Volkswagen is ending worldwide production of its iconic Beetle, the model once so popular in North America that it prompted the German automaker to build its first factory on the continent in the 1960s. The last one will roll off the line from the company's factory in the state of Puebla, Mexico, in July.
VW had been pulling the Beetle from select markets as part of a broader effort by the German giant to rein in its bloated product range, which spans more than 300 vehicles and variants including heavy trucks, motorbikes and passenger cars. Cutting back on product complexity is one of the key ways the company is trimming costs and getting leaner in the wake of its diesel emissions scandal.
Chief Executive Herbert Diess has been a driving force behind this slimming since he started leading the main VW car brand in 2015. Demand for the Beetle and other hatchbacks such as the Golf has waned as customer appetite has shifted toward sport utility vehicles.
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