The B8 Volkswagen Passat sedan could be the last one we ever get in Malaysia

The B8 Volkswagen Passat sedan could well be the last generation of the nameplate we’ll ever see in Malaysia.

Global sales of the Passat sedan are dwindling, and sales have been discontinued in Europe, North America, and most recently, Australia, but the wagon and Alltrack versions, which account for the majority of sales, will continue.

General manager of Volkswagen Group Australia recently told GoAuto, "It's a question of diminishing demand, both locally and globally, for traditional four-door cars,"

Thus, buyers who want a low-slung silhouette will have to look to the Volkswagen Arteon, which is essentially a Passat underneath, draped with a fastback bodystyle up top.

To be clear, the Passat name will remain, but, with the sedan model now bowing out in Australia, Malaysia will soon become one of the last remaining right-hand drive markets that offer the German three-box sedan.

Elsewhere, China will remain the only major market to produce and offer the Passat as a sedan, where it continues to defy global SUV trends.

In China, the “Passat” is actually offered in two separate guises.

Also read: New 2022 VW Passat R-Line gets 30 PS more power, now 220 PS, RM 212k

The first is the Passat which bears the nameplate but is similar to the US market model, and the second, called the Magotan – essentially a long-wheelbase version of the 'European' Passat – which is sold in Malaysia.

The main difference is the US / China versions are reskinned new generation models based on the previous B7-generation Passat, whereas the European Passat is built on the newer MQB platform.

Also read: VW Passat as efficient as Axia? Top 5 cars tested with lowest fuel consumption - WapCar Ratings

Given the market size and interest for sedans in China, the Passat and Magotan will remain a mainstay of their range. 

But as Malaysia gets the European Passat sedan (and no other version) - we could be seeing the swansong of the nameplate with the B8 Passat sedan. 

Also read: 2022 Volkswagen Passat R-Line - 20 photos to remind you the GTI Sedan is back