Major car brand ‘will be on sale five more years’ after rule change threatened to kill it off | D2E53XR | 2024-05-09 12:08:01
Major car brand 'will be on sale five more years' after rule change threatened to kill it off | D2E53XR | 2024-05-09 12:08:01
VOLKSWAGEN could sell its most affordable motor for at least "five more years" after strict regulations almost killed off its production.
The iconic Polo could be on the market until the end of this decade due to the relaxation of upcoming EU emissions legislation, bosses have confirmed.
The Polo was set to become obsolete after the initial proposals of the Euro Seven emission regulations, which were supposed to be introduced this year.
The tight laws would have made it impossible for the German giant to make profits after spending loads of money to make the car complaint.
Thomas Schäfer, CEO of Volkswagen, previously said that producing Polos after EU7 "made no sense" as the new rule would have added some £5000 more to the existing cost of a small hatchback.
It would have eventually killed off the production of Polo, according to the company bosses.
However, the tight emission rules proposed in the EU7 regulations were diminished after receiving widespread criticism from the auto industry.
Carmakers were worried about the cost of compliance and added development they would have to incur to make their motors keep selling.
Schäfer told Autocar the revised emission rules, dubbed EU6e, are not as "not as crazy it was posited initially" and "Polo will carry on".
These new rules – set to be introduced in September this year – demand the same emission limits for motors as the EU6 rules – and will have negligible impact on small hatchbacks such as Polo.
Schäfer said that the car will keep selling "definitely until the end of this decade".
He added: "We will keep it fresh. The car runs well. It's a good entry into the brand."
The Sun has reached out to Volkswagen for comment.
Currently priced at £20,000 for the entry-level trim, Polo by far remains VW's most affordable car in its entire lineup.
It comes after the German giant said it would revive a popular model as a sporty EV based on the Porsche Boxster and with some retro '70s styling.
The brand is said to be mulling over a return for the car, which made its debut in 1974 and was discontinued in 2018.
If approved, the car could arrive in UK showrooms in the next few years, as early as 2028.
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