It is difficult to imagine, but the news has officially been released… the iconic Volkswagen Beetle has officially ceased production of new models. After 21.5 million cars built and sold around the world, the last model ever built recently rolled off the production line at Volkswagen de Mexico. There are still plenty of great models being built by the Volkswagen brand, but the market will never feel the same without the Bug.

[ SHOP NOW: New Volkswagen Beetle Vehicle Inventory ]

“It’s impossible to imagine where Volkswagen would be without the Beetle. From its first import in 1949 to today’s retro-inspired design, it has showcased our company’s ability to fit round pegs into square holes of the automotive industry. While its time has come, the role it has played in the evolution of our brand will be forever cherished.”

– Scott Keogh, President & CEO, Volkswagen Group of America

A Brief History of the VW Bug

Often known as the VW Bug, perhaps even more so than the Volkswagen Beetle, the legendary vehicle was first introduced in Germany back in 1938. As Mr. Keogh stated, it began being imported into North America in 1949. The original model ran all the way to the 2003 model year. But in 1997, a new version of the VW Beetle was introduced and ran until 2011 at which point the current – and now, sadly, final – Beetle was introduced.

Through the decades, the Bug built itself a reputation as a unique outsider that somehow maintained its position as one of the most popular vehicles on the market. We are sad to see it go but are happy to tell you that we still have some VW Beetles in stock. If you’re interested in making one of the last available Volkswagen Bug models ever built your own, be sure to get in touch with us right away here at Broadway Automotive.