Why Was the Beetle Discontinued?
2 Answers
Affected by the emissions scandal, Volkswagen had previously borrowed from major European banks to handle the incident. The enormous financial pressure forced Volkswagen to abandon some low-profit projects, such as the Phaeton, Beetle, and Scirocco. Due to the emissions scandal and sales failing to meet expectations, Volkswagen officially announced that the Beetle would cease production in July 2019. Here is additional information: Beetle Introduction: The current Beetle model is the second-generation product after Volkswagen revived the series, built on the same platform as the sixth-generation Golf, namely the PQ35 platform. However, after the Golf was updated, the Beetle model did not follow suit. Previously, Volkswagen's brand technology chief, Frank-Welsch, stated at this year's Geneva Motor Show that, for various reasons, the current Beetle model would not receive a new generation. This also means that this iconic model, bearing the name of Volkswagen's brand totem, will become history.
To be honest, it's quite a pity that the Beetle was discontinued, but it's a long story. I chatted with a Volkswagen engineer at an auto show, and the main reason was unsustainable sales. After 2015, it only sold a little over 20,000 units globally each year—not even a fraction of the Golf's sales. With electric vehicles dominating the market now, the Beetle's retro design has become a liability, making it extremely difficult to fit batteries inside. Additionally, the Mexican factory needed to free up production lines for more profitable SUVs, and last year, the plant was converted to produce the Tiguan. The most painful part is that younger generations just aren't interested—market research shows Gen Z views it as their grandma's jewelry box: pretty but impractical. Although the final batch of Final Edition models in 2019 sold out quickly among collectors, nostalgia ultimately couldn't outweigh the financial reports.
