Is Volkswagen planning to axe the Beetle in 2018?
Slow sales may mean end to iconic nameplate
Hard to believe, but it’s been almost 20 years since Volkswagen brought back the Beetle. That era might be coming to an end sooner than we thought.
In a tweet, Autoline (hat tip to Road & Track) claims the Beetle will disappear by the end of 2018. This rumour is exactly that — a rumour — and is best taken with a grain of salt. Company officials have declined to comment on “media speculation.”
That being said, the rumoured move could be a smart one. The Beetle might be cute and have more personality than many other compact hatchbacks out there, but sales have been slowing considerably over the past little while.
Plus, from a competitive standpoint, the model is falling behind. The Beetle has been around in its current form since 2011, while its main competitor, the Mini Cooper, was redesigned last year. And while much of Volkswagen’s small car lineup is moving to the company’s MQB platform architecture, there are few signs the Beetle will be extended the same lifeline.
Time will tell, though. Given today’s trend toward CUVs, the new Dune could be the shot in the arm Volkswagen needs for Beetle sales.