VW's Identity Crisis Is Bad, Really Bad

Issue #144

When was the last time you heard someone get excited about VW?

That’s precisely the brand’s problem. But, can it save itself?

Today, we discuss how the world’s second-largest automaker faces an uncertain future.

Market News

• This Dodge product might die in 2026 if the company doesn’t act fast.

• These are the 10 states with the most flood damaged cars.

• Ford files for a trademark and fans are excited. Here’s more on it. 

• Fans and critics come to life when Chevy makes this announcement. What are your thoughts?

• This is an increasing problem for Tesla owners, and it can cost you a pretty penny.

• People are writing off Chinese new, high-performance vehicles. It could be a mistake, and here’s why.

• Here’s why you won’t see a self-driving car from Jeep, Dodge, Ram or Chrysler. 

• As much as he tried, Jay Leno couldn’t convince Californian authorities to do this.

• Mild offroading is a thing now. Here’s what it means and the three best options for it. 

• This company is willing to work with Apple CarPlay Ultra when no one else wants to and here’s why.

Safety and Recalls

• Jeep recalls 80,000 vehicles over this issue.

• Ford recalls more than 100,000 Mustangs because of this issue.

• This sports car could catch fire, so Chevy recalled it.

Car Culture

• These 90s cars are forgotten but still fast by today’s standard.

• What does the badge “Texas Edition” actually mean? 

• Chevy has sold some excellent sleepers in the past. Here are the five best options.

• This sporty coupe helped Honda reach fans’ hearts in the US, but how was it to drive?

• Don’t count out this tiny car as an excellent option for a used vehicle. 

• The world’s worst traffic jam happened in China and it took this long to clear up.

• Read more about this European classic car lover saving American cars.

• 1,700 horsepower and a child seat. No, we’re not talking about a supercar. Instead, it’s this.

• The three-on-the-tree was an iconic American gearbox. Here’s more on its history.

• It took three years to build this life-size Lego Jeep. Guess how long it took to destroy it.

Video Of The Week

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In The Know

VW’s Identity Crisis Is Worse Than We Think 

Volkswagen is the world’s second-largest automaker, but I have a question for you: when was the last time you heard someone be excited about VW?

Now, the company is in the news, as it announced a new EV SUV promising a lot for not much money. Here’s more on it. 

There’s no denying that the company had a rough going over Dieselgate, and it lost a lot of its fans. Check out this fascinating discussion on Reddit. 

Here’s more on the Dieselgate scandal. 

So, what happens when this troubled company takes the leap into EVs? (As is doing the majority of automakers). We get one of the most complex cases of lost identity in automotive history. 

VW is pushing hard into the electric era and it wants to be “more likable” to customers—cars that go beyond range and specs to deliver genuine enjoyment behind the wheel. 

This article explains how it plans to do what. 

In China, one of its most important markets in years past, it faces tough competition from BYD and Tesla. So, it’s taking drastic actions, as this article explains. 

But this transition comes at a cost. To make room for its EV future, Volkswagen is retiring some of its most beloved models—including the Golf R. After 25 years, the hot hatch is bowing out, a move that leaves long-time VW enthusiasts uneasy. 

Check out this video to understand more about why fans are angry at VW (plus, a quick history lesson on the company). 

The Golf R has long been more than just a car—it’s been a symbol of VW’s playful, enthusiast-friendly side.

Killing it off in favor of electrification feels like a betrayal to some fans, especially when paired with this Audi announcement that the iconic five-cylinder engine will also be retired.

Yet, VW is sure it can still convince buyers. Executives promise that the new EVs won’t just be appliances but cars people will genuinely want to own.

That’s the problem: executives. Their focus is different from that of fans. 

Still, it’s a bold promise, one meant to ease anxieties about a future without cars like the Golf R. VW clearly knows that if it’s going to survive the EV shift, it must win back both loyalists and new buyers alike.

To succeed, Volkswagen needs to win the hearts of fans in the US, especially after recognizing that it would not pursue Tesla and BYD’s low prices. 

The problem? It has failed to do so.

The ID. Buzz, launched in the U.S. with high hopes, has already flopped—struggling to meet sales goals and dampening momentum for the brand’s EV push.

If a nostalgia-heavy vehicle like the Buzz can’t move the needle, how will a cheap option that “everyone will like” truly convince an entire market?

Not only that, but many buyers were disappointed to know the company would charge them for more power, as this article explains. 

Volkswagen is too big to fail, but its future is uncertain. Retiring beloved models, banking on “more likable” EVs, and struggling with early launches isn’t certainly the way to go. However, it might pull an ace up its sleeve. 

VW is headed for a major shift in how it builds, sells, and defines its cars.