After 40 years, Volkswagen is not constructing Polo fashions in Europe. VW has ended Polo manufacturing in Europe because it shifts focus to smaller, extra inexpensive EVs.
VW Polo manufacturing ends in Europe after 40 years
Volkswagen has been constructing Polo fashions in Pamplona, Spain, since 1984. Over 8.4 million Polos have been constructed on the Pamplona plant as one among Europe’s top-selling automobiles.
Based on the most recent DataForce (by way of Automotive Information) figures, Volkswagen’s Polo was Europe’s eighth top-selling small automobile, with over 90,100 fashions bought this 12 months by way of August 2024.
Nonetheless, Volkswagen is making ready to introduce a sequence of smaller, extra inexpensive EVs, which can be constructed on the facility. The Pamplona plant is scheduled to start producing two small electrical SUVs in 2026.
The brand new electrical SUVs can be powered by a modified model of Volkswagen’s MEB platform, underpinning its present ID sequence, together with the ID.4.
We acquired our first have a look at the small SUV final 12 months after Volkswagen unveiled the ID.2all idea. The ID.2all will sit under the ID.3 with beginning costs below 25,000 euros ($27,500).
Smaller, extra inexpensive EVs en route
CEO Thomas Shafer mentioned the ID.2all previews “the place we wish to take the model.” The electrical SUV is predicted to stand up to 279 miles (450 km) WLTP driving vary.
Volkswagen blended iconic design components from legends just like the Golf and Beetle with a contemporary improve to face out within the electrical period.
Head designer Andreas Mindt claims the ID.2 seems to be “even higher” than the idea proven final 12 months as design work on the manufacturing mannequin wraps up. Mindt mentioned the low-cost electrical SUV “provides a preview of the brand new design language of Volkswagen.”
After revealing the inside for the primary time final December, Mindt acknowledged, “The way forward for Volkswagen interiors has arrived.”
Volkswagen claims the ID.2 will function a beneficiant storage quantity of as much as 47 cubic toes (1,330 liters). Mindt mentioned it’s uncommon to seek out a lot space for storing in a small automobile.
One of many coolest inside options is the brand new rotary knob, which lets you choose from totally different driving modes impressed by the Golf and Beetle. By turning the knob, you may select between “Basic,” which attracts from the Beetle period, or “Classic” modes, which is able to carry you again to the Golf period.
Final month, Volkswagen’s low-cost EV was noticed for the primary outing testing forward of its official debut.
Mindt additionally teased a barely larger ID.2all SUV mannequin, which is predicted to launch shortly after the ID.2 in 2026.
Though VW ended Polo manufacturing in Europe, the mannequin will nonetheless be bought within the area. Nonetheless, manufacturing has been moved to its Kariega, South Africa plant. Volkswagen can even proceed constructing T-Cross and Taigo fashions in Spain, the corporate confirmed.
