Europe might have to bid farewell to the idea of Golf 9 as new Euro standards make it highly expensive for carmakers to develop new ICE vehicles.
Recently, the EU has been seeking solutions to curb the increasing carbon emissions from automobiles. These regulations regarding the ban on ICE engines from 2035 have led to many drastic decisions from automakers, and VW’s hesitation to release another Golf is among them.
“We will have to see whether it is worth developing a new vehicle that does not last the full seven or eight years,” said Thomas Schäfer, the new CEO of VW, while commenting on the upcoming Golf.
The main reason for contemplation is the skyrocketing costs accompanying the production of an internal combustion engine, says Schäfer. With the Euro 7 regulations arriving in a year or two, the rate of an ICE car is expected to go up by €3,000-€5,000. As the VW Golf has been a constant winner in the economic segment, this price spike will be received with criticism.
The CEO also said that the Golf 8 is currently getting a facelift, which should arrive in a year or two. With the expectation of an ICE vehicle to perform consistently in the market for 7-8 years, the Golf 8 might stay till 2027. If the Golf 9 is released after 2027, it will have a considerably short period to perform as VW has planned to go fully electric by 2033.
VW does not want to hinder the individual mobility of buyers by increasing prices, saying it’s a “basic need and must remain achievable in the future.” But if the ICE models continue, they will no longer be offered at starting prices near €10,000. As a solution, EVs will step in to take the limelight.
Schäfer elaborated on the company’s EV plan for the coming years in the same interview. With the ID.2 already in development, VW plans to release four more electric vehicles starting from 2025. The ID.2 should start below €25,000 — “a super attractive price for an electric vehicle in three years.”
While it seems like the legendary Golf has run its course, it’s time we embraced VW’s EV additions and hope that they live up to their predecessors’ roaring success.
