volkswagen VW history

 

History of Volkswagen (Volkswagen AG)

Founded: 1937

Founder (concept): Ferdinand Porsche

Headquarters: Wolfsburg, Germany

Name meaning: Volkswagen = “People’s Car”

Volkswagen is one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world, with a history shaped by engineering ambition, war, recovery, global expansion, and electrification.

Origins: The “People’s Car” Idea (1930s)

In the early 1930s, Germany wanted an affordable car for ordinary citizens. Ferdinand Porsche, an Austrian engineer, was tasked with designing a simple, reliable, low-cost vehicle.

Requirements: affordable, fuel-efficient, able to carry a family, and easy to maintain

Result: the prototype that became the Volkswagen Beetle

In 1937, Volkswagenwerk GmbH was established, and a new factory was built in Wolfsburg.

World War II Period (1939–1945)

Civilian car production stopped during World War II.

Factory produced military vehicles (Kübelwagen, Schwimmwagen)

Heavy damage to the Wolfsburg plant

Volkswagen’s future was uncertain after the war

Post-War Revival & Beetle Success (1945–1960s)

After WWII, the British military administration restarted the factory.

The Beetle entered mass production

Simple design + reliability = global success

Became a symbol of German industrial recovery

Key milestones:

Exported worldwide (Europe, USA, Latin America)

By the 1960s, the Beetle was the best-selling car in the world

Expansion & Brand Growth (1960s–1970s)

Volkswagen diversified beyond the Beetle:

Acquired Auto Union (Audi) in the 1960s

Introduced modern front-engine, front-wheel-drive cars

Important models:

Volkswagen Golf (1974) – replaced the Beetle as VW’s core model

Passat

Polo

The Golf became one of the best-selling cars of all time.

Globalization & Group Formation (1980s–1990s)

Volkswagen transformed into a global automotive group.

Acquisitions and expansion:

SEAT (Spain)

Škoda (Czech Republic)

Strengthened Audi as a premium brand

VW built factories across:

Europe

North & South America

China (major growth market)

Premium & Luxury Expansion (2000s)

Volkswagen entered the high-end and performance segments.

Group brands expanded to include:

Bentley

Bugatti

Lamborghini

Porsche (later fully integrated)

Scania & MAN (commercial vehicles)

Volkswagen became one of the top three global automakers by volume.

Diesel Crisis & Transformation (2015)

In 2015, Volkswagen faced a major scandal involving diesel emissions software.

Impact:

Billions in fines and recalls

Damage to brand reputation

Triggered a strategic shift

This moment reshaped Volkswagen’s future.

Electrification & Digital Era (2016–Present)

Volkswagen committed heavily to electric mobility.

Key initiatives:

ID. series (ID.3, ID.4, ID. Buzz)

Massive investment in EV platforms (MEB)

Battery plants and software development

Goal of carbon neutrality by 2050

Volkswagen aims to lead the global transition to electric and sustainable mobility.

Volkswagen Philosophy

Volkswagen stands for:

Engineering for the masses

Safety, reliability, and practicality

Continuous reinvention

Its core mission remains:

Mobility for everyone

In Summary

Volkswagen’s journey spans:

A political vision for a “people’s car”

Survival after war

Iconic global models (Beetle, Golf)

Creation of a massive multi-brand automotive group

Reinvention through electrification

Today, Volkswagen is not just a carmaker—but one of the most influential mobility groups in the world.

Structured list of products sold under the Volkswagen (VW) brand worldwide, covering past and present passenger and commercial vehicles.

(This is Volkswagen brand only — not Audi, Porsche, Škoda, etc.)

1. Passenger Cars 🚗

Hatchbacks

Beetle (classic & New Beetle)

Golf (Mk1–Mk8, incl. GTI, GTD, GTE, R)

Polo

Lupo

Up!

Fox

ID.3 (electric)

Sedans & Saloons

Passat

Jetta / Vento

Arteon

Phaeton

Bora

Santana

Virtus

Lavida (China)

Sagitar (China)

Ameo (discontinued)

Wagons / Estates

Passat Variant

Golf Variant

Arteon Shooting Brake

2. SUVs & Crossovers 🚙

Compact & Mid-Size SUVs

Tiguan

Tiguan Allspace

Taos

T-Roc

T-Cross

Tharu

Atlas / Teramont

Touareg

Nivus

Taigo

Electric SUVs (ID Family)

ID.4

ID.5

ID.6 (China)

ID. Buzz (passenger)

3. Electric Vehicles (ID Series) ⚡

ID.3

ID.4

ID.5

ID.6

ID.7

ID. Buzz

e-Up!

e-Golf

4. MPVs / Vans 🚐

Passenger Vans

Touran

Sharan

Caravelle

Multivan

ID. Buzz

5. Commercial Vehicles 🛻

(Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles division)

Pickups

Amarok

Saveiro

Vans & Cargo Vehicles

Caddy

Transporter (T1–T7)

Crafter

LT

Kombi

6. Performance & Motorsport Models 🏁

Golf GTI

Golf R

Polo GTI

Arteon R

Beetle RSI

ID.R (electric race car)

7. Market-Specific / Regional Models 🌍

Gol (Latin America)

Voyage

Parati

Santana

Lavida / Sagitar (China)

Virtus / Taigun (India, South America)

8. Concept & Historic Models (Selected)

Kübelwagen

Schwimmwagen

XL1

ID. concept series

Microbus (classic)

One-Line Summary

Volkswagen products globally include:

Hatchbacks, sedans, wagons, SUVs, electric vehicles, MPVs, vans, pickups, performance cars, and commercial vehicles.