Brand

Volkswagen Tera reaches the milestone of 100,000 units and strengthens its export leadership

Accelerated pace: in less than one year since the start of production, the Tera SUV reaches 100,000 units manufactured;
Export leader: the VW Tera is already the most exported model by Volkswagen do Brasil in 2026
Designed specifically for Latin America: fully designed, developed, and produced in Brazil, the Tera has democratized the SUV segment in the region;
Top safety rating: discover the engineering that makes the Tera a model with the highest safety rating. VW is the brand with the largest portfolio of 5-star ratings in Latin NCAP.

Taubaté (São Paulo), April 17, 2026 – An absolute success in the region, the Volkswagen Tera SUV has just reached the milestone of 100,000 units manufactured at the Taubaté plant (São Paulo), exactly one year after the start of its production. It is also the most exported model by Volkswagen do Brasil in 2026, marketed in 18 countries across the continent. A 100% local project, the Tera demonstrates the strength of Volkswagen do Brasil in the development and domestic production of innovative vehicles, democratizing the SUV segment.

Volkswagen’s newest icon, the Tera shares the production line at the Taubaté plant with the Polo and Polo Track, all sales phenomena for the brand. With 50 years of a successful history and more than 8 million vehicles produced, Taubaté is known as the factory of Volkswagen do Brasil icons. Inaugurated on January 14, 1976, the plant has produced models that revolutionized the automotive industry such as the Gol, Passat, up!, and Saveiro

"The Volkswagen Tera represents much more than a new model for our region. It is a key volume vehicle that marks a new phase for Volkswagen in Latin America. It combines German DNA and engineering with local development and production, responding precisely to the needs of our customers. With the Tera, we expect to drive our growth in 2026, consolidating its role as a protagonist in our regional strategy and in the democratization of the SUV segment," comments Alexander Seitz, Executive Chairman of the brand for the South America region.

Tera is the most exported model by Volkswagen do Brasil

The great success of the VW Tera crosses borders and has conquered Latin America. The Tera is already the most exported model by Volkswagen do Brasil this year, with 9,875 units shipped in 2026 (Jan–Mar) to 18 countries (Argentina, Mexico, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Paraguay, Ecuador, Uruguay, Aruba, the Dominican Republic, Curaçao, St. Maarten, Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Panama). From July 2025, when Tera exports began, through March 2026, a total of 35,638 units of the model have already been shipped to these 18 countries.

In 2026, Volkswagen do Brasil has already exported a total of 25,150 units (Jan–Mar), with the ranking led by the Tera (9,875 units), Saveiro (5,729), and Polo (3,501). Volkswagen do Brasil’s main export markets in 2026 (Jan–Mar) are Mexico (8,832 units shipped), Argentina (5,848), and Colombia (3,800).

Tera achieves the highest safety rating

Volkswagen do Brasil continues to have the largest portfolio of 5-star vehicles (the highest safety rating) in Latin NCAP in Brazil, including the Tera, New T‑Cross, New Taos, New Tiguan, Virtus, and Jetta GLI.

Much more than meets the eye: the engineering that makes the Tera a 5-star vehicle

The excellence of Volkswagen Tera engineering is the result of meticulous work that begins long before the vehicle reaches the streets. Developed on the MQB27 platform, the model combines cutting-edge technology, advanced manufacturing processes, and an architecture designed to provide the highest level of safety and quality.

This attention to detail translates into an electronic architecture prepared to integrate advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Among them, AEB (Autonomous Emergency Braking) with pedestrian detection stands out as a key element for active protection and the main technology considered in achieving the 5-star Latin NCAP rating under the organization’s latest protocol. In addition, the Tera project offers features such as ACC, Lane Assist with a front camera, and blind spot monitoring, which enhance safety and comfort across different model configurations.

Behind this performance is a structure built with extreme precision. The Tera incorporates more than 4,700 welding points, as well as approximately 6 meters of high-technology welds, such as laser welding and MIG/MAG welding, which function as highly resistant “seams” between body components. This is complemented by the use of around 900 grams of structural adhesives that act as a high-performance bonding material. In practice, this combination ensures a body structure that is more rigid, quieter, and more durable. It also allows impact energy to be distributed more efficiently in the event of a collision, providing better protection for occupants. These are details that are not visible at first glance but make a difference in vehicle behavior, driving comfort, and, above all, safety—the pillars that support the Tera’s five-star standard.

Every detail matters: technology, structure, and intelligence working to protect lives

The choice of materials also demonstrates the level of engineering applied. The Tera’s body structure uses a strategic combination of steels, with 35% consisting of high- and ultra-high-strength steels, as well as hot-stamped steels. This intelligent distribution ensures the ideal balance between lightness, rigidity, and safety, creating programmed deformation zones that protect occupants in the event of a collision.

This ecosystem is complemented by technologies that further enhance safety and the onboard experience, such as a rearview camera, ultrasonic sensors with Park Pilot and maneuver braking, fatigue detection, speed limiter and cruise control (GRA), in addition to VW Play

Also included are features such as full LED lighting, which reinforce the proposal of democratizing advanced solutions in the segment. In the Volkswagen Tera, the real differentiator lies in what cannot be seen: invisible, precise, and highly dedicated engineering that transforms every detail into safety, quality, and confidence.