VOA文化艺术2024--Volkswagen Beetle Still Popular in a Mexico City Neighborhood

German automaker Volkswagen (VW) ended production of its Beetle¹ model in 2019. But some communities around the world are still demonstrating a lasting² love for this famous vehicle.

One such area is Cuautepec, a neighborhood outside of Mexico City. There are so many VW Beetles³ in the area that some local people even nicknamed⁵ the neighborhood "Vocholandia." In Mexico, the VW Beetle has long been known as the "vocho." So, the term Vocholandia means "Beetle land."

The vehicle has a long history in the Mexican capital. At one time, VW Beetles were commonly used as taxis throughout the city. But today, the northern neighborhood of Cuautepec is the place to go to see the most Beetles, which are also called "Bugs⁶" in English.

Janette Navarro is the owner of a 1996 Beetle. Navarro lives in the neighborhood. She told the Associated Press (AP) one reason the cars are so popular is because the community is hilly, and the Beetle's back-positioned engine provides added power.

"No other car gets up here," Navarro said. "Just the vocho." She drives her VW as a taxi. Navarro added that she started the job eight years ago to support her three children. The job helped her put them through school.

"When they ask me what I do for work, I say proudly that I'm a vochera (a vocho driver)," Navarro said. "This work keeps me afloat...It's my adoration⁷, my love."

The first Beetle was introduced in Germany in 1938 when the Nazi⁸ party controlled the country. The first vehicle was developed by Austrian-born automotive engineer Ferdinand Porsche. The Beetle grew to become very popular in the United States and in other countries. It was long known as "the people's car."

Beetles were manufactured in Mexico, but production on older models ended in 2003. A newer model was produced after that, but VW stopped all manufacturing of the vehicles in 2019.

While some older cars in the community show their age, others still appear to be in good shape.

One driver named his bright blue Beetle "Gualupita" after his wife, Guadalupe, and added personal designs. Another Beetle seen rolling down the street was painted pink and white, with the front headlights made to look like cat eyes.

People who repair the vehicles told the AP it seems like the number of vochos is dropping off in Mexico City. Repairman David Enojosa said his family's shop used to specialize mainly in Beetle parts. But since VW halted production five years ago, they are no longer as easy to get.

Enojosa predicted that if shortages⁹ continue, the area's Beetles could "disappear in two or three years." He added, "Before we had too many parts for vochos, now there aren't enough."

One of Enojosa's customers told the AP he plans to keep looking for parts to keep his Beetle running as long as possible. The customer, Jesús Becerra, says he would love to keep seeing many cars in the neighborhood for many years.

"You adapt them, you find a way to make it keep running," he told the AP.

Joaquín Peréz is the 18-year-old owner of a white, 1991 VW Beetle. He said he is carrying on a family tradition by continuing to drive the car as a taxi. His father was a taxi driver who also drove a Beetle.

Peréz noted¹⁰ that his father taught him everything he knows about the job and the vehicles. "This area, always, always since I can remember has been a place of vochos," Peréz said. He added, "This here is the car of the people."

Words in This Story

nickname⁴ -v. to give another name to a person or thing that is used by only a few people

taxi -n. a car for hire in which you pay the driver to take you where you want to go

proud - adj. very pleased about something you have done

adore¹¹ - v. to like something very much

customer - n. a person who buys goods or services from a business

adapt - v. to change something so that it is suitable for a different use or situation

1 beetle   

n.甲虫，近视眼的人

参考例句：

• A firefly is a type of beetle.萤火虫是一种甲虫。
• He saw a shiny green beetle on a leaf.我看见树叶上有一只闪闪发光的绿色甲虫。

2 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

3 beetles   

n.甲虫( beetle的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Beetles bury pellets of dung and lay their eggs within them. 甲壳虫把粪粒埋起来，然后在里面产卵。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This kind of beetles have hard shell. 这类甲虫有坚硬的外壳。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 nickname   

n.绰号，昵称；v.给...取绰号，叫错名字

参考例句：

• She called me by my nickname.她叫我的外号。
• Why do you fasten such a nickname on her?你为什么给她取这样一个绰号？

5 nicknamed   

vt.给…起绰号（nickname的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• 'The human sound-track' he nicknamed her in his own mind. 在心里他给她个绰号，就叫"人体录音带"。 来自英汉文学
• People said that he had jaundice and urchins nicknamed him "Yellow Fellow." 别人说他是黄胆病，孩子们也就叫他“黄胖”了。 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说

6 bugs   

adj.疯狂的，发疯的n.窃听器( bug的名词复数 )；病菌；虫子；[计算机]（制作软件程序所产生的意料不到的）错误

参考例句：

• All programs have bugs and need endless refinement. 所有的程序都有漏洞，都需要不断改进。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The sacks of rice were swarming with bugs. 一袋袋的米里长满了虫子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 adoration   

n.爱慕，崇拜

参考例句：

• He gazed at her with pure adoration.他一往情深地注视着她。
• The old lady fell down in adoration before Buddhist images.那老太太在佛像面前顶礼膜拜。

8 Nazi   

n.纳粹分子，adj.纳粹党的，纳粹的

参考例句：

• They declare the Nazi regime overthrown and sue for peace.他们宣布纳粹政权已被推翻，并出面求和。
• Nazi closes those war criminals inside their concentration camp.纳粹把那些战犯关在他们的集中营里。

9 shortages   

n.不足( shortage的名词复数 )；缺少；缺少量；不足额

参考例句：

• Food shortages often occur in time of war. 在战争期间常常发生粮食短缺的情形。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• At the same time, worldwide food and fuel shortages eased. 同时，世界性粮食和石油短缺的现象终止了。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

10 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

11 adore   

vt.崇拜，敬慕，爱慕，非常喜欢

参考例句：

• People adore him for his noble character.人们因他的高贵品质而敬爱他。
• I would adore to settle back homeland.我非常喜欢回家乡定居。