Volkswagen to end Beetle production in 2019; car was Hitler's brainchild

Volkswagen announced on Thursday that it would end the production of its iconic 'Beetle' car from 2019, marking the end of the road for a vehicle that had its roots in the political dreams of Adolf Hitler over 80 years ago.

Design work on what would be the Beetle began in the 1930s after Hitler had ordered that a Volks Wagen (German for people's car) be built that was affordable for all Germans. Though design work on the vehicle began in the 1930s, full-scale production started only after the end of the Second World War in 1945. However, production of the Beetle crossed the 1 million mark in 1955.

While sales in the US were initially slow in part due to its association with Hitler, the Beetle earned its iconic status in the 1960s as it was associated with the counter-culture 'Hippy' movement and became a favourite with college students.

Interestingly, the car was given the Beetle name 'officially' only in 1959 when it was rechristened by DDB Worldwide, an advertising agency, to improve its prospects to appeal to small families.

Over 22 million Beetle variants have been produced, with multiple interior and exterior improvements, though the 'stubby' profile has remained. Volkswagen announced on Thursday that the final versions of the Beetle, which is only being built in Mexico, will come in coupe and convertible variants.

(With agency inputs)