VW squashes the Beetle

At the Geneva motor show, Volkswagen CEO, Dr Herbert Diess, announced that “Volkswagen is evolving into an SUV brand” while talking about the convertible version of its newest compact crossover — the T-Roc.

It’s good news for folks who want something akin to a smaller Nissan Murano Crosscabriolet, but it’s bad news for Beetle fans. R&D boss Frank Welsch has told Autocar the Beetle won’t see a successor.

Welsch said the reason for not building a Beetle successor is “made with history in mind; you can’t do it five times and have a new new new Beetle.”

For those who have forgotten, the Beetle was revived in 1997 and was dubbed the New Beetle in 2011.

It appears VW will instead use the bus-like I.D. Buzz as its nostalgia play, along with the Beetle-shaped T-Roc convertible, to fill the void of a small, round convertible.

If you’re stateside, you might not know what the T-Roc is, as it hasn’t made its way there yet.

The Buzz is a different story, considering it already has a release date — right around the corner in 2022.

That means the Beetle has life left, and you’ll be able to get one for a while.

But after Volkswagen’s electric push and evolution into an “SUV brand” happens, you’ll be out of luck.

THE BEETLE STILL HAS SOME LIFE LEFT, AND YOU’LL BE ABLE TO STILL GET ONE FOR A WHILE