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Polaroid of the Week: Iconic VW Beetle Taxis in Mexico City Nearing Retirement

Polaroid of the Week: Iconic VW Beetle Taxis in Mexico City Nearing RetirementJust like London's iconic double-decker buses, Mexico City's VW Beetle taxis—known locally as 'vochos'—have long been a beloved symbol of the bustling metropolis. These colorful bugs zipped tirelessly through the streets until city officials phased them out by the end of 2012.

This Polaroid captures what may have been one of the last 'vochos' during our recent visit to Mexico City. At their peak, around 50,000 Beetle taxis roamed the city, but numbers declined sharply after production ended in Mexico in 2003. Their compact two-door design raised safety concerns compared to four-door alternatives, and they failed to meet modern emission standards—a key factor amid the city's air pollution challenges.

For a thrilling ride in one of these vintage, rattling vochos, travelers needed to hurry to Mexico City before the 2012 deadline. Today, they remain a nostalgic icon of urban history.


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