← The company chose the modern logo for itself back in the early 70s
Automotive history cannot be imagined without the Volkswagen brand, and for many people these cars have become an integral part of life. Currently, the car concern Volkswagen AG is located in Lower Saxony, where the company's headquarters are located in Wolsfburg.
The history of the Volkswagen logo is as interesting as the path of development of the famous automobile company. By the way, the author of the VW emblem is not exactly known to this day. The first Volkswagen logo appeared back in 1933, it became the image of the letters V and W inscribed in each other, stylized as a Nazi swastika.
Volkswagen production approved by Hitler
In 1936, by order of Adolf Hitler, a new plant was opened in Fallersleben (Lower Saxony). The enterprise was supposed to organize the production of Volkswagen cars (translated from the German "people's car"). Ferdinand Porsche was involved in the development of Volkswagen models, which were to be assembled in modification of a limousine, a convertible and a soft-top car. At that time, this talented designer worked at Mercedes, but at the request of Hitler left his post and devoted himself to the development of the "people's car".
← Ferdinand Porsche - the author of the first VW models
And for the first time these two met back in 1924 on the Solitude race track, what Hitler and Porsche were talking about then is not known. A few years after this meeting, in 1930, an automotive research bureau was established on Kronenstrasse in Stuttgart. The staff of this organization included Ferdinad Porsche himself, his son Ferry (Ferry), engineers Karl Rabe and Kral Frolich, who were specialists in automotive transmission, as well as Joseph Kales, an expert on air-cooled engines, Joseph Mikl and Erwin Komenda, who later became the designer of the Porsche 356. The company operated under the long name "DR.ING.HCF. Porsche Gmbh. Konstruktionsbüro für Motoren-Fahrzeug-Luftfahrzeug und Wasserfahrzeugbau".
Start of the "people's car"
In 1931, Ferdinand Porsche developed the first prototype of the "people's car", a small car, which the German company Zündapp ordered from the designer. In 1932, production of this model, called the Type 12, was even started, but Zündapp quickly lost interest in the automotive industry, facing more pressing production orders.
In 1932, Porsche created a new "people's car", developed on the basis of the Type 12. The novelty inherits the body design from its predecessor and receives a four-cylinder engine with an air-cooled system. However, the manufacturer had to abandon the large-scale implementation of this project due to an agreement signed with Fiat, according to which the models of the Italian automaker should not compete with German car companies.
In 1933, another meeting between the auto-designer and the Fuehrer of Germany took place. Porsche then explained his plan to create a small-sized car model that could drive at a speed of 100 km / h, consume no more than 7 liters per 100 kilometers and was sold at a price of 1,000 marks. The new creation of Ferdinand Porsche was "enclosed" in a body with rounded shapes and had front and rear torsion suspension. The choice of this type of suspension was dictated by the peculiarities of the car's power plant, as well as the intention to make the interior of the car as spacious as possible. In addition, the torsion bar suspension, due to its flexibility, has become an ideal technical solution for small cars, because the use of a rigid suspension for equipping a light car would have a negative effect on the level of interior comfort. Ferdinand Porsche intended to equip his new car with an air-cooled four-cylinder engine.
← One of the first models designed by Porsche
It is also worth noting that the design decisions regarding the body of the new model were inspired by Porsche's favorite racing models Benz, which in their shape resembled a drop of water, which, as you know, has excellent aerodynamics. But soon the auto designer found another advantage of just such a rounded body shape. And it consisted in the fact that the body made in this form also had high strength indicators. Subsequently, this very argument will become the marketing ploy of the Volkswagen manufacturer.
← The first VW models were personally evaluated by Hitler
The birth of the Volkswagen automobile concern
And in 1934, that significant event took place, which can be considered the birth of the great Volkswagen auto concern. This year, after going through numerous discussions and refinements, the car project from Ferdinand Porsche received the signature "approved for production".
The Fuehrer's aspiration was clear: to make sure that every citizen of Germany has his own car. Therefore, it was assumed that the designed cars should be economical models, easy to manufacture and maintain.
At the end of 1935, the company was testing two prototype cars, named VW1 and VW2, which had a 985 cc engine and 23.5 hp. at 3 00 rpm.
In 1936, these prototypes are already undergoing road tests on the track of the villa near Stuttgart. Interestingly, the test specimens were found to be "not very aesthetic." And it is not surprising, because then few guessed about the advantages of an aerodynamic body. Moreover, such cars were not suitable for mass, "national" production. Therefore, the members of the commission, who did not really care about what was under the hood of the tested car samples, greeted the new items with distrust and biasedness. But the 50,000 km of the test track, which these prototypes drove without any problems, convinced the "judges", and the car was declared "usable."
