The transition to and electrification of the vehicle fleet in Europe is progressing more slowly than anticipated by major manufacturers and European institutions. After a fantastic 2020 that spurred major manufacturers to accelerate the electrification of their products, electric car sales cooled during 2021 and 2022 due to a misguided strategy: the leading manufacturers focused their marketing efforts too heavily on electric cars for Europeans, who demanded simple, affordable urban vehicles.

In 1973, Volkswagen launched the Passat, the popular sedan that is still on sale today. A year later, in 1974, it was the Golf's turn, a car that needs no explanation. And the third model in the mix was the Polo, which debuted in 1975. Now, five decades later and with more than 18 million units sold worldwide, the German brand's small utility vehicle celebrates its fiftieth anniversary.