Volkswagen’s brand boss Thomas Schaefer informed German publication Automobilwoche (via Reuters) on Sunday that the company is not planning new gasoline or diesel versions of its usual bestseller, the Golf hatchback. This move will end the internal-combustion Golf lineup after eight generations dating back to 1974. The plan is to use the funds freed up from ending the gasoline and diesel lineup for further investments in EVs. Schaefer stated that the current eighth-generation Golf is expected to finish its life cycle and may be replaced by an electric vehicle, with the Golf name, around 2028. Moreover, the VW brand will only sell electric cars from 2033.
Volkswagen ID.2all concept
The standard Golf was stopped being sold in the U.S. with the introduction of the eighth-generation model, leaving only the sporty Golf GTI and Golf R. The fate of these models remains unclear. VW’s ID.2all concept and ID.Life concept hint at a possible electric Golf successor. The ID.2all concept was unveiled last month and has some resemblances in styling with the current Golf, while using the new variant of the VW MEB platform called MEB Entry. VW says it previews an affordable EV launching in Europe in 2026 for less than $30,000. In 2021, VW also unveiled the ID.Life concept, which previews a more affordable EV based on a modified version of the MEB platform, now called MEB Small.
2019 Volkswagen e-Golf
It should be noted that VW has already made an electric Golf, the e-Golf, which shared a platform with gasoline and diesel seventh-generation Golf models, and produced over 100,000 e-Golf hatchbacks before solely focusing on the MEB platform. Recent reports suggest the return of the e-Golf as a possibility.
