Volkswagen

One of the most famous names in the automobile industry is Volkswagen, and the Beetle is easily one of the most famous car models. The VW brand has appealed to the hippy movement, college kids, environmental enthusiasts, and more… but here are 7 Things You Don’t Know About: Volkswagen.

1. The name “Volkswagen” means “People’s Car” in German.

2. The designer of the original Volkswagen Beetle was Ferdinand Porsche, the founder of the Porsche car company.

3. During World War II, Volkswagen produced two models of cars (the VW type 128 and the 166 Schwimmwagen) that were amphibious all wheel drive off road cars.

4. Following World War II, what was left of the captured Volkswagen car manufacturing company was offered to representatives of the British, French, and American automobile industry. All of the allied automobile manufacturing companies rejected the potential acquisition of Volkswagen.

5. Due to post World War II shortages in Germany, many Volkswagen parts and components were used in Porsche automobiles.

6. Volkswagen were introduced and first available for sale in America in 1949, that year they sold two cars.

7. On July 30, 2003, the last of the original Volkswagen Type 1 cars was produced at the Volkswagen plant in Puebla, Mexico. This car was immediately shipped to the Volskwagen company museum in Wolfsburg, Germany.

There is probably nothing that would make the VW brand suddenly unpopular everywhere, for this reason alone Volkswagen is sure to remain one of the more popular and productive automobile manufacturers around.