Mexico City to Retire Last Iconic VW 'Bug' Taxis Mexico City has announced that the last of the iconic Volkswagen Beetle taxis will be withdrawn from service by the end of the year, marking the end of an adventurous if uncomfortable part of city life. The director of taxi services for the city's transport department says taxi permits for the last of the rounded, two-door sedans nicknamed "bugs" will run out at the end of 2012. The original WWII-era sedan hasn't been manufactured since 2003. The original model is known in Mexico as the 'vocho.' Victor Ramirez said Friday only about 3,500 of the bug taxis remain. For safety reasons, the city started mandating four-door taxis in 2003. 2002 Bugs were the last allowed to enter service, and rules require taxis to be less than 10 years old.