Volkswagen has built its first new Beetle at its plant in Central Mexico.
The first Volkswagen Beetle has rolled off the production line at the German manufacturer’s Puebla plant in central Mexico.
Volkswagen’s base for the new Beetle is indicative of its marketing plan with the iconic model targeting North America after its update.
"The new Beetle and the engine plant we are building in Silao represent the great confidence we place in Mexico as a manufacturing location. As one of the main manufacturers of compact class vehicles, Volkswagen de México is a key building block in our growth strategy for North America," said Hubert Waltl, board member at Volkswagen.
The original Beetle was an icon in the motor industry thanks to its shape and a number of film appearances. It also managed to sell around five million units between 1949 and 1981 before the second generation resumed production in 1997.
Despite selling over one million sales in just 13 years on the market, the second generation Beetle came in for heavy criticism for its ‘effeminate’ design, represented most notably by a flower vase in the dashboard.
Volkswagen believes it has put those criticisms behind it with the third generation model which has retained the shape of the Beetle but with more aggressive styling, a sleeker profile and less ‘feminine’ touches.
Order books are expected to open for UK customers at some point this summer with deliveries coming in 2012.
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