The final Volkswagen Beetle has rolled off the assembly line in Mexico.
The last car marks the end of an era as the Beetle played a pivotal role in transforming Volkswagen into what it is today. While the third-generation model wasn’t very popular, Volkswagen sold nearly five million Beetles in the United States. This helped to push global Beetle sales to 21.5 million units overall.
The original Beetle was responsible for a bulk of those sales, but the second-generation model – dubbed the New Beetle – was a hit when it was introduced in 1998. Its popularity helped the company to sell more than 1.2 million units between 1998 and 2010. The third and final Beetle was introduced in 2011 and more than 500,000 units have been built since then.
In a statement, Volkswagen Group of America CEO Scott Keogh said “It’s impossible to imagine where Volkswagen would be without the Beetle.” He added “While its time has come, the role it has played in the evolution of our brand will be forever cherished.”
The final Beetle was a Denim Blue coupe which will be displayed at Volkswagen’s museum in Puebla, Mexico. The company also built a pair of Kings Red Beetles which were the last made for America. They will join Volkswagen of America’s collection of historic vehicles and they’re notable for featuring a custom dashboard, quilted seats and special keys.
Also Read: VW Confirms The Death Of The Beetle, Introduces 2019 Final Edition
While Beetle production has ended, Volkswagen’s Puebla plant will live on as it has been tapped to build a new crossover for North America. The model will slot below the Tiguan and could be called the Tarek.
