The new Volkswagen Amarok is coming — but it’s not for Australia! 

Volkswagen has big plans for the Amarok in Latin America. 

The German carmaker announced a massive $580 million investment to build the new Volkswagen Amarok at its Pacheco plant in Argentina. Slated for production from 2027, this next-gen ute will be built exclusively for South America — a project proudly being called “From South America, for South America.”

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Why a South America-only Amarok?

Instead of producing the global Amarok (based on the Ford Ranger), VW is giving South America its own version — one that better suits local roads, needs, and driving habits.

Interestingly, reports from Motor1 Argentina suggest that this new Amarok will borrow its underpinnings from China’s SAIC Maxus Interstellar X — a modern, flexible pickup platform capable of supporting petrol, hybrid, or even electric powertrains. This technical collaboration with SAIC for the new Volkswagen Amarok was not included in the global announcement, but shared with the local media during the press conference after.

Marcellus Puig, President and CEO of Volkswagen Argentina, stated: “At VW we have a historic alliance with the SAIC Group in China. This project is a joint development where many technologies are shared. It is normal for these joint developments to take place between VW and SAIC. In this case, the cooperation was carried out in the development of the entire technical part of the Amarok South America project”.

The Maxus platform is a next-gen creation that combines a monocoque with a reinforced sub-frame, rather than  a conventional ladder-frame chassis for rugged utes. That means a more comfortable ride, solid load-carrying ability, and the potential for future electrification.

The legacy continues at Pacheco! 

Volkswagen has already built over 770,000 Amaroks at its Pacheco facility. With this investment, it’s clear that VW sees the Amarok as a long-term staple of South American roads.

Puig added, “The Amarok has been a symbol of Volkswagen’s strength in Argentina. It is a key element of the brand’s history in the country, an essential part of our present, and will continue to be so in the future.

So, while Australia sticks with the Ranger-based Amarok, South America is getting its very own homegrown beast.