The Volkswagen Beetle will be dropped from the German car maker’s Australian line-up later this year due to poor sales.

THE ICONIC Volkswagen Beetle has been on Australian roads for decades and was even built here in Complete Knock-Down (CKD) form between 1954 and 1959. Now, the second-generation New Beetle is to be dropped from the Australian market due to poor sales.

According to sales figures only 240 Beetles found homes in 2015 and 43 this year to date. In a short statement, Volkswagen Group Australia said: “Of course, the Beetle is such a significant part of our heritage both locally and around the world, which is why we are planning to bid farewell to the current Beetle in Australia with a limited-run special model that will offer some unique equipment and individualised numbering. Rest assured, the current Beetle will get the send-off it deserves.”