BMW M3, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Porsche 911. All of these vehicles represent the German auto industry fantastically, but one could argue that no vehicle is as quintessentially German as the now 65-year-old Volkswagen Beetle.
“Since its arrival in the United States 65 years ago, the Volkswagen Beetle has preserved its reputation of being more than just a car, but a symbol of uniqueness and freedom,” said Michael Horn, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America.
This will mark the 65th year since the Beetle arrived in New York City as a “Type 1” vehicle. This was the first time a Volkswagen was sold in the U.S. The success of the Beetle led to the opening of the first Volkswagen of America Headquarters six years later.
From that time on the Beetle went from selling two models to 11 models in the U.S. market and was sold at about 650 dealerships throughout the nation. The primary reason for the Beetle’s success were the advertisements created by DBB that put emphasis on the vehicle’s uniqueness. This helped make the Beetle the number one imported car in America. Volkswagen continued working hard to make cars that were relevant to culture.
The last “Type 1” Beetle was sold in 1977 but there were still millions of “Bugs” seen on roadways around the country. In 1998 Volkswagen offered a new Beetle that came with a few changes including an engine located in the front instead of the rear. The third generation Beetle entered the U.S. market in 2011. This classy, more powerful and fuel efficient Beetle sold more than 43,000 units in 2013.
Here’s to another 65 years of curves, round lights, and German cars.
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