The End of the Volkswagen Beetle

What the dawn of a new decade means for the cultural icon.

Last year, Volkswagen officially announced the end of production for the Beetle, concluding a staggering 70-year run in the US. The ‘people’s car’ has appeared in nearly every aspect of pop culture since arriving on our shores in 1949, and has cemented itself as a favorite among many Americans due to the Beetle’s influence during the 60’s and beyond.

Volkswagen has released a short film (below) celebrating the end of the Beetle’s run and was produced with the Johannes Leonardo agency. A few cameos make their appearance, including Kevin Bacon from Footloose and Andy Warhol. The Chicago-based Pro Musica Youth Chorus sing a sweet rendition of ‘Let It Be’ and serves as the video’s soundtrack.

Volkswagen released the video during New Year’s Eve in Times Square to compliment the theme of moving forward towards the future. VW’s new logo was unveiled, as well as the 2020 Atlas Cross Sport.

“The Beetle is easily one of the most recognizable cars in the history of automobiles,” said Saaad Chehab, Senior Vice President, VW Brand Marketing. “Honoring it properly required a medium with just as much versatility and universal appeal as the car itself. While we chose the classic Beetle as the star of the animation, additional campaign components in Times Square honor the latter two generations of cars and their place and presence in American culture. We are proud of our past but our eye is on the future – hence our choice of New Year’s Eve to hint at our upcoming long-range EV and the 2020 Atlas Cross Sport.”

The end of the video reveals the electrified future of Volkswagen. Have you ever owned a Beetle? Do you have any cherished memories with the ‘people’s car’?