January 14, 2016: At the upcoming 2016 Indian Auto Expo, German carmaker Volkswagen will display its recently released halo product, the Volkswagen Beetle. From February 5 to 9, the Auto Expo will be hosted in the Greater Noida area. The Volkswagen Beetle’s debut at the Auto Expo will be the cherry on top of the company’s recent celebration of 70 years of Beetle production. Recently, the brand-new Volkswagen Beetle with its sticker price of 28.73 lacs was introduced in India.
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Has the VW Beetle been phased out in India?
Due to separate factors, Volkswagen has formally terminated both the Jetta and the classic Beetle models in India. The Beetle’s stockpiles are gone, but the Jetta’s demand has been weak for the past year. Finally, the firm decided to remove both of these models from its catalog for India as well as its official website. Both models were introduced in 2015; the Jetta had a starting price of Rs. 13.87 lakh and the Beetle had a starting price of Rs. 28.73 lakh.
The failure of the Volkswagen Beetle in India: why?
In order to reignite India’s historic love affair with the Beetle, Volkswagen India launched the iconic Beetle in India in 2009. Volkswagen intended to attract as many eyes as possible with the provocative tagline “Curves are returning” in order to sell the Polo and Vento, its two best-selling models.
Sadly, the VW Beetle merely succeeded in attracting eyes in India. Only 500 copies of the Beetle were sold before it was taken off the shelves. Of course, there were a number of reasons for its cessation, including the high cost, the paltry marketing efforts, and the suspension of supplies from the primary factory.
The car’s inability to elicit an emotional response from the audience was the main reason for its failure, though.
India is discontinuing a prior generation model of the Beetle. In 2011, the world was introduced to a brand-new Beetle at the Auto Shanghai and the New York Auto Show. Volkswagen did exhibit this Beetle at the 2012 New Delhi Auto Expo, but the car maker is keeping very quiet about the Beetle’s Indian market launch.
Did the Beetle complete its intended job successfully enough to avoid the need for a relaunch? Truthfully, the Beetle did not have the same showroom appeal as the Duster did for Renault. The Polo, Vento, or even the Volkswagen brand as a whole were unaffected by the Beetle’s success.
Volkswagen India has currently devoted all of its attention on the Vento and the Polo. Numerous variations and limited-edition models of the Polo and Vento were introduced in 2013, and if reports and other sources are to be believed, a few more variations are in the works for 2014.
So Volkswagen India, after the Polo platform product pipeline is empty, will India see the brand-new Beetle on the roads?
The Volkswagen Beetle is still offered, right?
It is surely sad news to report that the legendary Volkswagen Beetle will no longer be produced after three generations and a combined seven decades. Due to its distinctive appearance, fun-to-drive attitude, and expressive personality, the Beetle has won the hearts of drivers all over the world. While we’re all sorry to see the Beetle depart, Volkswagen of Ann Arbor is here to assist you enjoy your final opportunity to acquire this cherished car.
Why was the Volkswagen Beetle canceled?
As far as we know, VW has never given a formal response. However, based on our study, we have been able to put together a few major explanations for the decision to halt manufacture of what is undoubtedly the most iconic car in history:
- Electrification The idea that Volkswagen discontinued the Beetle so they could concentrate more on impending electric vehicles is another frequently advanced argument. This is a legitimate argument, but not nearly as compelling as the one based on sales performance, since there is no question that VW, along with the majority of other manufacturers, has moved its focus to electrification.
- Platform-sharing
- The A4 and A5 platforms from Volkswagen served as the foundation for the New Beetle generations. Online rumors indicate that one of the reasons VW canceled the Beetle was due to the technical difficulties associated with switching to the Volkswagen Group MQB Platform. This assertion, coupled with the Beetle’s low sales record, was cited as another justification for the decision.
- Sales effectiveness and buyer preferences
- The Beetle’s poor sales performance was the primary factor in VW ceasing production. Volkswagen attributed the termination of production of the original Beetle in 2003 to diminishing demand. When the final model left the Mexican assembly line, it was still essentially an old automobile, despite modifications and revisions over the years. Following the decline of the original Beetle in Western nations, the markets where it was successful also “The outmoded Beetle had been sufficiently modernized to the point where it was no longer practical. In the late 1990s, The New Beetle was introduced in an effort to “Profit on the fondness for the original vehicle. The New Beetle and its successor, the New New Beetle, never sold in particularly large quantities, despite some early success (due to the market preferring the blend of retro appeal and new amenities). By 2018, Volkswagen’s total sales were made up of around 4% of the A5 Beetle. It was a specialized product that was just not making enough money to support its continued manufacturing. Consumer preferences had evolved away from affordable hatchbacks and toward SUV/crossover vehicles. As a result of the model’s low sales results, it was discontinued.
Is Passat no longer available in India?
The German manufacturers’ premium D-segment sedan, the Volkswagen Passat, has left the Indian market. Yes, this is the reason all Volkswagen vehicles are excluded from the offer areas, including the automobile in question.
Because the manufacturers have discontinued making the Passat, only a few dealers still have a small number of the sedans in stock. The sedan continues to be offered with a BS4 certified diesel engine, and in 2020 the Passat will receive a redesign and become BS6 compliant.
