You've probably seen it by now. A TikTok or a grainy YouTube thumbnail showing a sleek, retro-futuristic bug with a flatbed. It looks cool. Kinda weird, but definitely cool. The internet has been buzzing about the 2025 Volkswagen Beetle truck, and honestly, it’s the perfect recipe for a viral hoax. It hits that nostalgia button right in the center while promising the utility we all seem to crave lately.
But here is the cold, hard truth. Volkswagen is not building a 2025 Beetle truck.
It doesn't exist. Not as a production model, not as a secret prototype, and definitely not as a "confirmed" 2025 release. If you’ve seen "leaked" photos of a blue Beetle pickup with aggressive LED headlights and a 300-horsepower engine, you’re looking at AI-generated clickbait. These images are designed to harvest engagement from people who miss the days when cars had personality.
Why the 2025 Volkswagen Beetle truck won't happen
Automotive giant Volkswagen has been pretty clear about where they stand on the Beetle. CEO Thomas Schäfer basically killed the dream a while back, stating that certain vehicles have had their day and it wouldn't make sense to bring the Beetle back.
Volkswagen is currently obsessed with SUVs and their ID series. They are dumping billions into the ID.4 and the retro-styled ID. Buzz. They don't have the "room in the budget" for a niche, quirky pickup based on a car they discontinued years ago.
The car industry is brutal right now.
Every dollar spent on R&D has to go toward something that sells in the hundreds of thousands. A Beetle truck? That’s a passion project. It’s not a business plan. Even though the "Ute" culture is huge in places like Australia, the American market is dominated by massive body-on-frame trucks like the Ford F-150 or the Chevy Silverado. A tiny, unibody Beetle truck would be a "lifestyle" vehicle—a tough sell when everyone wants 10,000 pounds of towing capacity.
The AI-generated confusion
So, where did all these "2025 Volkswagen Beetle truck" specs come from? Most of the videos you see online are created by channels using tools like Midjourney or Dall-E. They wrap a convincing-sounding voiceover (often also AI) around these images and claim the truck starts at $40,000.
They mention things like:
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- A 2.0-liter turbocharged engine.
- 300 miles of electric range.
- A "fully digital cockpit."
It sounds real because it’s based on existing VW tech. If VW did build it, they probably would use a 2.0T engine. But they aren't. These channels make money on your clicks and your "I want one!" comments. It’s a digital ghost.
There is actually a "real" way to get one
Wait. If you really, truly want a Beetle pickup, you don't have to wait for a 2025 model that isn't coming. You can build one.
A company called Smyth Performance actually sells a conversion kit. It’s called a Ute kit. You take a New Beetle (the 1998–2010 models), cut the back half off, and bolt on their custom aluminum truck bed and fiberglass panels. It looks surprisingly professional. People have been doing this for years.
It’s a weekend project for a very talented mechanic or a multi-month headache for the rest of us. But it is the only way you are going to see a Beetle with a truck bed in your driveway in 2025.
What Volkswagen is actually doing in 2025
If you’re looking for that VW "vibe" and need utility, look at the 2025 ID. Buzz. It finally hit the U.S. market, and it’s the closest thing we have to a retro-iconic VW that you can actually buy.
It’s all-electric. It has the two-tone paint. It has the massive VW logo on the front that glows. It’s a van, not a truck, but it carries the torch the Beetle dropped.
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Also, keep an eye on Scout Motors. Volkswagen owns the brand now, and they are launching a rugged, electric pickup truck and SUV soon. It’s not a Beetle, but it’s a VW-backed truck that actually exists in the real world.
Actionable Insights
- Stop the share: If you see a "2025 Beetle Truck" video, check the source. If it’s not from a major outlet like Car and Driver, MotorTrend, or VW’s own newsroom, it’s fake.
- Explore the Smyth Kit: If you are dead set on the look, Google "Smyth Beetle Truck kit." It costs about $3,500 plus the price of a donor car.
- Watch Scout Motors: If you want a VW truck that has actual off-road chops and a warranty, the upcoming Scout EV is the real story to follow.
- Test drive an ID. Buzz: If it’s the "cute and round" aesthetic you want, the 2025 ID. Buzz is the only official retro-play in the lineup right now.
The 2025 Volkswagen Beetle truck is a beautiful dream, but for now, it stays on the screen and off the road. Stick to the confirmed releases if you're actually looking to sign a lease this year.