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Time's up for Hitler's brainchild: Volkswagen applies brakes on iconic Beetle

The original Volkswagen Beetle, developed in the 1930s, made a journey from a product identified with Adolf Hitler to a symbol of Germany's rebirth as a democratic, industrial powerhouse after World War Two.
In this April 27, 1966 file photo, Volkswagen workers drive their Beetle cars from the parking lot on their way home at the end of a days work at the world's largest single auto plant, the Volkswagen factory (seen in background) in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is halting production of the last version of its Beetle model in July 2019 at its plant in Puebla, Mexico, the end of the road for a vehicle that has symbolized many things over a history spanning eight decades since 1938.(File Photo | Associated Press)
In this April 27, 1966 file photo, Volkswagen workers drive their Beetle cars from the parking lot on their way home at the end of a days work at the world's largest single auto plant, the Volkswagen factory (seen in background) in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is halting production of the last version of its Beetle model in July 2019 at its plant in Puebla, Mexico, the end of the road for a vehicle that has symbolized many things over a history spanning eight decades since 1938.(File Photo | Associated Press)
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In this May 26, 1938 file photo, German Nazi leader Adolf Hitler speaks at the opening ceremony of the Volkswagen car factory in Fallersleben, Lower Saxony, Germany. (File Photo | Associated Press)
In this May 26, 1938 file photo, German Nazi leader Adolf Hitler speaks at the opening ceremony of the Volkswagen car factory in Fallersleben, Lower Saxony, Germany. (File Photo | Associated Press)
n this June 16, 1954 file photo, VW beetles are assembled in lines at the Volkwagen auto works plant, which manufactures nearly 900 automobiles each day, in Wolfsburg, West Germany. Thanks to Volkswagen, Wolfsburg boomed in West Germany's postwar rebirth and today the town and the company are inseparable. (File Photo | Associated Press)
n this June 16, 1954 file photo, VW beetles are assembled in lines at the Volkwagen auto works plant, which manufactures nearly 900 automobiles each day, in Wolfsburg, West Germany. Thanks to Volkswagen, Wolfsburg boomed in West Germany's postwar rebirth and today the town and the company are inseparable. (File Photo | Associated Press)
In this July 21, 2003 file photo, Volkswagen employees work in the assembly plant of the Volkswagen sedan 'last edition,' at the VW plant in Puebla, 65 miles (105 kms) southeast of Mexico City where it will stop producing the cult classic bug on July 30th. (File Photo | Associated Press)
In this July 21, 2003 file photo, Volkswagen employees work in the assembly plant of the Volkswagen sedan 'last edition,' at the VW plant in Puebla, 65 miles (105 kms) southeast of Mexico City where it will stop producing the cult classic bug on July 30th. (File Photo | Associated Press)
In this May 11, 1968 file photo, Guards stand in front of a shop on a street in the Latin Quarter of Paris, following a student riot and general strike that rocked the city. (File Photo | Associated Press)
In this May 11, 1968 file photo, Guards stand in front of a shop on a street in the Latin Quarter of Paris, following a student riot and general strike that rocked the city. (File Photo | Associated Press)
In this Aug. 23, 1954 file photo, four female employees tend to a Volkswagen at a gas station in Deidesheim, near Kaiserslautern, Germany. (File Photo | Associated Press)
In this Aug. 23, 1954 file photo, four female employees tend to a Volkswagen at a gas station in Deidesheim, near Kaiserslautern, Germany. (File Photo | Associated Press)
In this June 12, 2002 file photo, a Volkswagen Beetle, known as Fusca in Brazil, painted in Brazilian colors on the eve of the Brazilian team's next match of the World Cup, drives down Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (File Photo | Associated Press)
In this June 12, 2002 file photo, a Volkswagen Beetle, known as Fusca in Brazil, painted in Brazilian colors on the eve of the Brazilian team's next match of the World Cup, drives down Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (File Photo | Associated Press)
In this April 21, 2017 file photo, Volkswagen Beetles are displayed during the annual gathering of the 'Beetle club' in Yakum, central Israel. The Israeli Beetle club was founded in 2001 and there are 500 members. (File Photo | Associated Press)
In this April 21, 2017 file photo, Volkswagen Beetles are displayed during the annual gathering of the 'Beetle club' in Yakum, central Israel. The Israeli Beetle club was founded in 2001 and there are 500 members. (File Photo | Associated Press)
In this July 7, 1953 file photo, to celebrate the 500,000 produced Volkswagen Beetle after WW II the company has organized a beetle roulette, with 10 red and green beetles in the Volkswagen stadium in Wolfsburg, West Germany. (File Photo | Associated Press)
In this July 7, 1953 file photo, to celebrate the 500,000 produced Volkswagen Beetle after WW II the company has organized a beetle roulette, with 10 red and green beetles in the Volkswagen stadium in Wolfsburg, West Germany. (File Photo | Associated Press)
In this Dec. 18, 1977 file photo, a Volkswagen Beetle is unloaded at Emden harbor, Germany, as the first shipment of 1600 Beetles made in Mexico arrives. (File Photo | Associated Press)
In this Dec. 18, 1977 file photo, a Volkswagen Beetle is unloaded at Emden harbor, Germany, as the first shipment of 1600 Beetles made in Mexico arrives. (File Photo | Associated Press)
In this Dec. 8 2007 file photo, a model poses next to a 1968 Volkswagen Beetle covered in tiles made of a blend of 18 karat gold and glass at the annual Luxury Show in Bucharest, Romania. The car is functional and on sale for 60,000 euros, $88,000. However it is not street legal in Romania because of the nature of its paint. (File Photo | Associated Press)
In this Dec. 8 2007 file photo, a model poses next to a 1968 Volkswagen Beetle covered in tiles made of a blend of 18 karat gold and glass at the annual Luxury Show in Bucharest, Romania. The car is functional and on sale for 60,000 euros, $88,000. However it is not street legal in Romania because of the nature of its paint. (File Photo | Associated Press)
In this Dec. 8 2007 file photo, a model poses next to a 1968 Volkswagen Beetle covered in tiles made of a blend of 18 karat gold and glass at the annual Luxury Show in Bucharest, Romania. The car is functional and on sale for 60,000 euros, $88,000. However it is not street legal in Romania because of the nature of its paint. (File Photo | Associated Press)
In this Dec. 8 2007 file photo, a model poses next to a 1968 Volkswagen Beetle covered in tiles made of a blend of 18 karat gold and glass at the annual Luxury Show in Bucharest, Romania. The car is functional and on sale for 60,000 euros, $88,000. However it is not street legal in Romania because of the nature of its paint. (File Photo | Associated Press)
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