(August 22, 2013) Last week Volkswagen celebrated the production of 10 million cars at its Volkswagen de México manufacturing facility in Puebla, Mexico. The 10- millionth car was a Volkswagen Beetle GSR, a limited edition, 1970s-inspired Beetle that goes on sale in the United States this month.

“This is an important milestone and symbol of Volkswagen’s long-term commitment to the North American market,” said Jonathan Browning, president of Volkswagen of America, Inc. “It’s only fitting that the milestone car is a Beetle in light of this being the 75th anniversary of the car. Puebla has been manufacturing quality Beetles and other Volkswagens for the United States for nearly 50 years, and continues to play a key role in our growth strategy.”



Volkswagen Puebla is the largest automobile manufacturing plant in North America and the second largest Volkswagen manufacturing plant in the world. The company has investments of more than $5 billion planned in the U.S. and Mexico in the next three years to lay the foundation for further growth in the North American market.

Puebla began manufacturing the original Beetle — which celebrates its 75th birthday this year — in 1967. Since then, the plant has produced more than three million Beetles, and also currently manufactures the Beetle Convertible, Jetta and Jetta SportWagen for the U.S. market. The plant will begin production of the next-generation Golf for the North and South American markets in early 2014.

The 2014 Beetle GSR is a retro-themed yellow and black model inspired by the “Yellow Black Racer” of the 1970s. The GSR features the new EA888 turbocharged and direct-injection 2.0-liter TSI engine, giving it more power, torque and better fuel economy. Only 3,500 of the special edition Beetle GSRs were built globally.

The GSR is expected to continue positive momentum for the 2014 Beetle as it hits dealer showrooms this month. Total U.S. Beetle sales were 5,256 in July, an 85.1 percent increase over the prior year.