30 models of cars, named Type VW 38, were assembled in 1937 on the orders of Hitler by Mercedes. These so-called “30 Series” cars were followed by the Series 60 models, which were tested in the harsh conditions of the winter of 1937-38. One of the cars in this series opened the German Grand Prix in the mountains. The lightness and good handling of the car allowed it, despite its modest motor resource, to drive about 13 km in a time comparable to the results of a racing car. This fact can be considered the first sporting achievement of Volkswagen.
Wolfsburg plant
For mass production of models of this series, it was decided to build a plant in Wolfsburg. In 1938, the first stone was laid in the construction of a new enterprise. Subsequently, KdF-Stadt will become a real hometown for VW workers. At the factory, pre-production models of the 60 Series were assembled in the modification of a cabriolet, a sedan and a car with a soft folding roof.
← Car manufacturing in KdF-Stadt
And Hitler in those years preferred to call these cars not Volkswagen cars at all, but K.d models. F.-Wagen, which in its own way angered and shocked designer Ferdinand Porsche, who was, in fact, the main and sole creator of the Series 30 and Series 60 cars. Despite the financial plan, the implementation of which could allow every citizen of Germany to raise funds for the purchase of these cars, not a single car from VW reached its buyer in those pre-war years. Several of the models produced were used for the needs of the German army, and several more were put into operation by the Nazi leadership.
← The first models of the 30th series were intended for Nazi leaders
On the eve of the war in 1939, 215 cars were manually assembled at VW production, which are now impossible to find. In the same year, designers began developing a military version of the K.d. F-Wagen.
Serial production of these models began in 1941, cars very quickly acquired a reputation for strong and reliable vehicles. On the basis of "civilian" models, the manufacturer creates several military modifications, the most famous of which is the Kubelwagen. It was entirely aimed at the needs of the German army and became like a German "jeep". In 1943, for the motorization of such cars, they began to use engines with a volume of 935 to 1131 cm³ with a capacity of 24 to 25 hp. But already in 1944, on August 7, work at the VW production, where 630 sedan cars and 13 convertibles had already been assembled, stopped. The plant was completely re-equipped for military needs and began to produce V1 flying bombs here. It was precisely because of the activities of this kind that the plant was soon bombed by the allied troops.
In 1945, American troops find an industrial town not marked anywhere on the map, located near the walls of a huge destroyed factory (the wall of the main building was more than 1 km long) and give it the name Wolfsburg.
← Volkswagen plant in Wolfsbrug nowadays
After the division of Germany into four zones of occupation in 1945, the plant comes under British control. At the same time, the production of VW was headed by Ivan Hirst, a young British major who left the ranks of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Deciding that the British army needed cars, Hirst took one of the models produced at the factory and sent it as a model to the leadership of the United Kingdom armed forces. Within a week, he received an order for the production of 20,000 copies and the plant was resumed.
The first models were assembled by workers at the Wolfsburg plant from the wreckage of cars left after the bombing of the plant. They had to show remarkable dexterity and ingenuity in order for the production of cars to continue. The harsh times for Volkswagen did not end there. Allied Britain intended to eliminate all industrial production in order to exclude any possibility of a new armament for Germany. However, the Wolfsburg plant was lucky to come under the control of Property Control (the Commission for Control over Germany) and the production was given a peaceful character, aimed at transport needs.
In the period from the end of World War II to October 1946, 10,000 Volkwagen models were assembled at the Wolsfburg plant, which, despite their "popular" name, were not at all intended for sale to ordinary motorists. The plant was offered to Henry Ford, but he considered the production "unviable" and refused to engage in its development. In 1947, difficulties associated with restoration work, as well as a shortage of coal, did not allow the Wolfsburg production to operate at the required level. Only 8987 cars were produced, 1656 of which were exported.
The landmark year for Volkswagen in 1948 has come. When the German-made models were taken up by the British military Heinrich Nordhof, the former head of Opel, who later became the CEO of Volkswagen. It was to him that the plant owes its real revival and it was he who created the production and commercial network of VW, and also placed the company's branches in 136 countries of the world.
← Heinrich Nordhoff - organizer of VW's post-war revival
Thanks to the activity of the new manager, the reorganization of the Wolfsburg plant went much faster, the production volume reached 19244 cars, and soon control over the work of the enterprise passed to the management of the state of Lower Saxony.
