Having first gone on sale back in 1973, guess how many have been sold.
Volkswagen finally updated the aging Passat for the US market this year with a fresh design and upgraded tech, but it still rides on the same platform as its predecessor. European customers, on the other hand, will soon be able to enjoy a refreshed version of the all-new Passat.
Production of the European model is underway at Volkswagen’s plant in Emden, Germany, where the 30-millionth Passat has just rolled off the assembly lines. This makes it officially the best-selling midsize car of all time, and Volkswagen’s second best-selling model after the Golf, which has sold 35 million units worldwide and recently celebrated its 45th birthday. This also puts it ahead of the iconic Beetle, which sold 21.5-million units worldwide.
Specifically, the 30-millionth Passat that rolled off the production line is a GTE Variant with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. It’s finished in Pyrite Silver Metallic and will be used as a press and test vehicle for international media events in the coming months.
Production of the original Passat started on 14 May 1973 in Wolfsburg and marked "the beginning of a new VW era.” Positioned as a mid-range model, the Passat was the successor to the VW 1600 Type 3 with air-cooled rear engines and rear-wheel drive.
"We currently produce the Passat on three continents in 10 plants for over 100 markets. That makes the Passat a true global bestseller,” Dr. Andreas Tostmann, Member of the Board of Management responsible for Production for the Volkswagen brand, added.