Last VW Bug Off Assembly Line in Mexico 2003

In March 2003 the end of the Vocho production was announced, due to the gradual and continuous decline in demand for this model, which began with the introduction of the Chevy Pop (Opel Corsa B) in Mexico produced by General Motors in 1997. The Chevy Pop replaced the Volkswagen Beetle in its first place on sales in Mexico by offering modernity at a price just a little higher than the Vocho. However, the Volkswagen Beetle kept being the Mexican taxi driver favorite, until, in 2002, a decree emerged under the mandate of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, then Mexico City's governor. This decree prohibited the granting of permits for public transportation in the form of taxis in Mexico City to two-door cars, restricting even more the marketing of the Vocho in favor of the Nissan Tsuru (third generation Nissan Sentra), which now became the new favorite of taxi drivers in Mexico, so that sales of the Vocho fell even further. These sales figures reached over 40,000 units sold annually in the mid-90s, dropping to just over 10,000 in its last year. Taxis were also not permitted to be any older than eight years, although the Vocho ended up being grandfathered in for an extra two years. This means that there will be no more Beetle taxis in Mexico City after the end of 2012. From 100,000 a few years earlier, only 3,500 VW Sedán taxis were left in early 2012.[5]
It was in the month of June 2003 that the Volkswagen Sedán Última Edición was introduced.[6] A totally nostalgic car, which resembles the past glories of the Volkswagen Beetle. This Final Edition consisted of 2,999 units for sale to the general public in Volkswagen dealers across Mexico, while one (the last one to be produced), would be immediately shipped to the Volkswagen Museum in Wolfsburg, Germany, testifying a historic age which ended on July 30, 2003, when the last Volkswagen Beetle (the unit number 21'529,464) leaves the production line in what was now called "the hall of sorrow", accompanied by a Mariachi singing the song "Las Golondrinas" (A Mexican folk song that speaks of a farewell). This latter Beetle was headed to the port of Veracruz where a ship would take it to his final destination. The rest of the units, in spite of costing MXP $84,000 (a "Unified" Volkswagen Beetle cost MXP $69,000), moved very quickly from dealerships, leaving many people with the desire to own one of these copies unsatisfied. At this time, Volkswagen presented some advertising with a nostalgic tone.[7] In some of them, they showed a small space to park, and many cars that tried unsuccessfully to occupy it, after what appeared to get a sedan, then showed a sentence saying: "Es increíble que un auto tan pequeño deje un vacío tan grande. Adiós Sedán." ("It was incredible that such a small a car leaves such a large emptiness. Goodbye Beetle"). One of the curious events that occurred was the fact that a group of owners of dealerships, in Mexico, came together to buy one of these cars, which was sent to the Vatican City as a present for Pope John Paul II.
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[@flori5548]

I have worked for 7 months (2010) and then for a period of 5 years (2013 - 2017) at this factory ... it is really inspiring what an incredible team we have at VWdM. They have been through so many crisis as well as good times, to hell and back...and still going strong, never lost their passion, their great quality and their pride in what they do! The Vocho was important but the factory is still going strong today! Orgullosamente hecho en México, lindo y querido! Greetings from WOB P.S. The Mariachi - Part killed me 🥰 This was so super cool and Mexican!

[@mlalbaitero]

I can't be the only one that cried

[@ullrichhoffmann882]

Nuremberg _ warum?

[@NIKOJEFE]

If you look carefully one of the workers did

[@gusgus4166]

xd

[@lordsnivyofnottingham2948]

My (Mexican) great grandpa, a great man, had a 73, and he served in WW2. Him taking me for a drive in 2002, I will never forget.

[@mendozaromeroandrea7974]

El auto alemán más mexicano! Por siempre el vochito

[@crackboompow]

A lot of heavy hearts in that crowd I bet. Good jobs.

[@andrepatacchini]

crackboompow bam lots of fathers and mothers lost his jobs after the end of the beetle.

[@haydenbush]

Quality Assurance Checklist Doors: Open and close Okay it passed

[@caribbeancarchannel2]

el mejor carro del mundo! viva vochito!

[@ce3mza]

Acá en Santiago de Chile tuve el año 1998...una maravilla de auto...te extrañaremos Vocho Mexicano❤️

[@rafaelrodriguez-rm8ec]

its so sad ,to see the VW bug end production, . in saying so,,Im now a proud owner of a 1954 oval un restored, and I will keep it on the road . to share with the world. ty.

[@llewellyn56]

awesome...

[@Embargoman]

That one is Made in Germany, well if you live in South America it is Made in Brazil.