The first Volkswagen models and the first resounding success
The first successful Volkswagen model is the VW 1200 (Type 1), which was christened Kafer in Germany, Coccinelle in France, and Beetle in England and Great Britain. The production of the VW 1200 model began in 1948, the car became known first in Germany, and then spread throughout Europe, and was later exported to the United States. It was in the states that this "people's car" became the best-selling foreign car in the 50-60s. Throughout its history, the VW 1200 model was produced in the amount of 20 million copies and outstripped the manufacturer Ford Motors and its famous Ford T model, the production of which amounted to 15 million vehicles.
← Type VW 1200 Convertible Soft Top
In 1949, the British authorities transfer Volkswagen to the German leadership, the plant's production volume reaches 46,632 models, the export volume is 15.7%
The whole world will drive Volkswagens in the 60s and 70s
In the mid-50s, on the basis of the VW 1200, the assembly of elegant coupes and convertibles, called Karmann-Ghia, began (the body of the model was designed by Ghia, and assembled by Karmann). At that time, the cars of the German manufacturer were already sold in 150 countries around the world. VW subsidiaries open in many of them. In 1961, models such as the Type 3 and VW 1500 appeared, equipped with a rear-wheel drive with an oversized engine. New models with coupe and convertible bodies have been on sale since 1963. And in total, from 1961 to 1973, the production of Karmann-Ghia amounted to 3 million cars.
← Karmann-Ghia - the bestseller of the German car industry
In 1968, the production of the Type 4 (VW 411) model began, equipped with an air-cooled engine with a volume of 1679 cm³. This car was the first result of the work of VW and Audi, which was acquired from Daimler-Benz. The two German manufacturers merged into an alliance called VAG, which was later joined by Seat and Skoda.
← VW 411 became a classic, but did not have much success
The VW 411 was not very popular between 1968 and 1974. VAG has produced only 350,000 cars of this model. In order to be able to release a new model that would replace the 411, Volkswagen includes NSU. Soon, the K-70 model appeared, equipped with a front-wheel drive, which was produced from 1970 to 1975.
← K-70 - the first front-wheel drive Volkswagen
In the early 70s, the German manufacturer was expecting a sudden, but well-deserved success. In 1973, VW began production of the Passat, which was based on the front-wheel drive Audi 80 platform. The start of VW Passat production ended the VW 411 and K-70 models. The Passat was modified several times (in 1980, 1988 and 1995) and is still produced by VW.
← Volkswagen began producing its famous Passat model in the early 70s.
Now the car is the face of the German brand
In 1974, in the midst of the global oil crisis, Volkswagen launched the Golf, which was intended to replicate the success of the VW 1200. The introduction of this small front-wheel drive car marked the beginning of the popularity of compact cars throughout Europe. The Golf has a glorious and long history that has not ended to this day, and since 1975 this model has been considered one of the best-selling in the Old World.
← Golf is the best-selling small car in Europe
Already in 1974, Volkswagen's model range expanded with the appearance of the Scirocco coupe, produced on the basis of the Golf. A year later, the production of the Polo model, a front-wheel drive car based on the Audi 50, was launched. The Polo became another massive success of the Volkswagen concern and brought the company significant income.
In the post-war years, when the factories of the automaker were under the control of the British administration, Henry Ford could become the owner of the company, but the deal did not take place - the Americans considered that the company was "not worth a penny", and their "popular" car "Beetle" absolutely does not correspond technical parameters that must be applied to passenger cars. In the years that followed, VW showed how deeply deluded overseas automotive gurus were.
In the early 1950s, the automaker produced about 65% of all cars in Germany, which provided the company with a turnover of $ 1.4 billion. The 70s became the golden years, when the company created two legendary models at once - "Passat" and "Golf", where the latter became the founder of a whole class of cars.
The VW Group includes brands such as Volkswagen, Skoda, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Audi, Seat, Bentley, as well as companies that manufacture Scania and MAN trucks.
Where are VW cars assembled?
Initially, the production of "people's" cars was carried out directly in Germany, but in the course of the development of the brand, factories began to appear on other continents, in particular in South and North America, as well as in Africa. The pioneer was the company's plant, built in the city of San Bernard, Brazil, where for more than 15 years they were engaged in the production of the legendary "Beetle", and now there is one of the main offices responsible for the design of future cars of the brand.
