The new CEO of the Volkswagen brand took stock of his first 100 days at the helm of the German company with big announcements: new electrical system, future Passat and name change for some models.
Certainly Linkedin has become a privileged place to make great announcements. A few days after the announcement of the return of the physical controls on the steering wheel instead of the touch buttons (which will reappear during the restyling of the ID.3), Thomas Schäfer makes a series of big announcements regarding this time the future of the Volkswagen brand. We weren’t expecting so much! The German boss gave an update on some things, and in particular on the catalog for the next few years and on the ID range, which will include two novelties.
The Volkswagen Passat and the Golf in question
Thomas Schäfer announces the simplification of the catalog: “fewer models”, he explains, specifying that Volkswagen would have “focus on important models by streamlining the product line over the next 10 years“According to our colleagues at Autocar, one of the first consequences would be the elimination of the Passat sedan. The new generation would only come in station wagon, which is ultimately quite logical. Professionals, who more often opt for the very practical station. wagon, at least in the markets of Northern and Eastern Europe where the Passat still sells quite well.
Read also: Will the Golf 8 be the last? Volkswagen wonders
The Passat is not the only “icon” of the past VW still in the catalog, what about the Golf and Polo ? In this regard, the boss gets in touch: “We are working right now for the next ten years to decide what to do with the names. This is ongoing, this process of what we will do with these names (Golf, Polo and the others), and this is needed to do to transform these important modelsHowever, Volkswagen looks really on track to flip its Golf and Polo in the long run!
A small electric Volkswagen finally accessible?
So far it cannot be said that electric cars accessible to the general public without generous bonuses (and more!) Fill the concessions. However, there was one in Volkswagen with the “2.0” version of the e-Up !, but it didn’t stay long in the catalog. So we’ll have to wait. Thomas Schäfer announces to become fully electric by 2033 with “ten new models” by 2026. Arrival date of the future SSP platform, which will replace the current MEB in particular. Among these, a small entry-level electric sold for just over 20,000 euros and its crossover version. To this it will also be necessary to add an “SUV” variant of the ID.3. Obviously what everyone is waiting for is the famous electric car for less than 25,000 euros and without government discount. The case seems complicated for the moment with hard-to-reach profitability on this electric price range, but Volkswagen has spoken highly of £ 20,000 (just over € 20,000) to the British press. There is therefore still hope.
