Volkswagen Warns Small Gas Cars Are Doomed. Volkswagen is warning that small petrol cars have no long-term future in Europe as emissions rules tighten across the continent. Although the European Commission is considering easing the 2035 ban on new combustion-engine cars, manufacturers will still need to cut fleet emissions by 90% compared to 2021 levels. From 2030, the targets become even tougher. Volkswagen boss Thomas Schäfer says models like the Polo will eventually go fully electric, arguing that developing new small petrol cars to meet regulations would be too expensive. Those costs, he says, would simply be passed on to buyers. As a result, Volkswagen has ruled out a return to tiny petrol cars like the Up! or the Lupo. Instead, the future points to electric replacements. An electric Polo is due next year, with prices starting at around €25,000, positioning it as the small car of Volkswagen’s electric era.