Volkswagen Stops Production Of Touareg After Paving For 24 Years

JAKARTA European auto giant Volkswagen will reportedly stop the production of its two iconic models, the Touareg premium SUV and the ID.5 cope-style electric SUV. This decision marks a major shift in German manufacturers to focus on more popular and profitable models.

According to a report from Autocar's automotive magazine, Wednesday, August 6, Touareg production will be discontinued in 2026. The SUV, which was first launched in 2002 and shared the platform with Porsche Cayenne, is part of the efforts of former Volkswagen chairman Ferdinand Piwach to bring the VW brand to the premium segment. However, after 23 years, the era will end soon.

As a substitute for Touareg, Volkswagen will rely on the Tayron model. Tayron is positioned as a more affordable alternative but offers a wider appeal. The model, which is already on sale in the global market, is available in two and three rows of seats, making it more versatile.

Tayron also offers a strong towing capacity, which is 2,500 kg in the 2.0 TSI 4Motion variant, which makes it able to meet most of Touareg's role. The decision shows that Volkswagen is now prioritizing greater market cost and attractive efficiency than maintaining the Touareg premium segment.

Apart from Touareg, Volkswagen will also stop production of ID.5 in 2027. This model, which was launched in 2021 as a couple version of ID.4, failed to gain significant traction, especially in its main market in China. In Europe, ID.5 is also more popular than its more practical ID.4.

Termination of ID.5 is part of a broader effort to streamline product lines and concentrate on the best-selling models.