Maybe Volkswagen Won't Get Rid Of Engines After All

Both VW and Audi are now reconsidering their transition timelines, potentially allowing popular models like the Golf, T-Roc, and Tiguan to remain on sale well into the next decade. According to Handelsblatt, these models could potentially receive two facelifts and survive for nearly ten years on the market.

We've already seen signals of the pivot from the Volkswagen Group as Porsche recently announced an $800 million reinvestment into combustion engines as EV growth slows across key markets.

EV demand in Europe is beginning to stall—electric vehicles accounted for 13.6% of total new car sales in 2024, down from 14.6% the previous year. Despite record global EV sales, the European slowdown has led VW Group executives to question whether 2033 is a realistic target for a complete ICE phase-out.

The final generation of VW combustion engines will still debut this year. However, these models might now receive additional facelifts beyond the typical seven-to-eight-year production cycle, extending their lifespan by two to three years into the mid-2030s.

At Audi, similar conversations are underway. Insiders note that the brand is working on strategies to ensure that fixed EV rollout dates and ICE production end dates can be postponed if necessary.

The delays in EV adoption may also be influencing decisions at Porsche, which recently discontinued the combustion-powered Macan in Europe, replacing it with an electric version. However, Porsche is now reportedly considering relaunching an ICE Macan—which remains on sale in North America—as its goal for 50% of sales to be electrified in 2024 seems all but impossible.

While Europe’s 2035 ban on combustion engines remains a regulatory flagpole, the uncertain pace of EV adoption could lead to delays in policy enforcement, giving VW Group brands more flexibility in their ICE model offerings.

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