The VW Golf hatchback may not get a 9th generation successor

If you’ve been eyeing up the current 8th-gen VW Golf hatchback lately, then you might want to take the chance in buying one now. It seems that this iconic hatchback’s lineage might end soon if recent words of the Volkswagen brand’s CEO are anything to go by.

Quoted recently by German news portal Welt, Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer disclosed  that the VW Group now sees internal combustion engines as cost-ineffective in the medium term. He further noted that escalating Euro 7 emissions standards will effectively make all internal combustion engines (ICEs) costlier to produce by roughly US$3,000 to US$5,000 (approx. RM13,362.90 to RM22,271.50).

Such a hike in cost is a huge blow for the economy cars segment in which the Golf competes – and relatively thrives – in. "With a small car, these additional costs can hardly be offset. So entry-level mobility with combustion engines will be significantly more expensive," said Schäfer.

When asked about the possibility of the VW brand making a 9th generation iteration, Schäfer responded by saying: "We will have to see whether it is worth developing a new vehicle that does not last the full seven or eight years."

Whilst a next-generation Golf seems uncertain, the executive did confirm that a mid-life refresh of the current 8th-gen Golf is presently underway. Introduced in 2019, the current-generation Golf will likely receive a facelift from this mid-life refresh. Its release is expected circa 2023 or 2024 where it will remain on sale for at least a few more years.

Thomas Schäfer says a final decision regarding the 9th-gen Golf’s creation and development will be taken in the next 12 months. Should VW choose not to continue its famed hatchback model’s lineage, we can also see the demise of its other-branded offshoots that share the same platform.