Volkswagen is discontinuing its SportWagen and Alltrack (shown) Golf variants. 
 -  Photo courtesy of Volkswagen.

Volkswagen is discontinuing its SportWagen and Alltrack (shown) Golf variants.

Photo courtesy of Volkswagen.

Volkswagen of America will cease production of its Golf-based SportWagen and Alltrack European-style wagons by the end of this year to focus on sport utility vehicles, the automaker has announced. The 2019 models will be the final vehicles.

Sales of the vehicles struggled amid growing popularity of SUV models, including VW's own Atlas and Tiguan, according to the company. Volkswagen is preparing to introduce its ID line of electrified people haulers.

"SUVs have definitely assumed the mantle of family haulers from the station wagons and minivans we remember from our childhoods," said Scott Keogh, Volkswagen's president and CEO. "But as we look towards the future, both our expanded SUV lineup and the upcoming ID. family of electric vehicles will bring the opportunity to combine the style and space people want in a variety of ways."

Volkswagen produced the Golf SportWagen from the 2015 to 2019 model years. The Golf Alltrack arrived as a 2017 model variant to the SportWagen that was aimed to compete with the Subaru Outback. The vehicles were not widely used by commercial fleets.

Through the first half of the year, more than 50% of Volkswagen's sold vehicles have been SUVs. The vehicle category has accounted for 47% of the sales of all vehicles in the U.S. during that time.

Volkswagen plans to introduce three new SUV models over the coming 24 months, including the two-row Atlas Cross Sport later this year and the ID Crozz battery-electric SUV in early 2020. In 2021, Volkswagen will introduce a smaller SUV that will be slotted under the Tiguan.

Volkswagen will continue selling the Golf Alltrack through December. The European-style wagon is built in Puebla, Mexico. Volkswagen has also discontinued its Puebla-built Beetle.

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