Volkswagen will stop making Beetles in 2019
The Iconic Volkswagen Beetle will no longer be built after 2019. Since the 1930’s, the Volkswagen Beetle has been a distinctive and global phenomenon.
The distinctive car became a global phenomenon, even starring in its own Disney film, after shaking off its links to Nazi Germany.
The Beetle became a global phenomenon after managing to shake off their Nazi roots. It is officially known as the Volkswagen Type 1, or in German, informally it is known as the Käfer (literally "beetle").
The Volkswagen Beetle, or Bug as it is affectionately known, is such an icon of the automotive world that it has been the main star of six Hollywood movies. The 1968 Disney movie The Love Bug, was a huge hit telling the story of Herbie, a Beetle racing car with a mind of its own. It continues to be loved the world over.
The VW Beetle was also the most prominent car in the background of The Beatles' final album Abbey Road and famed artist, Andy Warhol even created prints featuring the Beetle.
The Volkswagen Beetle has been produced for over 70 years but the major production cycle ranged from 1946 until 2004. No other car in history has been made for so long and remained with such similar looks making it one of the most iconic and biggest-selling cars in the world.
Ireland itself has a major connection with the VW Beetle as this 1961 version was made in Dublin and was the first Volkswagen model to be assembled outside of Germany. The VW Beetle arrived in parts in crates from Germany and they were then put together in a factory in Ballsbridge.
In the Nazi era, Volkswagen was a state-run company know as Volkswagenwerk, or "The People's Car Company". After the Second World War, the Allies made Volkswagen an economic priority in an effort to revive the country's auto industry with the Beetle making their US debut in the 1950s. In the beginning, sales were very weak, because of the companies links to the Third Reich.
The Beetle was revived again as the "New Beetle" in the United States in 1997 but sales dropped 3.2% to 15,667 in 2017 in the United States, most likely due to the fallout from the "dieselgate" scandal which broke in September 2015.
Volkswagen has announced that it will halt the production of Beetles in 2019. Volkswagen plans to introduce two special editions of the vehicle, both coupe and convertible styles before production is stopped next July. These special editions will include nods to earlier versions and be priced at $23,045 (£17,577) and up.
The rationale for VW is to focus on producing electric cars and larger family vehicles but the manufacturer has admitted it will not rule out the possibility of bringing the Beetle back in future but at this time, it has no plans. The chief executive of the Volkswagen Group of America, Hinrich Woebcken, said in a statement:
Author
Justin Kavanagh
Justin Kavanagh is a recognised leader
in automotive intelligence and vehicle
data supply to the entire motor industry.
He has almost 20 years experience in
building systems from the ground up.
As the Managing Director of Vehicle
Management System, he understands the
need and importance of trustworthy and
reliable vehicle history and advice to
both the trade and the public.
Follow me on LinkedIn