According to the new director of Volkswagen, the future of the Golf is relatively uncertain. It might not be replaced due to high costs, in favor of electric models like the ID.3.
In an interview given to our German colleagues from Weltthe new director of Volkswagen Thomas Schäfer admits to wondering about the future of thermal cars. The man expects a sharp rise in the price of these because of the development costs linked to the very strict Euro 7 standard. European Union is no stranger to these reflections.
Golf 8.5 or Golf 9?
Selon Schäfer, « combustion vehicles would be 3,000 to 5,000 euros more expensive due to more complex exhaust gas cleaning “. This will therefore generate significant additional costs, especially on “small” cars which cannot really compensate for the difference. In his words, “ entry-level mobility with combustion engines will be significantly more expensive “. What jeopardize the replacement of the legendary Golf?
« We have to assess the relevance of developing a new vehicle that would not remain in the catalog for seven or eight years. It is extremely expensive. We will know more in twelve months “, would have declared the boss of Volkswagen. The Wolfsburg firm will probably prefer to touch up the current Golf 8 to continue to make it live a few years longer than the usual life cycle, around 7 to 8 years old. By next year, the manufacturer should then decide the fate of the future Golf 9.
The ID.3 as a replacement?
With the exponential development of electric vehicles, Volkswagen could decide to remove the thermal Golf from the catalog before 2035 to keep only the ID.3 or its replacement, which could also be transformed into an electric Golf! The battle between the two models has been going on for several years, and the balance of sales expected by VW could tip the career of one or the other in the long term. For the moment, the Golf still remains at the top of European sales of new vehicles despite a significant decline: it has gone from more than 445,000 copies sold in 2018 to 205,408 units in 2021. For its part, the ID.3 has been slipping due to production problems and other electronic bugs since its launch. In 2020, German electrics sold 54,495 units, compared to 72,723 units in 2021.
Photo : DR.
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New Volkswagen Golf (2024): what does its restyling have in store for us?
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According to the new director of Volkswagen, the future of the Golf is relatively uncertain. It might not be replaced due to high costs, in favor of electric models like the ID.3.
In an interview given to our German colleagues from Weltthe new director of Volkswagen Thomas Schäfer admits to wondering about the future of thermal cars. The man expects a sharp rise in the price of these because of the development costs linked to the very strict Euro 7 standard. European Union is no stranger to these reflections.
Golf 8.5 or Golf 9?
Selon Schäfer, « combustion vehicles would be 3,000 to 5,000 euros more expensive due to more complex exhaust gas cleaning “. This will therefore generate significant additional costs, especially on “small” cars which cannot really compensate for the difference. In his words, “ entry-level mobility with combustion engines will be significantly more expensive “. What jeopardize the replacement of the legendary Golf?
« We have to assess the relevance of developing a new vehicle that would not remain in the catalog for seven or eight years. It is extremely expensive. We will know more in twelve months “, would have declared the boss of Volkswagen. The Wolfsburg firm will probably prefer to touch up the current Golf 8 to continue to make it live a few years longer than the usual life cycle, around 7 to 8 years old. By next year, the manufacturer should then decide the fate of the future Golf 9.
The ID.3 as a replacement?
With the exponential development of electric vehicles, Volkswagen could decide to remove the thermal Golf from the catalog before 2035 to keep only the ID.3 or its replacement, which could also be transformed into an electric Golf! The battle between the two models has been going on for several years, and the balance of sales expected by VW could tip the career of one or the other in the long term. For the moment, the Golf still remains at the top of European sales of new vehicles despite a significant decline: it has gone from more than 445,000 copies sold in 2018 to 205,408 units in 2021. For its part, the ID.3 has been slipping due to production problems and other electronic bugs since its launch. In 2020, German electrics sold 54,495 units, compared to 72,723 units in 2021.
Photo : DR.
Also read on Auto-Moto.com:
New Volkswagen Golf (2024): what does its restyling have in store for us?
Volkswagen Golf R “20 years”: special anniversary series
Nearly €100,000 for this rare 210hp Volkswagen Golf G60 Limited
