Volkswagen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Volkswagen

Type	Division
Industry	Automotive
Founded	28 May 1937; 88 years ago (1937-05-28)
Founder	German Labour Front
Headquarters	Wolfsburg , Germany
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Thomas Schäfer (CEO, Volkswagen Passenger Cars)
Parent	Volkswagen Group

Volkswagen (often called VW) is a famous German car maker. Its main office is in Wolfsburg, Germany. The company started in 1937 with the idea of making a "people's car" – a car everyone could afford. After World War II, a British Army officer named Ivan Hirst helped bring the company back to life.

Volkswagen is known for its iconic Beetle car. It's also the main brand of the Volkswagen Group, which is one of the biggest car manufacturers in the world. A huge part of Volkswagen's sales come from China. The name "Volkswagen" comes from German words meaning "people's car."

History of Volkswagen

The Idea of a People's Car (1932–1940)

Volkswagen was created in 1937 by the German Labour Front, a group that was part of the government at the time. In the early 1930s, cars were very expensive. Most people in Germany could only afford a motorcycle, and only about 1 in 50 Germans owned a car.

Some car makers started thinking about building a "people's car" that would be affordable for everyone. A famous car designer named Ferdinand Porsche had been trying for years to get a company interested in a small, family-friendly car. In 1933, he built a car called the "Volksauto." It had a unique "beetle" shape and an engine in the back that was cooled by air.

In 1934, the leader of Germany, Adolf Hitler, got involved. He wanted a basic car that could carry two adults and three children at about 100 kilometers per hour (62 mph). He wanted it to be so cheap that every German family could buy one. The goal was for the "People's Car" to cost around 990 German Marks, which was about the price of a small motorcycle.

It soon became clear that private companies couldn't build a car for such a low price. So, Hitler decided to create a new, state-owned factory to build Ferdinand Porsche's design. The idea was that German families could save up for the car by putting aside five Marks a week. About 336,000 people joined this savings plan. However, the project wasn't very practical, and it only stayed afloat because the government supported it. When World War II started in 1939, none of the people who saved money ever received a car.

Prototypes of the car, called the KdF-Wagen (meaning "Strength Through Joy Car"), started appearing in 1938. The car already had its famous round shape and an air-cooled engine in the back. The Volks (meaning "People's") name was used for other products in Germany too, like the "People's radio." On May 28, 1937, the company was officially formed, and later, on September 16, 1938, it was renamed Volkswagenwerk GmbH.

The car's body was designed by Erwin Komenda. It was one of the first cars designed using a wind tunnel, which helped make it aerodynamic. The car designs were tested very strictly, driving for a million miles before they were considered ready.

Construction of the new factory began in May 1938 in a new town built for the factory workers. This town was first called "Stadt des KdF-Wagens" but was renamed Wolfsburg after the war. The factory had only made a few cars by the time the war began in 1939. None of these cars were given to the people who had saved for them.

Wartime Production and Labor (1939–1944)

The war changed what Volkswagen produced. Instead of cars for families, the factory made military vehicles. These included the Type 82 Kübelwagen (a utility vehicle) and the Schwimmwagen (an amphibious vehicle that could go on land and in water).

During the war, like many factories in Germany at that time, the Volkswagen plant used forced labor. This meant people were made to work against their will. The company later admitted that it used 15,000 forced laborers during the war. Historians believe that 80% of Volkswagen's workers during the war were forced laborers, many of whom came from concentration camps. After the war, Volkswagen set up a fund to help these survivors.

British Help After the War (1945–1948)

In April 1945, the factory in Wolfsburg was taken over by American forces, then given to the British. A British Army officer, Major Ivan Hirst, was put in charge. At first, there were plans to take the factory apart and send it to Britain because it had been used for military production.

However, Major Hirst found one of the original "KdF-Wagen" cars that had been left at the factory. He had it painted green and showed it to the British Army. Since the army needed light transport, they ordered 20,000 cars in September 1945.

The factory was in bad shape, and there were many refugees around it. Major Hirst and his German assistant, Heinrich Nordhoff, worked hard to fix the social problems and get production going again. For example, Hirst used his engineering skills to help make car parts that were hard to find. The first few hundred cars went to the occupying forces and to Australia Post.

Major Hirst later said that the factory workers, after years of strict government control, were at first hesitant to follow his orders. To help with this, he wore his military uniform in the factory, and after that, he had no problems.

The factory was still in disrepair, and production had to stop when it rained because of roof damage. The company even had to trade new cars for steel to keep building.

The car and the town were renamed "Volkswagen" and "Wolfsburg" respectively. Production grew, but it was still unclear what would happen to the factory. It was offered to car companies from America, Australia, Britain, and France, but they all turned it down. One British car head said the project would fail and that the car was "too ugly and too noisy." Even Henry Ford II from Ford Motor Company turned down the offer to take over Volkswagen for free. This left Volkswagen to rebuild itself under Heinrich Nordhoff's leadership.

A Symbol of Recovery (1948–1961)

From 1948, Volkswagen became a very important symbol of West Germany's recovery after the war. Heinrich Nordhoff, a former manager from another car company, was hired to run the factory in 1948. In 1949, Major Hirst left, and the company became a trust controlled by the West German government.

The "Beetle" car, officially called the Type 1, was the main model. Volkswagen also introduced the Volkswagen Type 2 (a van, pickup, and camper) and the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia sports car. But Nordhoff mostly stuck to making just one main car model until he passed away in 1968.

Volkswagens were first shown and sold in the United States in 1949, but only two were sold that first year. Volkswagen of America was created in 1955 to help with sales and service in the US. Production of the Beetle grew a lot, reaching one million cars by 1955.