Currently, Volkswagen car factories are located in 12 large countries, including: Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Mexico, South Africa, Russia, Poland, Belgium, Spain, Czech Republic and a number of other countries. The company's revenues over the past few years have far exceeded the 60 billion euro mark, which makes the carmaker the largest automaker in the world.
The lineup of the company consists of the following models:
Where is Volkswagen Golf assembled?
VW Golf is the founder of golf-class cars, the latest generation of which is currently produced in Germany, in the city of Wolfsburg. At the same time, most of the cars of the previous generation were produced in Russia and Brazil.
Where is Volkswagen Passat going?
VW Passat is a full-size sedan, representative of the D-class. The assembly of cars of this model is now established at factories in the cities of Kaluga (Russia), Emden and Moselle (Germany), Luanda (Angola), Solomonovo (Ukraine), as well as Changchun (China).
Where is Volkswagen Beetle going?
VW Beetle is the iconic car of the company, the production of which is now established in Mexico.
Where are Volkswagen Polos going?
VW Polo - presented in two modifications - "hatchback" and "sedan", the first is produced in Spain, Poland and Germany, and the second - mainly in Russia.
Where is the Volkswagen Touareg going?
VW Touareg is a full-fledged off-road vehicle, the production of which is now established in the cities of Bratislava (Slovakia) and Kaluga (Russia). The car concept is at the heart of the Porsche Cayenne luxury SUV.
Where is Volkswagen Transporter going?
The VW Transporter is no less legendary than the Beatle and has the potential to be a great commercial and family car. The production of the model is now represented in the cities of Hannover (Germany), Poznan (Poland) and Kaluga (Russia).
Where is Volkswagen Amarok going?
VW Amarok is a modern car of the company belonging to the pickup class. The model is produced in Hannover, as well as in the city of Pacheco, located in Argentina.
Where is Volkswagen Jetta going?
VW Jetta is another popular model of the company, which combines the spaciousness of a sedan and the charge of a hatchback. Cars designed for the European and American markets are produced in Mexico, while Russians are offered models made in Russia at a plant in Kaluga.
Where is Volkswagen Caddy going?
VW Caddy is an excellent commercial vehicle that is actively purchased by large companies as well as small entrepreneurs. The assembly of the model is carried out in Germany, as well as in Russia, while in the first case the cars are supplied to the European, and in the second - to the Russian and Eastern markets.
VW is famous for its attitude to the quality of the cars produced, therefore, regardless of the country and city in which this or that model of the company is produced, it will certainly comply with strict corporate standards. This is achieved through the use of modern equipment, as well as strict quality control at all stages of assembly.
The Volkswagen concern, headquartered in Wolfsburg (Germany), is one of the world's leading and largest European automakers. In 2018, 10,834,000 vehicles were delivered to customers around the world (in 2017 - 10,741,500 vehicles, in 2016 - 10,297,000 vehicles, in 2015 - 9,930,600 vehicles, in 2014 - 10,137,000 vehicles, in 2013 - 9,731,000 vehicles).
The group includes twelve brands from seven European countries: Volkswagen - passenger cars, Audi, Seat, ŠKODA, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, Ducati, Volkswagen Commercial vehicles, Scania and MAN.
The lineup of the concern covers a wide range of vehicles from motorcycles and economical small cars to luxury cars. The commercial vehicle segment offers a variety of options from pickup trucks to buses and heavy duty trucks.
The Volkswagen Group is actively involved in other business areas, such as the production of large diameter diesel engines for marine and stationary applications (turnkey power plants), turbochargers, gas and steam turbines, compressors and chemical reactors. The concern also manufactures automotive transmissions, special gearboxes for wind turbines, sleeve bearings and clutches.
In addition, the Volkswagen Group offers a wide range of financial services, including dealer and customer financing, leasing, banking and insurance services, and fleet management.
The Volkswagen concern has 123 plants in 20 countries in Europe and 11 countries in North and South America, Asia and Africa. Every weekday, 642,292 employees of the concern around the world produce about 44,170 vehicles and work in other areas of business. The Volkswagen Group sells its vehicles in 153 countries around the world.
The concern of the concern is to produce attractive and safe cars that are competitive in the modern market and set world standards for their class.
