Volkswagen to stop classic camper van production
Summer holidays have come to an end for most of us, but it's the end of a 63-year classic vacation for Volkswagen.
The manufacturer is applying the brakes to production of its famed camper vans.
The reason is safety regulations: the vans are made in Brazil and from 2014 every vehicle produced there must have air bags and anti-lock braking systems.
Production in Germany hasn't been allowed since 1979 for similar reasons - European safety requirements have until now been stricter on these issues.
VW's camper vans have earned a number of nicknames over the years - the ‘Kombi’ in Brazil, the ‘people’s car’ in Germany and famously 'Hippie vans' in the 60s.
Now, die-hard enthusiasts gather for annual festivals to show off their creativity.
Around 15,000 people attended this year's VW Festival in August to show off how they'd 'pimped out' their vehicles.
Fans of the campers include actor Martin Clunes and Formula 1 racing driver Jenson Button.
First manufactured in Germany in 1949, the vans have been made and assembled in four continents at various times since.
Now they are produced only in Brazil, and the last van will be completed on December 31, 2013.