Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

By Jill Sperling

VW Beetle

Local Volkswagen dealership weighs in on the end of Beetle production

Jul 11, 2019 | 4:13 PM

KAMLOOPS — As of Wednesday (July 10) Volkswagen is no longer producing its iconic Beetle.

In Kamloops, there are only a few of these cars left at the local Volkswagen dealership. The Beetle was first produced in Germany in 1938.

With its unique rounded design it has been featured in movies and was a common symbol of the 60’s.

There are only three or four Beetles left at Volkswagen of Kamloops in Valleyview, which are expected to be the last sold from that location.

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“I don’t think the sales are going to be impacted a whole lot, from our local store’s standpoint anyway,” said Sales Manager Mike Lowe. “A lot of stuff has gone more towards the Jetta and Golf and a lot of brands seem to be making more and more SUVs.

Everything has been getting larger and larger to kind of fit families and fit people’s lives a little bit better. If they had stopped the Beetle production a little while ago it might have impacted sales a little bit more.”

The Beetle did disappear from the assembly line in the early 2000s, but was brought back several years later.

It’s unclear if the Beetle will make another appearance in the future, as it is making way for the production of more electric vehicles.

“Right now we do make an e-Golf, they’re incredibly difficult to find, and they can’t supply the demand that’s out there for them currently,” Lowe said. “Hopefully once the Beetle gets out of the way of the Puebla plant we can start producing more electric cars down the road, we’ll be able to supply the demand that people are after.”