Volkswagen to stop Santana after 40 years

Volkswagen delivered sedan versions of various models, which it sold under a different model name. For example, the Derby was the sedan version of the Polo and the Jetta, Vento and Bora were actually the four-door versions of the Golf. The Santana, introduced in the early eighties, was in turn the sedan version of the then current second generation Passat and was also supplied in the Netherlands until 1985. That primal Santana also appeared on the market in China (also as a Variant) and lasted a long time there. According to Automotive News, the Santana will soon disappear from the Chinese market, according to reports from Automotive News that are based on Chinese government documents.

Volkswagen Santana 3000 (2004-2008)

However, the current Volkswagen Santana is no longer the primal Santana as it was introduced about forty years ago. Although Volkswagen presented new ‘generations’ of the Santana over the years in a frantic attempt to keep the model visually somewhat current, the model was clearly recognizable as a modernized version of the original until 2012. The Santana 2000 (photo 2) appeared in 1995, followed in 2004 by the Santana 3000 (photo 3), which in turn passed the baton to the Santana Vista in 2008 (photos 4 to 7). Fun fact: The Santana was sold by Ford in South America as Versailles.

Volkswagen Santana Vista interior (2008-2012)

However, in 2012, Volkswagen introduced a first all-new Santana that used a derivative of the platform from the previous generation Polo. That model range consisted not only of a sedan, but also of a hatchback version called Gran Santana. That Gran Santana was in fact a transformed version of the Rapid that Skoda in the Netherlands only delivered as a Spaceback and where Seat in our country sold a sedan version with the last Seat Toledo. According to Automotive News, SAIC Volkswagen joint venture is pulling the plug on the Santana and its Skoda brothers because Chinese consumers are increasingly leaving the car behind for a crossover or SUV. This means that another well-known model name does not seem to return after years of use.