Volkswagen Is Killing the Touareg After 24 Years

Production is rumored to end in 2026.

By: Anthony Alaniz

Aug 6, 2025 at 4:00pm ET

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Volkswagen hasn't sold the Touareg in the United States since 2017. The automaker replaced it with the more mainstream and affordable Atlas, which remains VW's top SUV in America. The company has sold the Touareg elsewhere since then, but a new report alleges Volkswagen will discontinue production in 2026, 24 years after the model's launch.

The allegation comes from “insiders” who spoke with Autocar. According to the publication, Volkswagen does not have a direct successor planned for the Touareg, alleging the company will instead focus on building a portfolio of affordable models for cost-conscious consumers.

Motor1 reached out to Volkswagen to confirm the report. We'll update the story if we hear back.

Touareg production began in 2002 for the 2003 model year, the result of a collaboration between VW, Porsche, and Audi that also spawned the Cayenne and Q7. Volkswagen designed the Touareg, along with the Phaeton at the time, to be a premium product that elevated the brand into the luxury space. The Phaeton didn't last long in the American market, but the Touareg stuck around until the mid-2010s, albeit with dwindling sales.

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Volkswagen isn't abandoning buyers in Europe who want something big. The company introduced the Tayron last October, which is available in two- and three-row configurations and is related to the Tiguan on sale in America.

The Touareg's demise, if true, is the end of the era for the brand. The SUV was a bold product that featured a range of powertrains, including a V-10 diesel that even Americans got to enjoy. But all that appears to be just history for the brand as the SUV allegedly fades into the sunset.