VW’s ID. Models Could Eradicate Golf, Passat, Polo Nameplates In Future EV-Only Markets

Iconic VW nameplates such as the Golf, Polo and Passat could become extinct in markets that will at one point only allow sales of fully electric cars. In fact, the UK could ban internal combustion engines as early as 2030.

When asked by AutoExpress if the Golf still had a future alongside VW’s ID. family, the brand’s sales and marketing boss, Jurgen Stackmann responded by saying “Probably not.”

Before that day comes, Stackmann still expects to see a ninth-generation Golf. “I am convinced that you will see Golf 9 coming. I think Golf will have a lot of interesting technologies until the boundary of full electric. The fully electric ID goes into the ID family and that decision is of a divide within the family.”

“So for full electric, we want to have optimized platforms doing just electric and they will be called ID. for the future.”

The latest eight-generation Golf will feature electrification too, but only in mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid form – same goes for the Passat with its GTE derivative.

However, while the likes of the Golf could cease to exist in future EV-only markets, VW’s iconic nameplates should still endure on a global scale.

“Golf will remain as a strong effort of the brand in many places and I believe in Europe as well, but in many places outside Europe where they probably don’t have the capacity to go full electric so fast,” added Stackmann. “So I’m convinced that we will see a parallel run of Golf 9 and ID. next generation.”

“What technology Golf 9 will bring we will see. It will again be leading edge as we are now seeing with Golf 8 – whenever we come with next generation Golf it will be a mark for the rest of the industry to beat for the next five or six years to come.”

Yet, the VW exec kept leaning towards the Golf being forced out by something like the ID.3 when asked whether or not people will still be able to purchase a Golf in the UK when the ban on internal combustion goes into effect.

“Probably not,” he said. “Because you would probably be a very happy ID.3 owner and we’d be very happy as well.”

What we think

If we were in charge of Volkswagen, we would look at this as quite a big dilemma. Do you simply allow such an iconic nameplate like the Golf to become extinct just because certain markets will only allow for the sale of fully electric models?

Sure, technically you’d have no choice if that’s suddenly the situation tomorrow. But there’s plenty of time for VW to regroup and come up with a fully-electric Golf, Passat or Polo. Of course, that would influence ID. range sales so in the end, it’s a bit of a mess really in terms of marketing.

Would you be happy with a VW ID-branded product instead of a fully-electric Golf or Passat?