Volkswagen Golf, "Sold Every 40 Seconds," Also Electric... "8th Generation Is the Last Internal Combustion Engine"

"New Models May Be Developed According to Market Changes"
Bloomberg "The End of the Internal Combustion Engine Era"

Volkswagen has hinted at the possibility of gradually reducing production of its flagship model, the 'Golf.' This is interpreted as a sign that the company plans to stop investing in the internal combustion engine Golf as the global automotive industry accelerates its transition to electric vehicles.

Volkswagen Golf 8th Generation

According to Bloomberg and other sources on the 2nd (local time), Thomas Sch?fer, CEO of Volkswagen, said in an interview with German automotive media Automobilwoche that the currently produced 8th generation Golf will be the last version with an internal combustion engine, with one update scheduled for next year. He said, "That car (Golf) will be sold until the late 2020s," adding, "After that, we will have to see what to do."

CEO Sch?fer stated, "If the whole world changes completely differently than we expect by 2026 or 2027, we might develop an entirely new car." This hinted at the possibility of discontinuing Golf production. However, he also added that for now, the market is not expected to change that drastically.

Although CEO Sch?fer did not immediately declare the discontinuation of Golf production, foreign media have attached significance to the mere suggestion of such a possibility. Bloomberg described it as the "End of an Era." Another foreign outlet interpreted Volkswagen's decision not to invest further in upgrading the Golf, one of the best-selling cars in Europe, as a sign that investment focus has shifted from replacing internal combustion engine facilities to reducing costs for electric vehicles.

First launched in 1974, the Golf is Volkswagen's representative compact car model, now in its 8th generation. Before the 8th generation was released in 2019, 35 million units of the Golf had been produced and sold over 45 years. Volkswagen explains that a Golf was sold every 40 seconds worldwide. CEO Sch?fer said that the Golf name will be used for future electric vehicle models, but the electric Golf will not be released until at least 2028.

Volkswagen is currently focusing on electric vehicle production. By 2030, it plans for 80% of vehicles sold in Europe and 55% of vehicles sold in North America to be electric. This would mean that about half of all vehicles sold worldwide will be electric.

Last month, Volkswagen announced the launch of the 'ID.2all,' an electric subcompact sport utility vehicle (SUV) priced below 25,000 euros (approximately 35 million KRW). The ID.2 is the first front-wheel-drive vehicle to apply Volkswagen's dedicated electric vehicle platform, MEB. Some design elements are borrowed from the Golf, making it both familiar and dynamic. CEO Sch?fer said, "The ID.2 is a model that shows the direction of the Volkswagen brand," adding, "We are changing."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.