Today, Volkswagen or VW is the largest auto manufacturer in Europe. The word "volkswagen"  or VW means "people's car." In Germany, before the 1930's, there had been many efforts to create simple cars that everyone could afford.

In 1930, and Ferdinand Porsche had just set up an automotive design company, which became known as the Porsche Büro. In 1931, a German motorcycle company, Zündapp, asked Porsche if he could design a suitable car for them. Porsche designed a streamlined 2 door sedan, which had lines similar to the VW Beetle. Porsche then designed a car for NSU in 1933 that was known as the Type 32. Later in 1933, Adolf Hitler met with Ferdinand Porsche to discuss Hitler's idea of a VW Volkswagen. Hitler proposed a people's car that could carry 5 people, cruise up to 62mph, return 33mpg, and cost only 1000 Reich Marks. This inspired Porsche to have the idea of a small car.

It was only after the war in 1946 that the  VW Volkswagen finally became the “Peoples Car”. The Wolfsburg plant was located in the British zone of occupation and became a repair depot.

Oct 2, 1955 - The millionth "People's Car," VW Volkwagen Beetle  especially gold-plated for the occasion, rolled off the assembly line of the VW Volkswagen factory.

1973 – VW Volkswagen introduce the Passat

1974 – Production starts for the VW Volkswagen Golf. Launch of the VW Volkswagen Scirocco a high performance sports coupe. Presentation of the VW Volkswagen Golf Gti.

1975 – VW Volkswagen introduce the VW Volkswagen Polo

1885 - Celebration of 50 years of VW Volkswagen Beetle

1989 – The VW Volkswagen Corrado is introduced

1990 – The VW Volkswagen new Polo is introduced. The millionth VW Volkswagen Golf Gti is produced.

1994 – The VW Volkswagen Sharan people carrier is introduced

1996 - VW Volkswagen  introduce the new VW Volkswagen Beetle

1999 - VW Volkswagen introduce the new VW Volkswagen Lupo. VW Volkswagen intodce the VW Volkswagen Bora

2002 - VW Volkswagen launches the VW Volkswagen Golf R32

2003 - VW Volkswagen launches the new VW Volkswagen Beetle cabriolet. VW Volkswagen present the VW Volkswagen Touareg. VW Volkswagen  launch the VW Volkswagen Phaeton. VW Volkswagen present the VW Volkswagen Touran

2005 - VW Volkswagen launch the new VW Volkswagen Golf Gti. VW Volkswagen present  the VW Volkswagen Polo GP.  VW Volkswagen introduce the 24th millionth VW Volkswagen Golf

2006 - VW Volkswagen launch the VW Volkswagen Jetta. VW Volkswagen launch the VW Volkswagen Touareg Altitude. VW Volkswagen launch the VW Volkswagen Fox. VW Volkswagen present the VW Volkswagen Eos

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Local History

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