The Volkswagen Beetle, dubbed ‘the most significant and important car ever made’ by the English TV presenter and The Grand Tour host James May, has become a rage among young Ethiopian drivers; and they are giving it a 21st-century upgrade. Robel Wolde, an Ethiopian citizen, bought a 1967 beat-up model of Volkswagen Beetle for $1,700 and started its restoration that he had planned all these years. A painter by profession, Wolde finished the restoration and upgrade within 2 months. His vision took the shape after an extensive restoration process with an additional $1,000.

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'Pimp My Ride'

Upgrading the VW Beetle included installation of new grey leather seats, black stripes, and Decals along the orange-blue exterior. He also hired a metal worker to helped him fit oversized headlights to the front bumper. The 25-year-old painter joined a growing number of young Ethiopian drivers giving the beetle a 21st-century upgrade. Addis Ababa has happily adopted the American culture of customised vehicles, inspired by old MTV hits like ‘Pimp My Ride’.

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VW future plans in Ethiopia

The Beetle’s hallowed position in the nation’s car culture got a huge boost in January when Volkswagen signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ethiopian government to set up a domestic auto industry. Volkswagen’s plan to set up an auto industry in Ethiopia also includes an assembly plant. Many Ethiopians associate the Beetle with their country and people have been posting pictures on social media to share their memory of the car. On Twitter, #BeetleEthiopia has been extensively used for such purpose.

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The history of the Beetle

The VW Beetle was first introduced in 1938 as an instrument of propaganda in Nazi Germany and became the "people's car". It became a common sight on the roads of Addis Ababa during the regime of former emperor Haile Selassie. In 1974, his regime came to an end. As he was escorted away from his palace, he was forced to duck into a Beetle.

In July this year, Volkswagen announced that the production for Beetle was officially over and marked its end by launching a limited, 65-unit "Beetle Final Edition" at its factory in Puebla, Mexico.

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