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Even though Volkswagen emerged as the top seller last month, the company continues to grapple with expenses stemming from the Dieselgate emissions scandal. To manage costs, the automaker’s iconic Beetle and Scirocco models may soon be discontinued, as reported by Autocar. Arno Antlitz, a member of VW’s board, shared insights during the company’s 2017 Annual Meeting, stating, “The Beetle and Scirocco are symbols of an emotional and attractive vehicle class, but decisions in VW product planning do not always prioritize the continuation of vehicles from one generation to the next.”
The Beetle, a nostalgic design, has struggled in sales, with only about 25,000 units sold in Europe throughout 2016. The Scirocco, which is not available in the U.S., performed even worse, with fewer than 11,000 units sold during the same timeframe. The choice to withhold the Scirocco from the American market wasn’t influenced by different consumer preferences but rather by exchange rate issues.
Antlitz further mentioned that Volkswagen’s forthcoming models, including the ID electric vehicles and the Arteon luxury sedan, are expected to “fill the emotional gap” left by the potential discontinuation of the Beetle and Scirocco.
If this indeed marks the end for the Beetle, family road trips will see a reduction in playful “punchbuggy” games among kids.
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