VW Squashes Electric Beetle Idea, CEO Calls Retro Models ‘A Dead End’

Despite being one of the world's largest automakers, Volkswagen often says and does things that seem unfocused and unusual. In the United States, this is especially true—I'm looking at you, Arteon—and now that the company has a chance to reinvent much of its lineup thanks to electrification, its CEO has stated an electric Beetle isn't happening.

In an interview with Autocar, the company's chief executive Thomas Schäfer said that "traditional [and] successful" models like the Golf and Tiguan would no doubt be electrified, but the company has to look towards the future. He addressed the retro-styled ID Buzz as the one exception, but claims the Beetle would be a "dead end."

"I wouldn't say with 100% [certainty]. But from where I stand now, I wouldn't consider it," Schäfer told the publication. "It's the same as Scirocco: it had its day, then there was a new model based on a reinterpretation. To do that again? I don't think so. And going forward with balancing all these technologies and the cost that is associated with it, you've got to invest money in the best possible place."

In his mind, the Beetle was effectively replaced by the Golf. That would make sense, if not for the fact that VW sold the Golf alongside a pair of new-generation Beetles for over 20 years.

The real answer probably has more to do with the current state of electrification, the trend toward larger cars, and yes, internal VW squabbling. The brand's first EV in the U.S. is the ID.4 crossover, which has received lukewarm reviews despite a competitive price and range. In other words, the actual car isn't very good despite having good specs on paper. We also know that the German brand has had considerable trouble developing its smallest EV, the ID.2. Apparently it's basically an electric Golf now after the company decided a potential ID.2's appeal was limited. It has even admitted its latest round of button-less interiors hurt the brand.