The last of Volkswagen's iconic Beetle compact cars rolled off assembly lines in July 2019. While there were two special models manufactured before production ceases, it's the original "Bug" that still generates the most emotion among its fans. DW looks at how views of the "people's car" have changed over the decades.

In the 1930s, Nazi ruler Adolf Hitler tapped Ferdinand Porsche (L) to design a "Volkswagen," or "people's car" — an affordable, mass-market vehicle that could carry a family and luggage. He came up with a two-door, rear-engine vehicle that could cruise at top speeds of 100 km/h (62 m/hr). Initial production of the car remained small.

Sales of the car, officially named the Type 1, picked up after the British, one of Germany's post-WWII occupying powers, relaunched Volkswagen factory production. In 1955, the millionth car rolled off the assembly line. It was only then that the rounded car earned its nickname "the Beetle." The moniker was then carried over into numerous languages as sales of the car spread around the globe.

It took a while for the Beetle to become popular in the US, however, in part due to the car's Nazi roots. But a 1960s marketing rebrand and the car's starring role in the 1968 movie "The Love Bug" as Herbie (above), a Beetle with a mind of its own, sealed its place in the hearts of Americans — and in their garages.

Beetle sales in the US plummeted in the 1970s and production there ceased in 1979. By that time, the car was being produced around the world, including in Mexico and Latin America. In the 1990s, VW decided to give the car another go in the US. They revamped the design and released the New Beetle (above) in 1998, complete with a built-in flower vase.

As the New Beetle took off in the US, global production of the original Type 1 Beetle came to an end. By July 30, 2003, when the last of its kind came off the production belt in Puebla, Mexico, over 21,500,000 had been produced. The final car (above) received a ceremonial sendoff complete with mariachi band. Dubbed "El Rey" ("the king"), the car was sent to VW headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany.

Despite no longer being made, the original Beetle remained popular and recognizable, often linked to 1960s nostalgia. However, it also made a political statement. While holding the post of Uruguay's president from 2010-2015, Jose Mujica continued to use his 1987 Beetle to get around (above). The old car, part of his personal abstention from luxury, cemented his reputation as a humble politician.

The VW entered its third generation in 2012, with the production of a new model in the US. But just six years later VW said it would cease making the car in 2019, instead focusing on electric and family vehicles. VW's CEO left the door open to revive the much beloved Beetle in the future. Until then, however, the iconic car will continue to hold a place in the hearts of old and young alike.

Those in the know can easily spot the first generation VW Bus by its split windshield. Though it's hard to believe, originally around 80 percent of its parts came from the Beetle production line. Even the motor (a whopping 24.5 horsepower!) was borrowed from the famous "people's car."

This well-maintained microbus has skylights, a folding sunroof and a row of pivoting side windows. Riders have to be very attentive if they want to appreciate all the details in this rolling design museum; and buyers must have the proper pocket change to be able to drive it off into the sunset.

VW's "expedition camper" is legendary: books and movies have been made about it. Whether travelling from the top of South America to Tierra del Fuego, along the Silk Road in Asia or Marrakech-Cape Town-Cairo: those who loved their camper showed it the world. And the van had almost everything adventurers needed - except a shower and toilet.

The memory of the VW Bus can even make people who never had one and never even rode in one sentimental. It is simply a symbol of the times - even a rebellious time. Not surprisingly today it is usually parents and grandparents who display these miniature rust buckets on their shelves or desks.

Here another first generation Camper in Miami in 1967, the last year of its production. Not only hippies and adventurers considered the VW Bus a part of their way of life. A younger generation looking for more freedom also soon discovered the four-meter-long vehicle for itself.

The police had them in their vehicle fleet, so did the Red Cross, craftsmen and fire departments. There is hardly any other type of vehicle which owners modified to meet their needs as much as the VW Bus. Of the few remaining original models today, hardly any are in untouched factory condition.

Wolf Dieter Hildisch from the Camping Oldie Club takes good care of his green and white pride - a vintage VW Bus - which he presented at the 2002 International Caravan Fair in Düsseldorf. Such well-preserved examples are becoming ever rarer, this one includes its original space heater.

New road laws marked the end of the road for the VW Bus in 2013. Without the required ABS brakes or airbags which could not be fitted into the van, its fate was sealed. The vehicle enjoyed great popularity in Brazil - the last place it was manufactured - mostly because almost everything could be repaired through relatively simple means. But it became a victim of its technical backwardness.

What was the artist thinking? In 1969, Joseph Beuys presented his creation "The Pack" - a VW bus with 24 sleds each carrying wax/grease, cotton ribbon, felt, binding belts and a flashlight. It's a rather unknown chapter from the history of the van that has achieved cult status the world over.

Did you know that Volkswagen - or the 'people's car' - was Adolf Hitler's brainchild, and that it was developed by Porsche founder Ferdinand Porsche? In 1938, Hitler even had built an entire city just to house the factory and its workers. First known as "City of the [Kraft durch Freude] Car at Fallersleben," it was renamed Wolfsburg on May 25, 1945. To this day, the city remains home to VW.

From Hitler's wet dream on wheels to the world's favorite love-bug: The original Beetle - known in Germany as 'Der Käfer' - ruled the list of the world's best-selling car for much of the 20th century. By the time production was discontinued in 2003, more than 21.5 million Beetles had been sold worldwide.

The company has come a long way since the 1930s. The Volkswagen Group's garage currently fits 12 brands under its roof. Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, Porsche and Skoda are among its best-selling subsidiaries, accounting for 37 percent of 2014 sales.

Today, Volkswagen really has become the "People's Car": The Group accounts for more than every third car - 36 percent, to be exact - sold in Germany.

Globally, more than 1 out of every 10 cars sold in 2014 was a Volkswagen Group brand. The company sold more than 10.2 million vehicles in that year. 7 out of 10 were sold outside Germany.

The coveted US market has proven to be a real thorn in the eye for the German carmaker. Just 6 percent of its cars - or some 600,000 - were sold abroad. Despite huge investments, its market share there has been stuck at about 2 percent, trailing far behind competitors like GM, Ford and Toyota.

In July, 2015 Volkswagen overtook Toyota as the world's top-selling carmaker. It's also the world's biggest automotive company by revenue. In 2014, it reported sales of 202.5 billion euros. Profit after tax came in at 11.1 billion euros. But after the emissions scandal, analysts warn VW's pole position could be at risk.

As of December 31, 2014, the Group employed nearly 600,000 workers, making it one of the biggest employers worldwide. More than a third - some 270,000 - worked at one of its German locations.

The auto industry is the largest sector in the Germany economy, fuelled by the so-called 'Big Three' - Daimler, BMW and VW. Combined, the industry employs nearly 800,000 people - or almost 2 percent of the German workforce.

The German car industry's total revenue nearly topped 370 billion euros in 2014. It made up about one-fifth of the country's exports, and contributed around 3 percent to German GDP.