Is it end of the road for VW Passat?

KUALA LUMPUR: It was somewhere in August when Autocar reported that the 9th-gen Passat has been given approval and is set to debut in 2023. The next Passat will be offered in two body styles - sedan and station wagon and will share its platform, electric architecture, and powertrains with the Skoda Superb.

However, now we hear that VW US and Europe are preparing to bid adieu to the Passat sedan. Why? To focus on the automaker's upcoming EV and SUV range. Thus, leaving the Passat station wagon to carry on the legacy of this iconic nameplate until the successor arrives.

The Passat offered in the United States and Europe are different from one another, as the former is based on the older PQ46 platform and bears similarities with the model sold in China. In Europe, on the other hand, the model benefits from the MQB platform, the same which we receive locally.

Wards Auto quoted VW CEO, Ralf Brandstatter saying that they have made the decision to cancel the Passat for the US market. He also said, “The sales trend is very firmly in favour of SUV models, as indicated by the success of Atlas.”

In North America, the VW Passat is manufactured at the automakers Tennessee plant. After the sedan’s production is ceased, the factory’s manufacturing capacity will be divided into the seven-seater Altas SUV and ID.4 electric SUV.

In Europe, on the other hand, the Passat sedan is built at the VW’s Emden plant and post its life-cycle the said plant will concentrate on the production of the ID.4 SUV along with an internal combustion engine.

The Passat sedan will be discontinued in Europe, thus unifying the nameplate on either side of the Atlantic. Further, as per Autocar, its successor that’s been codenamed B9 will place more weight on load-carrying and accommodation, which hints towards the wagon model carrying the Passat legacy to the next generation.

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