Volkswagen Will Reportedly End Touareg Production in 2026
Volkswagen stopped selling the Touareg in the U.S. after the 2017 model year, but the upscale SUV has remained selling in other countries since then. That’s about to change, however, as Autocar recently reported that VW is planning the end of Touareg production, marking the end of a long period for the five-seater.
While unconfirmed the reports suggest that Volkswagen isn’t planning a replacement for the Touareg, though it did reveal the new Tayron SUV for Europe last year, which offers two- and three-row seating options. The Atlas is designed and built for the North American market, but it’s also sold in China.
Volkswagen launched the SUV back in 2003, which aligned with the announcement of the related Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7. Originally intended as a higher-end premium vehicle that paired with the Phaeton sedan, the Touareg’s high price and limited configuration options have tempered its popularity, leading to its demise after almost 25 years on sale.
The current UK Touareg starts at almost £72,000, making it significantly more expensive than VW’s other models in the country. A move to discontinue the SUV ends an era that included some truly interesting vehicles, including one with a ten-cylinder diesel engine, but it’s not surprising that buyers want a more affordable option.
[Images: Volkswagen]
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Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
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VW customers must be some of the most brilliant people on Earth. (We should ask them lol.)
All that money and you still get German engineering?