Speaking of the mechanics, the 2.0-liter, four-cylinder, turbocharged diesel engine is the only one offered in the Volkswagen Passat. This engine produces a maximum output of 174 horsepower and a maximum torque of 350 Nm when paired with a 6-speed DSG gearbox.
When did the Volkswagen Beetle go out of production in India?
Volkswagen India, the Indian division of the German carmaker, has stopped selling the famous Beetle and Jetta sedan in India. Officially removed from Volkswagen India’s website are the two vehicles. According to reports, Volkswagen does not intend to continue selling the 2015-launched current generation Volkswagen Beetle in India while supplies are depleted and production has been halted. The Volkswagen Jetta was also removed from the Indian market due to low demand for the car for more than a year. The cost of the Volkswagen Beetle and Jetta was high, at Rs. 28.75 lakh and Rs. 13.80 lakh, respectively. Also read: Driving a Volkswagen Beetle from Delhi to Mumbai: Is it a practical vehicle for long distances? We learn.
The Volkswagen Jetta fell short of the Skoda Octavia, Toyota Corolla Altis, and Hyundai Elantra in terms of appeal. The majority of these vehicles underwent recent updates, and the Volkswagen Jetta appeared dated and experienced weak sales. The PQ35 platform, which is no longer in use globally, was utilized to build the VW Jetta car. The newest model of the Volkswagen Jetta, which is based on the renowned MQB platform, was presented at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show earlier this year. If the new Jetta will be sold in India remains to be seen, though. Given that vehicles like the brand-new Volkswagen Tiguan and Volkswagen Passat, which are also built on the MQB platform, are currently constructed in India, the German carmaker may soon think about moving the new Jetta there.
Is purchasing a Beetle worthwhile?
After this year, the incredibly legendary Volkswagen Beetle will retire. This car will have several characteristics, in addition to its unmistakable look, that appeal to purchasers. Is the Volkswagen Beetle worth buying in 2019? The answer is unquestionably yes for many consumers. Others, though, might not be able to look past this vehicle’s few shortcomings.
Drivers will be able to select a new Final Edition trim level because the 2019 Volkswagen Beetle will be the final model of its kind. Exterior paint selections for this trim will be distinctive and reminiscent of Beetles from the past. Additionally, it will have different wheels than the other trims, either 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels with a classic 15-spoke design or 18-inch alloy wheels with white accent.
In 2019, improvements are made to the S, which is the entry-level trim. It will now have keyless ignition, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto functionality. The addition of extra standard safety features to this trim may be of greater significance to some customers.
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Why is VW not well-liked in India?
VW has been struggling in India, from low growth rates of 5% in 201112 to the industry recession and a reduced portfolio. And the numerous changes have made it even more vulnerable. Three group representatives, four VW brand directors, four marketing executives, and two sales executives were present across the six years from 2010 to 2016.
VW is it leaving India?
Volkswagen’s announcement that it will no longer produce the Polo hatchback, which has been produced for ten years, sparked rumors that the company may be considering ending its operations in India. But according to reliable sources, Volkswagen has no intention of giving up on the Indian market this early in the launch of its wave of all-new vehicles.
Director of Volkswagen India Ashish Gupta addressed these worries in a direct conversation with ZigWheels, saying “We have the most recent and youthful portfolio at this time. Volkswagen is aiming for a 3% market share in India, therefore I believe that this portfolio will really help us grow our business over the next three to four years.
“The success of these two vehicles, the Taigun and Virtus, as well as the Tiguan, which is the foundation of our future ambitions, is crucial if we want to maintain a long-term presence in India, he added.
Western automakers frequently leave the Indian automotive industry, particularly those who have long-term active participation in the market but have found it difficult to establish a foothold. The most recent example was Ford, which closed its manufacturing facilities in India in 2021 due to years of losses and an outdated model lineup. Because its luxury models haven’t been able to loosen the purse strings of the majority of Indian vehicle purchasers, Volkswagen has frequently been regarded as a brand that errs perilously close to that edge. The VW Group recently announced its new strategy for the Indian market, where Skoda would lead the way with a flurry of fresh and highly localized offers, in an effort to calm concerns about a quick exit.
It’s vital to keep in mind that the Polo hatchback is also quite old, despite being one of Volkswagen’s most consistently well-liked cars in India. Here, sales of the Mk5 Polo began in 2010. Volkswagen released the sixth-gen model for a number of markets in 2017, and in 2021 it received a facelift. As a result, the model that has only recently been discontinued needed a significant upgrade.
Is there a Volkswagen Beetle for 2022?
Volkswagen currently has a lot to be excited about. With new EVs bearing the VW trademark and improved EV charging technologies, Volkswagen is securing its position in the contemporary auto industry. Many fans are now speculating as to whether the producer will bring back its most recognizable automobile brand and produce a 2022 VW Beetle.
There are no present plans for a 2022 Beetle, claims VW SUV Models. But it seems conceivable that they might bring it back soon given the ongoing projects that Volkswagen is working on.