Between 1974 and 1992, the Scirocco, based on the A1 platform of the Golf Mk1, enjoyed production, but its revival in 2008 with A5 underpinnings from the Golf Mk5 did not include sales in the US due to unfavorable USD-EUR exchange rates.
The third-generation Scirocco’s exit from the market was overshadowed by the Dieselgate scandal, nudging Volkswagen toward prioritizing electric vehicles. In 2016, European markets witnessed a mere 10,752 Scirocco deliveries, a stark contrast to the peak of 45,248 sales in 2009.
This decline paralleled the downward trend of the compact-sized hatchback segment, notably with the Golf, which moved 491,681 units in 2009 and 579,246 in 2016. The subsequent introduction of the ID.3 faced its own challenges, contributing to the whole struggle of compact-sized vehicles.
Despite this creative proposal, the market dynamics of 2024 favor sport utility vehicles over coupes. Ford’s decision to produce the Bronco in China and the Mustang for the Chinese market in Michigan reflects this trend.
Additionally, declining sales of coupes and convertibles, evident in the Ford Mustang Mach-E’s performance compared to the traditional Mustang, indicate a shifting preference in consumer demand.
However, regulatory pressures, such as the EU’s 2025 CO2 emission targets and the 2035 ban on new fossil-fuel vehicle sales, necessitate continued development of electric vehicles to meet future demands. Despite this, there appears to be no place for a zero-emission Scirocco in the foreseeable future.
