End of the line for the VW Beetle

PRODUCTION of the last Volkswagen Beetle, the third generation, is due to end in July, 2019.

Frank Welsch, Volkswagen’s R and D chief, said at the recent Geneva Motor Show there will be no replacement for the current Beetle in the company’s line-up. The retro-inspired slot will instead be occupied by VW’s all-electric microbus, the I.D. Buzz.

Volkswagen offers the Beetle as a coupe or convertible, as well as a special “Dune” edition.

The ‘new’ Beetle has been in production since 1997, with a new generation arriving in 2011 and before that was the ubiquitous classic Beetle, a rear-engine, air-cooled model whose origins date back to the 1930s.

Introduced in 2011, the current Beetle is only the third generation of model, based on the front-wheel drive platform of the Mk VI Golf. It followed the so-called New Beetle, which was in production from 1997 to 2011.

Meanwhile, Volkswagen says it is driving the transition to e-mobility. As part of the Electric For All campaign launched last week, the brand will be putting attractive models at affordable prices on the road, paving the way for the breakthrough of electric vehicles.