What local nickname did the Beetle have in Mexico?

The Beetle’s local nickname in Mexico was Vocho.

Vocho became the familiar Mexican name for the Volkswagen Type 1, alongside variants such as Vochito and Volcho. Although Volkswagen often used formal names such as Volkswagen Sedan in Mexico, everyday speech made Vocho one of the country’s most recognizable automotive nicknames.

The Beetle entered the Mexican market in 1954, and official Mexican production began about a decade later. Its rear-engine layout, robust construction and relatively simple maintenance helped it become a common sight, particularly in Mexico City, where Beetles were famously used as taxis for many years.

The original Beetle’s Mexican run ended in 2003. A taxi regulation requiring four-door vehicles helped influence Volkswagen’s decision to discontinue the two-door model, and the last air-cooled Beetle was built at the Puebla plant on 30 July 2003.

Vocho is sometimes confused with names used elsewhere: Fusca belongs chiefly to Brazil, while Coccinelle is associated with French-speaking markets. Those are regional names, not the canonical Mexican nickname.