The fact that the final version of the Euro 7 environmental standards turned out to be much softer than expected made it possible to extend the life of the model with an internal combustion engine.< /p>
The history of the Volkswagen Polo began back in 1975; since then, the model has managed to change generations five times. The German company introduced the sixth generation compact hatchback in 2017, and this model underwent an update in 2021. Note that over the past year, the model sold almost 139.6 thousand copies on the European market, which is 23% more than in 2022. By the way, the T-Roc SUV turned out to be the brand's bestseller; 204.6 thousand customers chose it (13% more than a year earlier).
In the photo: the current Volkswagen Polo hatchback
Let us recall that last spring the anniversary hot hatch Volkswagen Polo GTI Edition 25 was presented. Then the future of not only the “hot” version, but also the regular five-door was vague due to the strict environmental regulations being discussed, which should come into force in Europe in the relatively near future .
However, in the middle of last month, the final version of Euro 7 environmental standards became known. As it turned out, the new requirements will be much softer than prescribed by earlier versions of the relevant bill, and for passenger cars they will come into force no earlier than 2027.
Now manufacturers are gradually revising their current strategies and model policies, and Volkswagen is no exception. Thus, in 2022, VW CEO Thomas Schäfer told the British Autocar that there was “no point” in keeping subcompact ICE cars in the model line after Euro 7 came into force, since due to the required modernization, cars of the size and price category of the Polo would have risen in price by about for “3000, 4000 or 5000 pounds sterling.”
In the photo: the interior of the current Volkswagen Polo hatchback < p>The European Polo was expected to be retired because the cost of bringing the car into compliance with the new environmental standard would have eroded its profitability. However, now the situation has changed: Thomas Schaefer, in particular, noted that the Euro 6e econorms coming into force on September 1, 2024 “are not as crazy as originally expected,” and added that as a result, the Volkswagen Polo with an internal combustion engine will remain in the lineup for the coming years .
The head of Volkswagen believes that Polo will be able to hold out on the European market “definitely until the end of this decades.” He also hinted that the Polo will receive a number of updates in the medium term that will bring it technologically in line with the new models.
Thomas Schäfer emphasized that the Euro 7 econorms “were developed in a reasonable way ; Because of them, the cost of the car will increase, but not too much.” However, according to him, the GSR2 (General Safety Regulation), that is, general safety rules, will significantly affect the increase in the cost of cars. At the same time, apparently, this will not affect the decision to leave the Volkswagen Polo in the lineup.
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