Volkswagen Ends Production of e-Golf to Make Way for ID.3

author: Vineeth Joel Patel   

Volkswagen, like many other automakers, has some large plans for its electrified future. Because of dieselgate, the German automaker is being forced to invest billions into electric vehicles, powertrains, and infrastructure. Say what you will about what happened, but VW has certainly embraced its future, stating that it wants to introduce as many as 75 EVs and 60 plug-in hybrids by the end of 2030. To do that, it's going to have to get rid of some of its older models, which includes the e-Golf.


e-Golf Is Gone For Good


Recently, the automaker officially ended production of the e-Golf electric hatchback. The last e-Golf, which was finished in Urano Grey, rolled off the automaker's Transparent Factory in Dresden a few days ago. The last model brings the total units of the e-Golf produced to 145,561. That figure makes the e-Golf one of the more popular EVs in Europe, especially in Norway and Germany.


This marks an important milestone for VW. The automaker started manufacturing the e-Golf in 2014 at its Wolfsburg facility and expanded production of the vehicle to Dresden in 2017. Since 2017, the Dresden facility manufactured a total of 50,401 units of the e-Golf. Volkswagen ended production of the e-Golf at the Wolfsburg facility earlier this summer.


While ending production of a vehicle is normally a sad thing, this is good news for VW, because it opens production up for more things to come.


"The end of the e-Golf is also the start of the final preparations for the ID.3," said Danny Auerswald, head of plant of the Transparent Factory. "In just a few weeks, we will be opening the next chapter for the Transparent Factory. After Zwickau, we are the second location in Europe to manufacture vehicles based on the new modular e-drive system. Volkswagen is thus underlining the importance of the Saxon plants in the group-wide E-offensive."


ID.3 Takes Precedence


With production of the e-Golf officially ending, VW can now set its focus onto the ID.3 hatchback. The Dresden factory will be retooled early next year to manufacture vehicles that utilize its Modular Electric Drive Kit (MEB) platform. With the move, the all-electric ID.3 will now be manufactured at two locations.


"The start of assembly of the ID.3 is very good news for the workforce and the reward for the many efforts made in the transformation of the site since 2016," said Chairman of the Works Council of the Transparent Factory, Thomas Aehlig. "We have thus achieved sustainable job security for the core workforce and a positive future perspective for the site."
Unfortunately, for consumers in the U.S., a replacement for the e-Golf seems unlikely.


The ID.3 isn't expected to make it to our side of the world, as the automaker has decided to offer the larger ID.4 crossover. While we hope that VW has plans to introduce a small, affordable electric hatchback in the U.S. that seems unlikely as American consumers are more interested in long-range EVs and SUVs.

Vineeth Joel Patel

Joel Patel has been covering all aspects of the automotive industry for four years as an editor and freelance writer for various websites. When it comes to cars, he enjoys covering the merger between technology and cars. In his spare time, Joel likes to watch baseball, work on his car, and try new foods