The Volkswagen Beetle is no more. Volkswagen announced plans to shut down production of the legendary Beetle next year amid sustained and growing consumer interest in SUVs. VW’s need to trim costs and simplify its operations also played a role in the decision.
Sure, the Volkswagen Beetle in its current form had lost most of its luster and appeal, but it’s still sad to see it go.
Introduced in 1998, the new-generation Beetle complete with built-in flower pot was actually quite successful for a while. It was a worthy successor to the original Beetle that sold more 20 million units worldwide in the span of 65 years. Volkswagen followed the New Beetle with the A5 Beetle in 2011. A convertible version of the Coccinelle followed in 2013.
Today, however, Beetle nostalgia has worn off. The reality is that there’s very little room left on the market for coupes, and Beetle sales have been falling for years. We therefore can’t blame Volkswagen for reallocating Beetle money to (probably) SUV development.
Volkswagen will offer two Final Edition Beetles for 2019, and then wave good bye to one of the most iconic vehicles in history.
2019 Volkswagen Beetle
2019 Volkswagen Beetle