[@jonymatiacarranza1966]

Soy de Guatemala pero me alegra muchisimo que este auto tan memorable durante muchas decadas pasadas y por venir haya terminado su produccion en un pais como Mexico :)

[@LoneLatinGuy74]

Thanks Vocho for all the good memories!

[@janhutten3]

I owned a Jagdgrüne Käfer 1300 ccm in 1967 in Rotterdam. Never forget this amazing automobile.

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

If VW ever comes back with that model beetle again I would buy two! That’s too bad they got rid of it!😢

[@eggman0291]

It looked more like a funeral than a celebration. Right now this Ultima Edición costs 3 times more than it´s original price

[@KingRoseArchives]

It was pretty emotional. A very significant vehicle in Mexico (OK, around the world) and really meant a lot to the people who worked there. Didn't know its value had climbed. Guess I should have bought one. Darn.

[@edenilzonarroyo1677]

Nunca morira el vochito

[@miguelaguilar7305]

Mi vocho por eso nunca te dejo!!!

[@robsonemidio6480]

Singular, simples e eficiente! 100% felicidade!

[@Diegorlando89]

13:47 El Vocho sigue siendo El Rey. Que chulada de despida con ese tema de José Alfredo Jiménez.

[@seguidordeodin6795]

Debe volver a construirse es una leyenda me hace llenar los ojos de lagrimas

[@Diegorlando89]

¿Por qué no mejor la VW subtituló este video?, digo para quienes no hablamos inglés es complicado verlo bien, pero no importa; este es un documento audiovisual valioso.

[@HeRoSeNsEi]

Do you have this video without translation?, I´m from mexico and i would love to hear it with original spanish audio

[@KingRoseArchives]

I don't think I do. I'll check.

[@mewtwo.150]

Born thanks to Hitler and Porsche, being famous for Hippies, saving the USA at 70s oil crisis and later die at Mexican ground, this car is a history legend!

[@marcoantoniogordilloguille5615]

muchas felicidades afortunadamente yo guardo el mío..

[@NzoDK]

Glad to see such a much more tame ending to this car's history...

[@vivostubes]

DAS AUTO!

[@rikardstokke2663]

the last bug they made is on trøgstad in norway

[@alexanderhernandez5695]

Es lo mejor el vocho

[@jose0625]

nice video!

[@Joseluis-lr9st]

I live in puebla!!!! VIVA MEXICO

[@Magoimplacavel3031]

Adeus vw fusca ! 😥😪😭 one the most adorable cars in brazil and still cativating the next generations and old ones !

[@vicvan1551]

If not mistaken, there are rumors for the come back of this magnificent automobile.

[@Josh-kx1vv]

I wonder although those weren't sold alongside the new beetles if any of those were imported into the country by private individuals?

[@mijae5139]

Ich liebe meinen Mexiko Käfer

[@shamendraperera921]

what was the reason to scrap the production line ? Its a legendary plant can it not be made in another country !

[@muhammadshakiraqilibinmohd378]

Emmision standarts ...... thats all

[@Embargoman]

Ferdinand’s Porche’s own Model T when one country had an asshole president in that time then from Germany where it is created it has been assembled in Brazil and Mexico. The last one being built in Mexico the 1938 version was German built.

[@JonaValdez-ox9tr]

it was too much of a hassle to constantly keep up with emmissions, safety, etc... with a car that was first built in 1939

[@Embargoman]

It was made in these countries: Germany Brazil Mexico The last one was made in Mexico great car German engineering and made in Mexico since the late 1960s.

[@Rogersisark]

Para ser el ultimo ve debieron contratar un mariachi de mejor calidad.

[@danielsellers8707]

20 years ago today!

[@antoniodesouzasouza1621]

Eu tenho dois fuscas minha paixão. Brasil. O carro mais querido pelo mundo.

[@delete.2970]

EL VOCHO ES Y SERA SIEMPRE EL VOCHO ..........

[@jovokonjik3629]

Ja sam vozio (drive) Beetle '69 year od 1983-1990 dont remmember ,beautiful car""" !!

[@armaddajam]

Sad to see. Why would I buy an old one if I can buy one of these? Anyone know where I can?I am Canadian. I want the old body thats new built.

[@herculesgokuperez1984]

You can found one in México, but you'll got to fix it. Just like $1000 or $1200 american dollars

[@orangeytrain8878]

R.I.P

[@eldesertico]

Y yo que casi no soy fan de los vochos ...casi llore ....

[@ce3mza]

Yo estoy en Stgo de Chile y lloré.. tuve el año 98

[@migueljo7846]

Many beetles in San Cristóbal México. I thinked they are belongs 70s.. But No😅

[@DucatiPaso750]

Was anything special done with the last car (Other than this ceremony) ?

[@KingRoseArchives]

I don't know. Good question.