Strategy TOGETHER 2025
“Strategy TOGETHER 2025” is the program of the Volkswagen Group, which marks the beginning of the largest restructuring in the history of the company. The changes of one of the best automakers are aimed at achieving a leading position as a supplier of sustainable mobility. To this end, the Volkswagen Group is transforming automotive production and plans to produce more than 30 all-electric vehicles of the next generation by 2025, with a focus on charging technology for such vehicles and autonomous driving. The development of cross-branding and smart mobility solutions will also become one of the key areas of the company's activities. The strategic partnership with Gett, established in 2016, was the first step in this direction; in the coming years, services such as robotic taxis and car sharing will merge. Successful transformation of a company also implies the development of innovation. The Volkswagen Group is advancing digital technology across all brands and across the board. At the same time, the Volkswagen Group continues to develop partnerships and strategic investments, increasing the efficiency of its activities.
Concern "Volkswagen Group", aka Volkswagen Konzern, Volkswagen Group or VW Group is a group of automobile enterprises, among which Volkswagen AG is considered the parent company. The Volkswagen Group is headquartered in Wolfsburg. Not everything was clear with the owners of the VW Group until 2012. Until then, Porsche SE owned 50.73% of Volkswagen AG, although the latter owned 100% of Porsche GmbH. Porsche is now wholly owned by the VW Group.
The head of Volkswgaen AG and also the Chairman of the Management Board of Porsche SE is Martin Winterkorn.
The Volkswagen group includes 342 companies, but not all of them are engaged in the automotive industry: many of them simply provide services related to the production of cars. The VW Group has repeatedly become the largest automaker in the world, where it traditionally fights General Motors, Toyota and Renault-Nissan.
1998-2002, being the owner of Bentley, concern Volkswagen Group part-time produced prestigious Rolls-Royce cars, although for this the company had to enter into an agreement with BMW. However, since 2003, when BMW bought the rights to Rolls-Royce from Vickers, the production of Rolls-Royce cars has remained a privilege of the Bavarian BMW brand.
In December 2009, the Volkswagen Group entered into an agreement to develop sustainable vehicles with the Japanese company Suzuki. At the same time, the German concern got a 20% stake in Suzuki. The alliance did not last long: in the fall of 2011, it broke up.
Corporate structure of the VW Group
It specializes in the production of passenger cars and is directly subordinate to the management of Volkswagen AG.
The last of the former members of the Auto Union group, bought out from the Daimler concern in 1964.
NSU Motorenwerke... Belongs to the VW Group since 1969 and is part of the Audi Division. It has not been used as an independent brand since 1977.
Since 1986, the German concern has owned 53% of the shares (controlling stake). This year VW Group signed a contract to buy SEAT from the state. In 1990, the VW Group became virtually the sole owner of SEAT: it owns 99.99% of the shares of the Spanish automaker.
The VW Group has had exclusive control over this Czech car manufacturer since 1991.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles... Manufactures commercial vehicles: minibuses, buses and tractors. Until 1995, this division was part of Volkswagen AG, but thanks to Bernd Weideman, it became an independent division within the VW Group.
The company became the property of the VW Group in 1998 when it was sold by the British concern Vichers. The German concern also received Rolls-Royce, but without the right to sole production of cars under this brand, since the British sold the brand to another German automaker - BMW.
Crashed after the disastrous EB110 supercar, the French brand barely stayed afloat until it was bought by the VW Group in 1998.
The deal for the purchase of this Italian brand was concluded with Audi in 1998.
The German concern bought 70.94% of the shares of the Swedish truck manufacturer in 2009. With a majority stake in Scania, the VW Group fully controls the production of semitrailer tractors, trucks and dump trucks, buses and diesel engines under this brand.
The acquisition of a controlling stake in MAN took place in 2011 (VW Group owns 55.9% of MAN shares). Tractors, trucks and dump trucks, buses, diesel and hybrid engines are produced under this brand.
Since 2009, Porsche AG has owned the VW Group with a 49.9% stake. In 2011, the merger between Porsche and Volkswagen fell through, but in 2012 Volkswagen bought Porsche, making it the 12th brand in the group. Since then, the VW Group owns 50.1% of Porsche's shares, for which the company paid 4.49 billion euros.
The Italian superbike manufacturer has been owned by Audi AG since spring 2012. The deal to buy Ducati from Investindustrial SpA cost the German VW Group $ 1.1 billion.
Since 2009, the VW Group has been one of the largest shareholders in Suzuki Motor Corporation.
As of 2013, the VW Group owns the Russian Moskvich trademark. The right to use this brand and all its emblems belongs to Volkswagen until 2021.
VW Group owns 48 car manufacturing enterprises: VW Group factories are in 15 European countries, in six American, Asian and African countries. The group's companies employ more than 370,000 people. The daily production volume exceeds 26,600 vehicles. Authorized points of sale and service of VW Group vehicles are located in more than 150 countries around the world.
