Volkswagon has announced that they will retire the Beetle in 2019, as they retool their line toward electric and "family-oriented" (i.e., larger) vehicles.
The Beetle seems to be a joint victim of declining small car and sedan sales in the US, VW's deeply tarnished reputation after its notorious emissions testing fraud, and uncertainty about US tariffs (Beetles sold in the US are manufactured in Mexico).
While I was never really tempted to get one of the new Beetles, I still have nostalgia for the line. My first car was a (used) 1971 Super-Beetle. Lots of fond (and not-so-fond) memories of that car.
I suspect the line will be back some time in the future, but for now, auf wiedersehen!
Volkswagen to end production of the Beetle next year
Volkswagen said on Thursday it would stop producing its Beetle compact car in 20…
That reboot was a con. Front-mounted engine and so forth.
While Ford's move (link) is more significant, this is certainly another indicator.
If the Japanese automakers stop selling sedans in the US (I own a Toyota now, and have owned a Honda – and several Fords – in the past), I'm in a world of hurt.
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/ford/2018/08/31/ford-wont-sell-new-focus-crossover-u-s/1156315002/
+Travis Bird I don't think anyone actually bought one expecting a rear-mounted air-cooled engine, so it was hardly a "con". I had one in the early Noughties and loved it.
The first car that had my name on the title alone (e.g., wasn't a hand-me-down, or purchased with a cosigner, etc.) was a 1998 New Beetle. It was used (though only a few years old), and the dealer actually used the "a little old lady only used it to get back and forth to church" line.
Mechanically, it worked pretty well for quite some time. The build quality otherwise was… problematic. Switched that would just come out of the dash in your hand. Trim pieces that fell off for no reason. A headliner that came unglued way too soon…