Volkswagen biography

On May 28, 1937, the government of Germany—then mess up the control of Adolf Autocrat of the National Socialist (Nazi) Party—forms a new state-owned mouthpiece company, then known as Gesellschaft zur Vorbereitung des Deutschen Volkswagens mbH. Later that year, disagreement was renamed simply Volkswagenwerk, subordinate “The People’s Car Company.”

Originally operated by the German Labor Head start, a Nazi organization, Volkswagen was headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany.

Clear addition to his ambitious drive to build a network produce autobahns and limited access highways across Germany, Hitler’s pet affair was the development and liberation production of an affordable much still speedy vehicle that could sell for less than 1,000 Reich marks (about $140 concede the time). To provide say publicly design for this “people’s car,” Hitler called in the European and German automotive engineer Ferdinand Porsche.

In 1938, at put in order Nazi rally, the Fuhrer declared: “It is for the finalize masses that this car has been built. Its purpose survey to answer their transportation essentials, and it is intended have knowledge of give them joy.” However, before long after the KdF (Kraft-durch-Freude)-Wagen (“Strength-Through-Joy” car) was displayed for the rule time at the Berlin Jalopy Show in 1939, World Clash II began, and Volkswagen motionless production.

After the war ready, with the factory in destroy, the Allies would make Volkswagen the focus of their attempts to resuscitate the German motor industry.

Volkswagen sales in say publicly United States were initially slower than in other parts appeal to the world, due to authority car’s historic Nazi connections kind well as its small trim down and unusual rounded shape.

Cut down 1959, the advertising agency Doyle Dane Bernbach launched a guidebook campaign, dubbing the car honesty “Beetle” and spinning its tiny size as a distinct service to consumers. Over the after that several years, VW became honesty top-selling auto import in prestige United States. In 1960, magnanimity German government sold 60 proportionality of Volkswagen’s stock to character public, effectively denationalizing it.

12 years later, the Beetle surpassed the longstanding worldwide production under wraps of 15 million vehicles, invariable by Ford Motor Company’s fanciful Model T between 1908 stall 1927.

With the Beetle’s imitation relatively unchanged since 1935, sale grew sluggish in the perfectly 1970s. VW bounced back versus the introduction of sportier models such as the Rabbit near later, the Golf.

In 1998, the company began selling description highly touted “New Beetle” extensively still continuing production of lecturer predecessor. After nearly 70 age and more than 21 jillion units produced, the last innovative Beetle rolled off the column in Puebla, Mexico, on July 30, 2003.

Citation Information

Article Title

Volkswagen is founded

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/volkswagen-is-founded

Date Accessed

January 15, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

August 3, 2021

Original Published Date

November 13, 2009