Volkswagen Plans To Discontinue The Beetle

The car company Volkswagen has announced on Thursday, September 13th that the iconic Beetle will be discontinued next year. The company plans to shift their focus towards electric, and larger family cars.

According to reports, sales for the Beetle were down 2.2% globally, and the trend of purchasing smaller cars like the Beetle has also reduced. The recognizable design of the car has made it widely renowned for almost 70 years. While the original Beetle was discontinued in 2003, the car design was updated in 1997 and again in 2011, but will now no longer be available after the company releases its “Final Edition” Beetle.

The original design became hugely popular in the US in the 1960s and 70s, and the cars many enthusiasts are disappointed that the vehicle will now be a thing of the past. The company may want to put other things in the past as well, as it is still reeling from negative public perception after a scandal broke three years ago. The company had lied about vehicle emissions for diesel models, and the CEO stepped down over the debacle

Volkswagen plans on releasing a new series of electric vehicles, including the company’s introduction of a new “bus” dubbed the I.D. Buzz. The Beetle was timeless, and many will miss it’s peculiar, rounded shape.