Many car enthusiasts consider the Volkswagen Beetle,” One of the most important and significant cars ever made”. Introduced in 1938, the Volkswagen Beetle has spent more than 80 years on Earth transporting people to work, school, first dates, meet-ups, protests, job interviews, and so much more. However, all good things must come to an end eventually, and for the Beetle, that’s this month. Volkswagen has announced that production of Its Iconic and legendary ride is coming to an end..
It’s surprising that after 81 years, there’ve only been three generations of the famous Beetle. While the iconic Beetle made famous by Herbie the Love Bug ended production in 2003, the German automaker introduced the New Beetle in 1998, giving the two-door runabout a new look that mixed modern vehicle design with the Beetle’s classic arched look. In 2011, VW made the Beetle even sleeker, taking away its iconic rounded top for something a bit more coupe-like even though the sloping roof blended perfectly into the rear.
While initial sales were strong with the redesign, the car’s funky appearance could not overcome consumers forcing to crossovers and SUVs. In 2018, Volkswagen sold just 14,411 Beetles in the U.S., the lowest since 2011 when VW changed from the second-gen Beetle to the current generation.
The final Beetle from VW’s Puebla plant in Mexico will head to Volkswagen’s museum in the city. The last cars built for the U.S. will join Volkswagen of America’s collection of historic vehicles. The factory will now shift its resources to producing a new compact SUV’s tailored to the North American market. It’s sad to see such an icon go, but as Keogh said in the press release, “While its time has come, the role it has played in the evolution of our brand will be forever cherished
