The all-electric ninth Golf was supposed to be released in 2027.
In 2019, the eighth generation of the Volkswagen Golf entered the market. Despite the fact that almost the entire technical basis of the new model was inherited from its predecessor (including the power structure of the body and the MQB platform), the model was warmly received by the public. At the beginning of this year, the “eighth” Golf underwent a planned restyling, which was supposed to extend its life cycle until 2027, when it was supposed to be replaced by the all-electric Golf of the ninth generation.
However, life, as often happens, made its own adjustments. The global slowdown in demand for electric vehicles that began last year forced many automakers, including Volkswagen, to reconsider their plans. As a result, a decision was made to extend the production of key models with internal combustion engines, including the eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf.
As reported by the Dutch publication Top Gear, citing Kai Grunitz, responsible for the technical development of the Volkswagen brand, the “eighth” Golf may remain on the assembly line until 2035, when a ban on the sale of new cars with internal combustion engines comes into force in Europe.
Of course, this plan has backup options. Production of the “eighth” Golf can be stopped earlier in the event of force majeure (for example, a sharp drop in demand) or the introduction of new difficult-to-fulfill requirements for cars (for example, in the field of cybersecurity). If the MQB platform on which the car is built cannot be adapted to the new requirements at a reasonable cost, then the model will have to be abandoned.
It is curious that the ban on the sale of new cars with internal combustion engines after 2035, which many perceive as something inevitable, may in fact be postponed, softened or even cancelled. The slowdown in demand for electric cars, which officials and representatives of the auto business, fanatically believing in the imminent victory of “electric cars”, so far consider an unfortunate misunderstanding, may force them to reconsider their views.
Although the Volkswagen Golf lost its status as the best-selling car on the European market in 2022, it still enjoys stable demand. According to JATO Dynamics, it was the second most popular model in the first half of 2024, behind only the budget hatchback Dacia Sandero (143,596 versus 126,993 cars sold).
The Volkswagen ID.3, an electric hatchback that debuted five years ago, has failed to give the Golf a run for its money. In the first half of 2024, only 29,136 ID.3s were sold. Meanwhile, Golf sales continue to rise, while ID.3 sales continue to fall.
