Volkswagen Says Goodbye to the Passat in the U.S.

Volkswagen is pulling the plug on the Passat, at least in the U.S., as car buyer demand continues to shift to crossover sport utility vehicles.

The company recently announced that it will stop selling the sedans stateside in 2023. VW will instead shift Passat production at its Chattanooga, Tenn. plant to the ID.4, an electric sport utility vehicle. 

“We’ve made a decision to cancel the Passat for the U.S.,” VW Chief Executive Officer Ralf Brandstätter told Wards Auto. “The sales trend is very firmly in favor of SUV models, as indicated by the success of the Atlas.”

The Atlas is a new mid-size sport utility vehicle that Volkswagen is also building in Chattanooga. The company has invested some $800 million into the Tennessee plant to prepare for building electric vehicles, like the ID.4. That SUV will be manufactured alongside the Passat until it is phased out in 2023.

VW plans to continue to produce and sell the Passat in Europe and China, according to Jalopnik. The sedan, although a centerpiece of VW dealerships across the country, never caught up with competing sedans like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

Volkswagen sold a little more than 14,000 Passats last year, which Motor Trend points out is “less than the number of Camrys Toyota sells in a month.”

Car Defects, Legal Rights for California Drivers

As Volkswagen shifts its production lineup, the company -- like other major auto manufacturers -- continues having trouble ensuring that the cars it puts on the road are safe.

VW recently recalled nearly 13,000 Tiguan SUVs because of a seatbelt defect that could make the safety devices useless. The company is also warning that some 210,000 Jetta sedans could catch fire, thanks to loose bolts that may cause fuel leaks.

The good news for car owners and lessors in California is that the state’s lemon law gives you some important rights and protections.

The Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act requires car manufacturers to perform a wide range of repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. The law also forces manufacturers to buy back -- or, in some situations, replace -- vehicles that the company refuses or is not able to fix.

The law additionally requires carmakers to pick up the tab for any legal fees that a person incurs while enforcing his or her rights.

Speak With a California Lemon Law Lawyer

If you have been stuck with a defective vehicle in the Golden State, a California lemon law lawyer can help.

At the Bickel Law Firm, California lemon law lawyer Brian Bickel and his team have successfully represented hundreds of clients in defective vehicle cases in Southern California and across the state. We help the people we represent get the compensation they deserve.

Our offices are conveniently located in Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco.  Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a California lemon law lawyer today.