Volkswagen finally ends production of the vintage legendary Beetle! "There are no immediate plans to replace it,” said VW’s CEO, before adding, “I would also say, 'Never say never.'”
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| Vintage Volkswagen Beetle cars are parked in a row during a rally held as part of the 23rd anniversary of "Worldwide VW Beetle Day," in Bangalore on June 24, 2018.Manjunath Kiran / AFP - Getty Images file |
After seven decades, the longest-running car in automotive history is about to disappear. Volkswagen will end production of its iconic Beetle by the end of the 2019 model-year, the German automaker announced Thursday.
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| A 2015 Volkswagen Beetle R-Line model is seen at the press day for the Washington Auto Show in Washington, DC, on Jan. 22, 2015.Gary Cameron / Reuters file |
Conceived in Germany during the run-up to World War II, the Beetle became an icon of the American counterculture during the Vietnam War. But it lost momentum following the twin oil shocks of the 1970s and, despite two attempts to rebuild its appeal with complete makeovers, it has been little more than a largely forgotten niche vehicle in recent years.
So, VW has launched what it calls the “Final Edition,” special versions of the Beetle coupe and convertible models that will mark the end of the run sometime next year.
“The loss of the Beetle after three generations ... will evoke a host of emotions from the Beetle’s many devoted fans,” said Hinrich J. Woebcken, President and Chief Executive Officer of Volkswagen America.
But while Woebcken said that “there are no immediate plans to replace it,” he added, “I would also say, 'Never say never.'”