The Volkswagen Beetle is about as useless as a automotive could be proper now. That’s somewhat stunning, contemplating automakers are utilizing this large second EVs are having to reintroduce some beloved names and ideas, and there was actually loads of love surrounding the Beetle for a really very long time. Perhaps not a lot anymore, given current feedback from Volkswagen’s chief government.

Thomas Schäfer indicated to Autocar in a narrative printed Monday that it’s unwise to carry out for a 3rd new Beetle:

Requested if the Volkswagen Beetle – one of many firm’s (and, certainly, the world’s) longest-serving nameplates – might make a comeback primarily based on this strict standards, he was categoric: “I don’t assume so, as a result of there are specific automobiles which have had their day. It wouldn’t make sense to carry it again.

“I wouldn’t say with 100% [certainty]. However from the place I stand now, I wouldn’t take into account it. It’s the identical as Scirocco: it had its day, then there was a brand new mannequin primarily based on a reinterpretation. To try this once more? I don’t assume so. And going ahead with balancing all these applied sciences and the associated fee that’s related to it, you’ve obtained to speculate cash in the very best place.”

It’s laborious to argue with Schäfer’s level about making one of the best funding potential when you take into account how the earlier Beetle was promoting in regards to the time it was discontinued. Volkswagen moved 36,421 New Beetles within the U.S. in 2007, per knowledge from CarFigures. In 2011, the primary yr of the last-gen Beetle (paradoxically sans the “New” adjective), VW bought 43,134. Fairly spectacular for a small automotive in America, although this was on the apex of pricy fuel and People giving a rattling about small vehicles. Come the ultimate full yr of manufacturing in 2018, that quantity sank again all the way down to 14,411.

Volkswagen cashed the New Beetle examine already. You possibly can’t try this greater than as soon as. Otherwise you can, however at a sure level it begins to look more and more determined and brings diminishing influence with each try. Schäfer and Volkswagen appear to have internalized this. Apart from, whereas the world might positive use extra (learn: any) low-cost EVs, that’s not what consumers are jazzed to purchase, and never what sells nicely. There’s a lot larger potential for fulfillment (learn: margins) in one thing just like the ID.Buzz, a bigger multipurpose automobile that feeds the adventurous spirit each model is seizing lately.

In order that’s so lengthy and farewell to the Beetle, for now. Although when you ask me, this goodbye gained’t be eternally. Electrical vehicles are costly to make now, however sooner or later they gained’t be. In the future they’ll be skateboards with totally different hats. And when that day comes, it’d seem to be a fairly straightforward win for Volkswagen to make an ID.Golf with a well-recognized, retro hat. That’s all of the previous New Beetle actually ever was, anyway.