The Volkswagen Group continues on its painful path to restore profitability in the automaking business, and several key points remain up in the air after the German conglomerate said last week it would pare its model lineup by up to 50%. The group has eight vehicle brands – from Bentley and Lamborghini to Volkswagen and Porsche – and executives have not yet identified where those cuts will come and which of the brands will be most affected.
2025 Volkswagen Taos parked outdoors side profile in greenVolkswagen
However, German newspaper Bild allegedly uncovered some of the specifics. And if you like sedans, the news isn’t good. If you’re fond of one of VW’s most iconic models, the news really isn’t good. But at this point, VW Group isn’t confirming – or denying – anything. Take that as you will.
Many Models, And Not All Will Survive
What we do know is the world’s No.2 automaker has a massive portfolio from North and South America to Europe and Asia, and it appears that no region of the world will be spared. For US fans of the Volkswagen brand, the good news is that a smaller lineup here means there are fewer potential cuts to be made, after the Passat, Beetle, base Golf hatchback, and the ID.4 have already exited the market.
Jetta Is Reportedly One Of Them
2026 Volkswagen Jetta GLI front 3/4 angle in gray while parkedVolkswagen
Bild reports that the VW Jetta sedan and Taos compact crossover are both on the bubble as the automaker targets vehicles with low profit margin. True, the VW brand has tremendous equity in the Jetta name, as the compact sedan has been available in the US market since 1980. Early on, the Jetta was reasonably competitive with the Civic in terms of sales, but the gap between them has grown to a canyon over the past 25 years. For context, Honda sold 75,000 Civics in the US in the second quarter of this year, while VW sold fewer than 16,000 Jetta and Jetta GLI sedans.
The story is much the same for the VW Taos, which consistently lags rivals such as the Toyota Corolla Cross and Honda HR-V. While VW sold 7,749 Taos crossovers in Q2 (down 43.9% from Q2 2025), Chevrolet sold more than 60,000 units of its popular Trax compact crossover. Competition for these VW entries has grown more intense as Hyundai and Kia have significantly grown their market share in these entry-level segments.
VW plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, produces 1 millionth Atlas SUV.Volkswagen
The VW brand started 2026 with nine models in the US lineup and has since discontinued the ID.4 while pausing the ID. Buzz. If VW cancels the 2027 ID. Buzz outright, as well as Jetta and Taos, that leaves five vehicles in the lineup, or four if the Golf R gets the axe. That would achieve a 50% reduction for the US. At that point, the Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, Tiguan, and GTI would remain.
In response to an email inquiry from CarBuzz, a VW brand spokesperson said US executives will work closely with Wolfsburg to “assess if adjustments are needed on our local level.”
Taycan Turismos Already Gone – Sedan Is Next?
2026 Porsche Taycan Turbo GT with the Weissach Package and the Manthey KitPorsche
But VW Group’s problems with sales and profitability appear to extend well beyond the mainstream market. Porsche management recently outlined its “Strategy 2035,” which calls for fewer nameplates and trim levels while prioritizing its legacy for world-class sports cars.
Bild reports that the all-electric Porsche Taycan sedan will be cut, which isn’t a surprise since the Turismo variants have already ended in the US.
But arguably of bigger concern for enthusiasts, the successor to the gasoline-powered 718 Boxster and Cayman are allegedly cut after being canceled and revived amid the drop in EV demand. While Porsche may talk about the importance of sports cars for the brand, the truth is that two SUVs – the Cayenne and Macan – make up more than 62% of Porsche sales in the US. Speaking of Cayenne, the coupe version of the SUV is reportedly among the candidates for discontinuation.
Meanwhile, Audi plans to discontinue the Q6 e-tron Sportback and Q5 Sportback, according to the Bild report. Unlike the VW and Porsche brands in the US, the lineup for Audi is broader. Even after the departure of the TT, A4, A7, and Q8 e-tron, the US roster still has nine vehicles, including three luxury sedans, depending on how you count them. Were those previously downsized vehicles included in the planned 50% cut to the Audi lineup? We wait for more details.
2024 – 2026 Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron exteriorAudi
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
Restructuring across the Volkswagen Group will be extensive, with potentially four assembly plants closed in Germany and about 100,000 jobs eliminated. There’s been little public discussion about cost-cutting impacting Bentley and Lamborghini because their profit margins are likely solid, even with low sales volumes. Still, the bean counters are combing every crevice of the VW Group in search of cost savings, so even Bentley and Lamborghini are not immune. This whole ordeal is certainly a long way from being over.
Source: Bild
