The iconic Volkswagen Beetle will be phased out by the end of 2018 as the German automaker turns its attention to CUVs and SUVs, according to various reports.
Company officials have refused to comment, however.
Still struggling with the consequences of Dieselgate, Volkswagen needs a ton of money to pay multiple fines and repair millions of rigged engines around the world. It sure could use the larger profits new CUVs and SUVs are sure to generate.
Sales of the VW Beetle have taken a downward turn of late, and new, special editions like the Beetle Dune andBeetle Denim are probably too little, too late.
The modern Beetle was launched in 1997, so axing the car around the end of 2018 would make it 21 years old at the time of its death.