A fresh report out of the United States suggests Volkswagen’s Passat nameplate could die off at the end of the current generation.

Speaking to Roadshow at the 2020 Chicago Auto Show, Johan de Nysschen, VW of America's chief operating officer, hinted the firm’s sedan could be under threat.

"Passat is a car that has a finite lifespan in terms of our planning," De Nysschen told the publication.

While the Passat left the South African market early in 2019 due to lagging sales (with the US-spec model reportedly not selling especially well in North America, either), it’s worth pointing out the nameplate is still considered the best-selling mid-size vehicle in the world, with more 30 million examples having been produced.

Still, De Nysschen suggested the Passat might not survive the switch to electric powertrains.

"It's probably a reasonable assumption that when this Passat reaches the end of its lifecycle, its successor will probably not feature an internal combustion engine," he told the publication.

As Roadshow points out, Volkswagen has already suggested it will build a production version of the ID Vizzion sedan concept, which could ultimately end up replacing the Passat.

Original article from Car