Johanna betermi
Volkswagen had to stop the production of the iconic Kombi in Brazil on December 20, as a result of a new safety regulation that came into force on January 01, 2014 and which indicates that all passenger cars and commercial vehicles must be equipped with standard accessories such as driver and passenger airbags, as well as an ABS system.
In that sense, the German house said that its emblematic model from the 50s (which has not undergone major changes throughout its history) cannot meet the new requirements, since at a technical level it is not very feasible to make the adaptation. For this reason, they decided to terminate the manufacture of the model and did so with a Last Edition, thus putting an end to their long idyll with the Rio de Janeiro country.
As a result of how emotional the news was for Brazilians, the possibility of exempting the beloved Transporter T2 from the new safety regulations was even considered, through legislative procedures that the country's Finance Minister, Guido Mantega, would carry out so that it could take place for three more years.
But, unfortunately for the enthusiasts of this model, everything indicates that the proposal has not paid off; we imagine that making the exception for the Kombi would imply that the authorities would have to grant the same licenses for other "classic" models to continue production.
We have no doubt that, had this permit been issued, customers and fans of the sixth best-selling vehicle in Brazil would have been more than happy. Because for them it is, more than a means of transport, a lifestyle.
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