Volkswagen has confirmed that it will end production of the Touareg, bringing a 24-year chapter to a close. The news comes as the brand refocuses its global SUV strategy, favouring smaller crossovers and fully electric models in line with tightening emissions norms across key markets. The Touareg, once the pinnacle of VW’s engineering ambition, will quietly bow out in 2025, with no direct successor planned.
The Touareg’s History
Launched in 2002 as part of Volkswagen’s push into premium territory, the first-generation Touareg stood out for its shared platform with the Porsche Cayenne & Audi Q7. It offered serious off-road credentials, V8 engines, and a crazy V10 TDI powertrain producing 750 NM of torque, along with a suite of mechanical hardware rarely seen on a VW badge. But over time, as diesel lost favour & buyers drifted toward more lifestyle-oriented SUVs, the Touareg’s relevance faded. It was sold in India, including the V10, but remained niche.
The third-generation Touareg never made it to Indian shores, thanks to shrinking demand for high-displacement diesel imports & growing competition in the Rs 80 Lakh+ bracket. While Europe continued to get updates, including a plug-in hybrid variant, Volkswagen had already shifted its focus to the ID range & smaller global SUVs like the Tiguan & T-Cross for developing markets.
Reasons For Discontinuation
The Touareg’s departure reflects broader trends in the automotive world. Large combustion-engine SUVs with high-displacement diesel drivetrains are increasingly difficult to maintain under modern emissions targets & cost constraints. While Porsche & Audi have committed to electrifying their respective flagships, Volkswagen is pulling out of the premium SUV space entirely.
There are no plans for an all-electric Touareg replacement. Instead, VW’s SUV lineup will likely be anchored by models like the ID.4 & ID.7 Tourer in the coming years. The modular MEB platform allows more flexibility, lower costs, & easier compliance with evolving regulations, something the ageing Touareg’s architecture could no longer support.
Farewell
Production will gradually wind down through 2025, with remaining inventory sold across Europe & a few select markets. The legacy of the Touareg remains intact, especially those early V10 TDI & V8 models that defied expectations for a brand like Volkswagen and represented the finest German engineering with some of the best diesel engines produced.
