The US version of the VW Passat makes her last lap. Cancels after almost half a decade Volkswagen the mid-range sedan from the range. A replacement is available - but with a completely different character.
After almost half a century, VW will withdraw the Passat from the US market in early 2022. The variant of the mid-range sedan, which was specially developed for the requirements there, is no longer finding enough buyers. A similar loss of importance is likely to be imminent for the model in Europe.
improvements
The current generation - internally called "New Midsize Sedan" - started in 2013 with the mission to bring VW back to its former strength in the USA. For the first time, the European Passat was not simply adapted to the American market, but a largely independent vehicle was launched. With more space, its own drive program and a reduced list of technology options. The latter in particular ensured low entry-level prices of just under 16.000 euros. A mid-range sedan needs that in the USA if there is no premium logo emblazoned on the bonnet. Just to be able to compete with similarly priced top dogs like Toyota Camry or Honda Accord.
After almost 50 years, the VW Passat is over
The fact that VW did not achieve the targeted 800.000 new car registrations on the US market by 2018 is less due to the quality of the sedan than to the image problems caused by the 2015 emissions scandal. But while sales were in the six-digit range at the beginning of the decade, sales fell most recently to around 23.000 units. Reason enough for VW to retire the sedan without any great sadness: The overseas history of the Passat, which began in 1974 with the debut of the B1, ends with the “Limited Edition” that has now been launched. At that time still under the name “Dasher”, later as “Quantum” and since 1990 as Passat. In the future, electric SUVs from the ID family will roll off the assembly line at the Chattanooga plant.
The European model is not affected by the production stop in the USA. However, the VW Passat is also struggling with a gradual loss of importance in this country. In Germany it remains the most popular mid-range sedan, but it is now a long way from the six-digit sales figures at the beginning of the decade. In addition, VW's focus in this country has shifted to the electrically powered ID family and classic combustion engine series such as the Golf, Polo and Passat are becoming increasingly less important. The next generation of the sedan will therefore no longer be built in Emden for the first time from 2023, but under Skoda in the Czech Republic, as an offshoot of the Superb. The long-standing king of the company car has then become a completely normal people’s car at the latest.