A victim of falling export demand, the Volkswagen Beetle will reprise its predecessor’s role in a new film. Will Tinseltown fame help the “Love Bug” become popular again?Herbie film. Will Tinseltown fame help the “Love Bug” become popular again?content here
A victim of falling export demand, the Volkswagen Beetle will reprise its predecessor’s role in a new film. Will Tinseltown fame help the “Love Bug” become popular again?
Disney has started production of a new Herbie film, starring Matt Dillon, Michael Keaton and the current Beetle, in Los Angeles. is scheduled for release next summer, and is set in the world of Nascar racing.
The original movies – starred the original Beetle and became cult family movies. However, sales of the New Beetle, launched 1998, have slipped nearly 20 per cent this year despite the advent of the cabriolet model. Volkswagen is no doubt hoping that the film will rekindle interest in the Beetle range, even if the cars available from dealers do not have a mind of their own!
reported this week that 10 000 workers walked out of Volkswagen’s Puebla plant in Mexico in a pay dispute on Wednesday. Workers have rejected a 4,45 per cent salary increase and are negotiating for 8,5 per cent. The Puebla plant is expected to make 235 000 cars this year, but falling export demand for the Beetle has put it on a four-day week.