Why Did Volkswagen Kill The Beetle?

Volkswagen is one of the world’s largest automakers. It houses brands such as Audi, Porsche, and Bentley. But perhaps its best-known vehicle is the Volkswagen Beetle. Over its entire lifespan, Volkswagen sold over 22.5 million of all three versions of the Beetle. But in July of 2019, production one of the most iconic and important cars of all time came to an end.

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Why Did Volkswagen Discontinue The Beetle?

[akeem]

Better title: “Why did Volkswagen Squash the Bug?” Missed opportunity. Damn.

[benth]

My parents bought our first VW Bug in 1954 ( for about $1, 900) and bought a second one in the late sixties or early seventies. I learned to drive in that 1954 model in 1961. In 1957 all five of us climbed into that little bug and dad drove us 3, 000 to visit family on the east coast. It was up to my brother and I to make sure the top mounted luggage rack was packed and secure. I remember the first night on the road we stayed in a motel for only $6 for the whole family. Mom and Dad took the bed and we three kids slept in sleeping bags on the floor. THOSE WERE THE

[keithrempp]

I've had 3 Beetles, sold 2, and still have the last one in my garage and it makes me smile every time I see it. My wife keeps asking if I'm ever going to get rid of dear, your going before the beetle

[MrFloydSaunders]

Owned a 1961 while in college and then a 1970 Super Beatle which we drove all over the US. Great cars. Very practical.

[SteelRhinoXpress]

The new beetle wasn't anything like the old beetle. The old beetle was simple, easy to work on and had a rear engine. That, and unlike the new beetle, the old beetle was rugged. you could modify the old beetle and take it off road. you couldn't do any of that with the new beetle except drive it on the road.

[jack]

Someone at CNBC really loves the term "Rise and Fall"

[morenofranco]

The Beetle is the most customised, most re-built, most reconditioned, most hacked and channeled, most converted, most kit-carred & most crazily decorated car in the history of automobiles. No car will ever touch the Beetle.

[spaztekwarrior]

My first car was a ‘74 beetle. The gas heater never worked. It was super cold to drive in winters where it dipped to below -25 Celsius. The windshield was constantly fogged up. It had huge amounts of traction in the snow, though. And it was fun to drive in the summer. I can still smell the hot vinyl seats. :)

[dontgetlost]

Cmon, Volks, the E-Beetle is the obvious replacement, right?

[luckyvet]

When I was in Mexico in the late 98's they were still making the original beetle. It was so cute to see brand new ones on the road.

[henryhomes]

I had a '66', then a '75', both super easy to work on, and brilliant in the snow!

[dodoboodrough]

They may have killed it in production, but VW is alive and well around the globe. I'm on my fourth VW Beetle a 1967, and I love it!!

[gavinbissell]

It stopped being a car for the people and became an impractical expensive fashion excessory

[Brian-Hansen]

It’s not dead, just taking a power nap. It will be back, who are we kidding?

[ubroberts]

When I graduated high school during this time, gas was 30 cents a gallon. People didn’t buy them for the milage. They were viewed as fun, different and made a statement about their owners.

[timotheusn.h.nakashona]

The original Beetle is a classic that will never die.

[SamithMadushan]

The second gen Beetle was just a VW Golf with a round body. Nothing like the original beetle.

[Tonetwisters]

I had a friend in high school back in the early '60s, whose family had a VW bug. He would put a quarter in the gas tank, and we would go all night (at least, all night to US), which included a trip to the A&W or Krystals. He steered with his left hand and ate with his right hand. I sat, and ate with MY right hand. He pressed the clutch, I moved the gear shift with my left hand. We were a well oiled machine ...

[gregcrabb]

I have an '01 that I've put almost 300, 000 miles on and still happily driving it.

[Larry]

Bizarre VW are abandoning the Beetle now, It would be ideal as an electric car.