous locally fettled variants greatly outstripped supply.

That key detail and the rolling popularity of the second-generation Amarok has prompted global VW executives to take a keen interest in the upcoming W-Series and mull the idea of offering it in other markets outside of Australia pending operational viability.

“Australia is the most important market for the Amarok and therefore everything that happens in Australia is closely followed by us, and we try to figure out what works in other regions,” VW Commercial Vehicles global sales and marketing boss Lars Krause told carsales.

“I think it’s important this version has been developed in Australia for Australia, but we are open to … other regions.”

As it turns out, Walkinshaw Automotive has already started exploring the notion of setting up a remote development/manufacturing facility in South Africa – where the standard Amarok is built and sourced from – to cater for potential global demand of its locally-developed creation.

“There’s been some discussions about that … there’s always opportunities in doing that, but at the same time we’ve got to make sure that program makes sense in other markets and there’s obviously risk as well – setting up a manufacturing plant in a country where we don’t have expertise,” CEO Ryan Walkinshaw told assembled media.

“If it makes sense we’re always open to these sorts of opportunities but for now, the full focus of Walkinshaw Group and VW is to ensure that we deliver a great product manufactured locally with Australian hands.”

Walkinshaw’s sentiments were echoed by VW Group Australia managing director Karsten Seifert who said the primary focus was on delivering the best locally engineered and manufactured halo vehicle possible, and that any external opportunities would be explored later.

“The project is designed with the teams here in Australia for Australia, but of course … if there is any potential outside and interest, we can incorporate,” he said.

“So I think with Walkinshaw we have a history already and we will see all opportunities to make business together.”

The first-generation W-Series was a sell-out success for both VW and Walkinshaw that left a lot of prospective customers wanting more both in terms of sheer volume and variants.

VW Commercial Vehicles CEO Carsten Intra put the logistics ball firmly in Walkinshaw’s court in terms of a South African expansion, but doubled down and confirmed the desire for “halo” Amaroks in other markets.

“Walkinshaw for sure has a good name, so we can work with them, but whether Walkinshaw wants to rebuild cars somewhere else in the world is their decision,” he said.

“We are for sure interested to have halo cars on the Amarok as well in different markets.”

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