Volkswagen Passat to be discontinued in the US

All because of high sales of SUVs and a sharp drop in sales of sedans.

Volkswagen plans to end production of the Passat sedan in the US, making way for a new SUV.

The current auto industry market is more geared towards SUVs, models that have seen their sales skyrocket in recent years, leaving conventional vehicles such as sedans and minivans behind.

This new trend has led automakers to phase out a number of sedans and start producing more SUVs.

“We have made the decision to cancel the release of the Passat for the US at the end of the decade,” the director of the German company said, without specifying a date. “The sales trend is very strong in favor of SUV models, as evidenced by the success of Atlas.”

The VW Passat was sold in the United States with the third generation sedan starting in 1990. Prior to this, the Passat was sold as the Dasher in 1974 and as the Quantum from 1982 to 1990.

However, this is not the end of the Passat in other parts of the world. Volkswagen confirmed Car and driver that there will be a new MQB-based Passat model, but not in the United States.

However, the new Taos compact SUV will arrive next year in the form of an electric crossover called the ID.4, which will eventually be built at VW's Chattanooga, Tennessee plant alongside the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport SUVs.

For some years now, SUV or crossover models have been at their peak. In 2017 alone, 40% of car sales in the United States were destined for this type of vehicle, reported , making it not only a trend in car purchases, but also a preference on the part of North American drivers.

Today's SUVs are no longer just roomy, economical cars, they now include luxury, high technology, off-road capabilities and have changed the way we think about these SUVs.

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