Last Volkswagen camper vans are made in Brazil – in pictures

Higher manufacturing costs and an increase in production time due to new auto regulations, which will require anti-lock brake systems and air bags in all cars produced in Brazil from 2014, contributed to its decision to stop production Photograph: Paulo Whitaker/Reuters

Volkswagen produced more than 1.5m of the vehicles worldwide Photograph: Victor Moriyama/Getty Images

A staff member moves an engine on the assembly line Photograph: Rahel Patrasso/Xinhua Press/Corbis

VW badges arranged on the assembly line. Kombi is short for the German word Kombinationsfahrzeug Photograph: Paulo Whitaker/Reuters

A 1967 model of Volkswagen's Kombi minibus Photograph: Paulo Whitaker/Reuters

Colourful Volkswagen Kombi minibuses Photograph: Victor Moriyama/Getty Images

The Volkswagen logo. The classic VW Type 2 camper van has been made in Brazil since 1957 but production ends this year with a special edition Photograph: Paulo Whitaker/Reuters

A replica toy Volkswagen Kombi minibus sits on the dashboard Photograph: Victor Moriyama/Getty Images

A boy pulls along his Volkswagen Kombi toy Photograph: Paulo Whitaker/Reuters

A Volkswagen Kombi minibus painted in flowers Photograph: Victor Moriyama/Getty Images

Visitors inspect the interior of a custom Volkswagen Kombi van Photograph: Victor Moriyama/Getty Images

Marcilia Coelho sits inside her van Photograph: Paulo Whitaker/Reuters

Collector Marcos da Silva carries a miniature Volkswagen Photograph: Victor Moriyama/Getty Images

A fan takes a photograph of the inside of a van Photograph: Victor Moriyama/Getty Images

A woman checks out the interior of a custom-built Volkswagen Kombi minibus Photograph: Victor Moriyama/Getty Images

A man arranges his surfboard inside his Volkswagen Photograph: Paulo Whitaker/Reuters

A boy plays with a tablet inside a Kombi Photograph: Nelson Almeida/AFP/Getty Images

Exhibitors rest inside a Volkswagen Kombi minibus with toy models Photograph: Victor Moriyama/Getty Images

Marco Antonio in front of his Volkswagen Kombi Photograph: Victor Moriyama/Getty Images

Visitors cheer inside a Volkswagen Kombi minibus Photograph: Paulo Whitaker/Reuters

Volkswagen Kombi minibuses are lined up Photograph: Victor Moriyama/Getty Images

The German automaker will permanently cease production of the iconic vehicle on 20 December Photograph: Victor Moriyama/Getty Images

Working on the interior Photograph: Paulo Whitaker/Reuters

A final ascension of the Volkswagen Kombi Photograph: Victor Moriyama/Getty Images

A 2013 'Last Edition' model of Volkswagen's Kombi minibus at the VW plant in São Bernardo do Campo Photograph: Paulo Whitaker/Reuters