Volkswagen will finally phase out the Phaeton after 14 years in production and will shut down the factory in Dresden where the car is currently being produced. It is believed that the company is downsizing its lineup and production to cut costs in the wake of the diesel gate scandal.
The German automaker’s full sized luxury car was conceived, developed and built under the guidance of their then chairman Ferdinand Piech who wanted a luxury vehicle with the VW badge that would match or surpass the luxury cars of the day.
The car has been a slow seller for VW and has never been able to meet its target in its fourteen years of existence but has been prodded on as image maker for the automaker. It is offered with both petrol and diesel engines and only automatic gearbox options.
However, some reports suggest that VW is working on the next generation Phaeton which is now expected to make its debut somewhere near 2020. It is possible that the car maybe toned down a notch to keep costs in control and will obviously be offered with at least one electric powertrain.
Photos: VW
