The Volkswagen Up Ends Production After 12 Years

Tiny city car bows out, making the Volkswagen Polo supermini the firm’s new entry point

The Volkswagen Up first went on sale 12 years ago

The Volkswagen Up has been phased out of production, 12 years after it launched, leaving the Polo as the smallest model in the German firm’s line-up. Autocar can reveal that the VW Group’s factory in Bratislava, Slovakia has produced the final example of the diminutive city car, which remains available from dealer stock in the UK.

A Brief History of the Volkswagen Up

The Up first went on sale in 2011 as the successor to the Volkswagen Fox. It was one of the cheapest cars on sale, with a price tag of £8256, although its starting price later increased to more than £15,000. Over its 12-year production run, it has been offered with a variety of powertrains.

At launch, the Up could be selected with a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine producing either 59bhp or 74bhp. A facelift in 2016 brought more power with the introduction of a turbocharged variant producing 89bhp. In 2014, the electric Volkswagen e-Up was introduced with an 18.7kWh battery and a claimed 161 miles of range. A larger 32.2kWh battery was offered from 2019, boosting the range to 161 miles, surpassing newer rivals such as the Mini Electric and Honda E.

The Retirement of the Volkswagen Up GTI

The decision to axe the tiny Up comes nine months after the retirement of the hot Volkswagen Up GTI from sale. The GTI arrived in 2018 with 113bhp, a sportier design, and a six-speed manual gearbox. Although Volkswagen claimed this was a temporary move due to demand outstripping supply, it was never put back on sale.

The Future of Volkswagen’s Small Cars

The Up was part of the Volkswagen Group’s New Small Family (NSF) vehicle series, with the Seat Mii on sale until 2020 and the Skoda Citigo until 2021. Now, the Volkswagen Polo is the smallest car that Wolfsburg offers in the UK. However, CEO Thomas Schäfer hinted that the Polo could be removed from the line-up in the coming years due to Euro 7 regulations, eventually being replaced by a small electric offering in the form of the ID 2.

The Up will be more directly replaced by an ultra-compact electric city car known as the Volkswagen ID 1, which is set to arrive in dealerships within the next five years and be priced from less than £17,000.

Conclusion

After 12 years on the market, the Volkswagen Up has come to an end. The tiny city car has been phased out of production, making way for the Polo to become the smallest model in Volkswagen’s line-up. With its affordable price tag and various powertrain options, the Up has been a popular choice for urban dwellers. However, as the automotive industry shifts towards electric vehicles and stricter emissions regulations, Volkswagen is preparing to introduce the ID 1 as a replacement for the Up. This ultra-compact electric city car will offer a more sustainable and efficient option for city driving. As Volkswagen continues to evolve its small car offerings, it will be interesting to see how the ID 1 and future models shape the brand’s entry-level segment.