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Volkswagen has ended production of the Tiguan, but the new generation is already in production in Mexico, a country that will also be responsible for manufacturing the Taos, expanding the innovations in the SUV segment.
Tiguan and Taos, Volkswagen's largest SUVs in Brazil, could undergo significant transformations in 2025. Mexico being the main culprit.
The Puebla workers' union confirmed that production of the second-generation Tiguan was discontinued in November. The news was also reported in the local press.
In the case of the Taos, the situation is different. The facelift, already revealed in North America, should arrive in Brazil next year. The news is that the country of origin of the mid-size SUV may change. Instead of continuing to come from Argentina, where production of the new version has been suspended, the updated Taos would be imported from Mexico.
Changes in the Tiguan
The Puebla plant has undergone adaptations to begin production of the third-generation Tiguan, also known as the Tayron in some markets. Despite this, the Tiguan name will be maintained in most countries in the Americas.
According to information from Marklines, production of the new Tiguan in Puebla is scheduled to begin in mid-2025. During this period, around 1,8 workers will be laid off.
Volkswagen, however, presents a different version of the facts. In an official response, the automaker confirmed that the production pause had occurred, but reported that the new model is already being manufactured. The official announcement, however, will only be made in January.
Currently, the Tiguan continues to be produced to supply markets such as Brazil, Mexico and the United States. Here, the SUV was relaunched in 2023, with a single version, the R-Line, equipped with a 2.0 turbo engine with 186 hp and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The suggested price is R$292.990.
Producing an old generation in parallel with a new one is common in the automotive industry. This may be due to a surplus of parts or because the new model is significantly more expensive, which would justify keeping both on the market.
In the case of the Tiguan, production of the current model is likely to continue until parts run out, with the new one arriving in Brazil at the end of 2025.
The Future of Taos
While the Tiguan faces a slow transition, the Taos is expected to receive updates in 2024. The restyled model has already been seen testing in Brazil. The big question is which country the mid-size SUV will come from.
In Argentina, investments for the new version of the Taos have been suspended. The local subsidiary is awaiting new investments for projects such as the next generation of the Amarok, developed in partnership with the Chinese company SAIC. In this way, the Argentine Taos will continue as it is, benefiting from good sales in the local market.
In Brazil, the situation is different. The Taos has never been able to directly compete with models like the Toyota Corolla Cross and Jeep Compass. The restyling could be a strategy to make it more competitive. To do so, Volkswagen would need to change the SUV's country of origin, something that is not only possible, but also likely.
The Taos produced in Mexico uses the same 1.4 turbo engine as the Argentine version. This engine, which generates 150 hp, is manufactured in São Carlos (SP). The solution would be to adapt the flex version for the Brazilian market and ship it directly from Mexico.
Expectations for 2025
Volkswagen's movement on the continent doesn't stop there. In addition to the changes planned for the Tiguan and Taos, Mexico will be responsible for the production of the restyled Jetta GLI, as anticipated by Autoesporte in August.
With so many new features, the automaker is looking to strengthen its position in strategic markets. In Brazil, the changes could be crucial for the brand's SUVs to face competition from already established models.
For now, all that remains is to follow Volkswagen's next steps and its decisions on production and import. The arrival of the new Tiguan and Taos promises to shake up the market in 2025, bringing renewed alternatives to consumers.
