Ceremonies

Not surprisingly, Volkswagen marked both the start and end of production of the Last Edition Beetles with special ceremonies at the Puebla factory. Here are the press releases, along with a few photos from the events.

VW Beetle: Production of the 'Última Edición' starts

Volkswagen Communications, Wolfsburg - July 10, 2003

With the start of production of the 'Última Edición', Volkswagen de México in Puebla today (Thursday) marked the last phase of production of the legendary Beetle. The last Beetle will leave the factory on 30 July.

In the presence of Melquiades Morales Flores, Governor of Puebla, Rocío Ruiz, Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, and other representatives drawn from public life, Dr Jens Neumann, Member of the Management Board of Volkswagen AG and head of the Region North America, and Reinhard Jung, Chairman of the Volkswagen de México management board, gave the signal to start production of the 'Última Edición'.

Neumann emphasised that, with the 'Última Edición', the Beetle would be showing itself at its best and added: "True stars, and their fans, know when it's time to quit." He went on to say that for many years, Volkswagen in Mexico, had been about more than just the Beetle. Since it was founded in 1964, VW de México had almost always been market leader in the passenger vehicle segment. Currently the Group is at the top of the table with a market share of some 28 percent across the three brands Volkswagen, Seat and Audi.

Jung reminded those present that in March 1954, the first imported Beetle reached the shores of Mexico, prior to the start of production in an assembly plant near Mexico City in 1955. In total, he said, 1.7 million Beetles had been built in Mexico, of these, 100,000 vehicles had been for the export markets. Additional best sellers, such as the Golf, Jetta, New Beetle and New Beetle Cabrio, had contributed to a production total of 5.7 million vehicles, of which 2.6 million had been exported. He added that Volkswagen de México, with some 14,000 employees, was a major factor in the economic development of the country.

A total of 3,000 'Última Edición' Beetles will be built, and will be available in the colours Aquarius Blue and Harvest Moon Beige. The Beetle has a 1.6-litre petrol engine and a power output of 34 kW. In addition to standard equipment, the special model has chrome trim strips, and chrome parts such as bumpers, hub caps and mirrors. The model is enhanced with colour-coded rims and whitewall tyres, a rear shelf, and a radio with a CD player and four speakers.

Goodbye Beetle

Volkswagen Communications, Wolfsburg - July 30, 2003

This Wednesday the last Beetle left the production line at Volkswagen de México in Puebla. The Mexican workforce gave a festive farewell for the 21,529,464th Beetle with flowers and mariachi music. The best-selling model will now make a last journey over the Atlantic to Wolfsburg where it will have a place of honour in the Automuseum.

At 9:05 am Mexican time the Beetle production line was stopped. This signalled the end to almost 68 years of a unique success story in global automobile history. In recent years Mexico has been the only country in which the legendary Beetle, known in Mexico as the 'Vocho', was still in production. The Beetle made Volkswagen world famous and was seen as a symbol of Germany's economic upturn.

In a short address, Reinhardt Jung, Chairman of the Volkswagen de México Board of Management, thanked the Mexican staff "who had not only worked in the production of a car, but also in the creation of a legend. A legend that would endure in the hearts and minds of all people for whom the Beetle had been a companion on their journeys".

The last Beetle is an Aquarius blue 'Última Edición', has a 1.6 l petrol engine, and delivers a power output of 34 kW. It has chrome strips and chrome exterior parts, such as bumpers, hubcaps, and mirrors. Colour-coded wheels, the 'Última Edición' emblem on the glove compartment lid, and the Wolfsburg emblem above the engine compartment lid round off the look.

The limited-edition 'Última Edición', of which only 3,000 have been built, had been very well received by customers and was practically sold out, said Jung. Only the last Beetle was not for sale and would be taking up residence in the Automuseum in Wolfsburg.

The Beetle has been produced in more than 20 countries worldwide. In Germany alone, where production ceased in 1978, more than 16.2 million Beetles were built. In Mexico, where production of the 'Vocho' had continued uninterrupted for 39 years, almost 1.7 million have left the factory.