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Plans for a Subaru Brumby-like compact VW pick-up – possibly inspired by this concept car – will be exclusive to developing markets such as South America, with less stringent safety standards.
A new small, car-derived ute being developed by Volkswagen for emerging markets is not destined for Australian showrooms as a junior sibling to the heavy-duty Amarok.
It is the latest compact 'lifestyle' pick-up available overseas to be ruled out for Australia, though it's not for the same reason that bars the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz from local showrooms.
Announced by Volkswagen in Brazil, the ute is aimed at the South American market as a replacement for the Saviero in production since 2008, and will use the underpinnings of a city SUV, rather than a hardcore ladder-frame chassis.
It is dubbed a 'half-tonne' model as a result – as its payload will be closer to 500kg than an Amarok's one tonne – and may also be built and sold in South Africa, unlocking a right-hand-drive version.
But it is expected it will be engineered only to meet Africa and South America's less stringent safety standards – and not those of Australia – crossing it out for local sale.
"So far we couldn't see a market demand for such a car in Australia, VW Commercial Vehicles sales and marketing chief Lars Krause told Drive.
"It's really a local development in South America for South America. So we don't see that currently in Australia."
The comments suggest Volkswagen could've invested in developing the vehicle for sale in Australia if it wished, but that it could not justify the expense.
South Africa's Cars.co.za reports the right-hand-drive version of the new ute is now no certainty, following a design change in Brazil.
It is far from the only South American Volkswagen not sold here, as the likes of the Tera – a new small SUV that is set to form the basis of the new ute – have never made it to Western markets.
A global market-ready, car-derived 'compact' pick-up with petrol power has previously been ruled out by Volkswagen executives in the US, where such a vehicle would compete with the Maverick and Santa Cruz, which are left-hand-drive-only and not able to be sold in Australia.
The German car giant previewed a smaller ute to sit below the Amarok with the 2018 Tarok concept, but it never came to fruition.
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