[@BionicTenshi96]

Nope. It just was shipped to the Autostadt VW Museum.

[@flori5548]

As far as I know the car actually remained in the Mexican plant, at least it was there in 2019 in the entrance hall to the Board Offices (edificio negro). Definitely the 2nd to last (the white one) is in Mexico in DT ... I already sat in it 🥰

[@ahyhijooooo]

@@flori5548 En puebla ?

[@luisguevara3429]

adios bochito

[@derickg3657]

This😔😢😥😭😭😭 this is so sad😭😭😭

[@Vino3437]

Can’t they just start producing again. I’m sure with worldwide exports it be profitable let alone because it is one of the most perfect car designs ever made

[@shamparmar8881]

Very sad I love beetal

[@Wolf1979]

🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽

[@darthvader4239]

Emblemático automóvil!!!

[@luisbravo3386]

Yo tengo uno made in Puebla

[@michaelbehr4537]

😢

[@aliakyuz8173]

arkadan çekiş otomobil yok vw hala devam diyor Önden çekiş hemen

[@vwlover3182]

16 años, 16 AÑOS el dia de hoy dejaron de hacer el mejor auto de todo este perro mundo, pendejos los de Volkswagen en su asquerosa vida tendran un auto con las mismas ventas, fue el coche que los levanto de las ruinas (literal) y lo dejaron de fabricar por querernos vender sus porquerias de carros echos de plastico y mucho mas caros, es cierto lo que muchas gente experta en coches me ah dicho, Volkswagen representa ese Famoso dicho mexicano "crea fama y echate a dormir" pero nunca sera los mismo sin este coche, Volkswagen se despidio de la confianza de la gente junto con este coche hace 16 años…………………...

[@jarriolag1967]

vw lover estoy absolutamente de acuerdo con lo que dices. Además, las porquerías de carros que venden ahora traen mucha tecnología innecesaria como sensores y computadoras muy caras que no sirven para nada.

[@pcuser80]

I am curious who has number 21 529 463

[@bugz1412]

+pcuser80 As far as I know Wolfsburg Museum in Germany has the very last one.

[@pcuser80]

+BUGZ Correct that is 464, who has the beetle before the last one? Number 463

[@bugz1412]

+pcuser80 You're right, my mistake, I didn't check the last number...A Mexican friend of mine (lived in Puebla) said that so many of ''Last Edition'' bugs found their way to Germany and that, it was hard to get one back then, so I wouldn't be surprised if the second last beetle sitting in a hardcore fan's garage in Germany. Not sure though.

[@Ariridesbikes]

If my memory serves me right a collector in Mexico City owns it and it is exhibited in the Mexico City Car Museum.

[@roshanmanilal5315]

Yes that would the last one out of the factory destined for a customer.The one feature in this vid is destined for the vw museum. The Vw brand has a soul , it's the only brand of vehicle that I am emotionally connected to.

[@aliakyuz8173]

dünyada üretilmiş en kullanışsiz araba motor alt süspansiyon hariç demode

[@LRS905]

This was one of he most awkward celebrations I have seen. Besides giving shitty speeches, no one seems to know what to do.

[@BionicTenshi96]

For sure... Goodbye ceremonies for an automobile aren't an everyday thing but something had to be done for one of the most popular and long-lived cars (also a lot of people who used to work on the Beetle were moved to other production areas so in part this is for them).

[@hawerddolbee1278]

so they purchase the rights the German people car. the thingmust be super duper easy to assemble.

[@simpleinverso8628]

But our safety regulations have changed drastically. Of course, we'd love to see them back, but it's simply not possible

[@r.i.peperoniiiiroh9625]

@@simpleinverso8628 well you could argue that it is now part of the mexican culture and therefore it needs to be produced also since the highway speeds do not increase anymore you could also argue that it still is a great car to have today since it power is enough to drive also parts are simple its relaible it doesnt have many parts so less co2 produced in creating these cars if i ever become a billionaire im gonna get the classic beetle back into production

[@simpleinverso8628]

@@r.i.peperoniiiiroh9625 you can't. The frame of this car doesn't have any crumple zones, nor space to fit structural support, anti locking brakes (ABS) nor airbags or stability control unit. Say what you want, but for today's standards that car is just a coffin with wheels.

[@r.i.peperoniiiiroh9625]

@@simpleinverso8628 yeah but because Mexican culture should be the priority then safety ;)

[@simpleinverso8628]

@@r.i.peperoniiiiroh9625 ¿Cuántos años tienes?

[@rahimiredwan9470]

Electric NewNewNew beetle on the drawing board now...cheerup and start thrifting money you VW addicts

[@simpleinverso8628]

Don't you mean the Volkswagen ID3?