The T-Roc Cabriolet remains Volkswagen's only convertible model.
Sluggish demand forces VW to trim production levels.
The crossover-cabrio will be discontinued by mid-2027.

Further signs of softening interest in convertibles have emerged as Volkswagen trims output of the sole vehicle it offers with a folding roof. The T-Roc Cabriolet itself is an unusual choice, appearing as though the standard crossover received a digital makeover to gain an open top.

This mainstream follow-up to the Evoque Convertible continues to face headwinds. A company spokesperson told Reuters that the standard summer shutdown at the Osnabrück plant will now stretch an extra week, with additional idle days scheduled at the German facility going forward.

Separate from these pauses, the T-Roc Cabriolet already carries a fixed end date, with Volkswagen confirming retirement of its last convertible by the middle of next year. Plans for the plant afterward stay undecided, though conversion to support defense work has been floated without formal confirmation.

At present the site builds only this one model for its 2,300 employees. A works council representative noted staff will shift to a four-day week following the latest reductions. Seasonality plays a role, with convertible demand typically strongest from spring through early summer in the Northern Hemisphere.

The wider group is not abandoning convertibles entirely. Porsche nears completion of the electric 718 while planning a return for combustion-engined Boxster models. Audi intends to turn Concept C into an electric sports car featuring a folding targa roof by 2027, and the new Nuvolari appears destined for a Spyder version.

Premium marques within the portfolio such as Porsche, Bentley and Lamborghini will keep offering exclusive cabriolet variants. The Temerario Spyder has already appeared in spy shots, and a Revuelto Roadster is anticipated later. Bugatti is omitted here after Volkswagen completed the sale of its remaining stake to a New York investment firm.

Motor1's Take: The T-Roc Cabriolet will not be missed by many, yet the real concern centers on the plant once the final model built there disappears. Securing future work for the 2,300 employees should be a priority, and clear answers are needed quickly.

Volkswagen Group faces ongoing adjustments. It has already shuttered the Dresden facility that once assembled the Phaeton and ID.3. Audi's Brussels plant closed earlier in 2025 amid soft demand for the Q8 E-Tron. Restructuring targets include 50,000 German job reductions by 2030 plus moving Golf assembly from Wolfsburg to Puebla, Mexico, beginning in 2027.

Source: Reuters