In 1959, VW started making cars in Brazil. In 2015, some former workers in Brazil said that Volkswagen had been silent about the persecution of its workers during the military dictatorship in the 1970s. Volkswagen later looked into these claims.

On August 22, 1960, the company's name changed to Volkswagenwerk AG. Sales grew quickly in the 1960s, partly thanks to famous advertising campaigns from a New York agency. These ads were known for being clever and witty, attracting younger buyers. Even though everyone called it the Beetle or the Bug, the company never officially used that name; they just called it the Type 1.

Even though the Beetle was getting old, its reliability and clever advertising helped it sell more than the previous record holder, the Ford Model T. On February 17, 1972, the 15,007,034th Beetle was sold, making it the most-produced single car model in history. By 1973, over 16 million Beetles had been made.

To celebrate breaking the Ford Model T's record, Volkswagen made a special limited-edition Beetle. It was called the "Baja Champion SE" in the US and the "Marathon" Superbeetle elsewhere. It had unique blue paint, special wheels, and a metal plate to show it was a limited edition.

From Beetle to Golf (1961–1973)

The 1961 Type 1 Beetle had a 36 horsepower engine. Over the years, the engine got bigger and more powerful. However, air-cooled engines became less popular in the United States because of new rules about unleaded gasoline and air pollution. Volkswagen later moved its Beetle production equipment to Mexico, where car emissions were not as strictly controlled. Beetles were very popular on the US West Coast, especially as beach buggies.

In 1961, VW added new models with the introduction of the Volkswagen Type 3 cars, which included the Karmann Ghia, Notchback, Fastback, and Variant (called 'Squareback' in the US).

In 1969, the larger Volkswagen Type 4 models (411 and 412) were introduced. These cars were very different from earlier Volkswagens. They had a single-piece body, an option for automatic transmission, and electronic fuel injection.

In 1964, Volkswagen bought Auto Union, and in 1969, NSU Motorenwerke AG (NSU). Auto Union owned the old Audi brand. VW combined Auto Union and NSU to create the modern Audi company, which became its luxury car brand. Buying these companies was a big moment for Volkswagen because they brought new technology that helped VW survive when demand for its air-cooled cars started to drop.

Volkswagen added a "Super Beetle" (Type 131) in 1971. This version had a different front suspension, a new dashboard, and a curved windshield. The front of the car was stretched a bit to make more space for luggage.

In 1973, Volkswagen introduced the military-style Type 181, known as the "Thing" in America. It was like a modern version of the wartime Type 82. The military version was made for the German Army from 1970 to 1979, but the US "Thing" was only sold for two years.

By late 1972, Volkswagen decided to stop a project for a new mid-engined car to replace the Beetle. Instead, they chose to focus on cars with front-wheel drive and water-cooled engines. This was a big change! Volkswagen's ownership of Audi helped a lot, as Audi had experience with these technologies.

Volkswagen was in serious trouble by 1973. Sales of the Type 3 and Type 4 models were low, and Beetle sales were falling fast in Europe and North America. The company knew the Beetle's time was ending, but they needed a good replacement.

The new generation of Volkswagens started with the Volkswagen Passat (called Dasher in the US) in 1973. It was a fastback car, similar to the Audi 80.

In spring 1974, the Volkswagen Scirocco coupe was released, designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro. It was built on the same platform as the upcoming Golf.

The most important new model was the Volkswagen Golf in 1974. In the US and Canada, it was called the Rabbit for its first two generations. The Golf had a modern, angular design. It had a water-cooled engine in the front, driving the front wheels, and a hatchback design. This style became very popular for small family cars. Beetle production at the main Wolfsburg factory ended when the Golf was introduced.

In 1975, the Volkswagen Polo was released. It was a smaller car, based on the Audi 50. The Polo later led to the Volkswagen Derby, a sedan version. These new models – Passat, Scirocco, Golf, and Polo – shared many features and parts, and they helped Volkswagen turn its fortunes around.

Growing the Car Lineup (1974–1990)

While Volkswagen's cars became more like those from other big European car makers, the Golf remained the most important model. It was the base for several other cars in the Volkswagen Group. There have been eight generations of the Golf. The first Golf was made from 1974 to 1983. Its design also led to the Volkswagen Scirocco sports coupe, Volkswagen Jetta sedan, Golf convertible, and Volkswagen Caddy pickup truck.

In the 1980s, Volkswagen's sales in the United States and Canada dropped a lot, even though the Golf was doing well elsewhere. The second-generation Golf, GTI, and Jetta models helped sales a bit in North America. However, the factory in Pennsylvania, USA, closed in 1988.

Meanwhile, Volkswagen expanded by buying a large share of the Spanish car maker SEAT in 1986, and then owning it completely by 1990. On July 4, 1985, Volkswagenwerk AG was renamed to Volkswagen AG.

Volkswagen entered the small car market in 1975 with the Volkswagen Polo. It was a popular three-door hatchback in Europe. In 1981, the second-generation Polo was launched, and the range grew to include a coupe and a sedan version. The Polo continued to sell well after a refresh in 1990, finally being replaced by a new version in 1994.

In 1983, the second-generation Golf was launched. In 1988, the third-generation Passat was released. Volkswagen also launched the Volkswagen Corrado, a coupe similar to the Scirocco.

New Designs and Models (1991–1999)

In 1991, Volkswagen launched the third-generation Golf, which won the "European Car of the Year" award in 1992. The Golf Mk3 and Jetta Mk3 arrived in North America in 1993. The sedan version of the Golf was called Vento in Europe but stayed Jetta in the United States.

In 1994, Volkswagen showed off the Concept One, a "retro" concept car that looked a lot like the original Beetle. Because people loved the concept, a production version was made, called the Volkswagen New Beetle, based on the Golf's platform.

In 1995, the Volkswagen Sharan minivan was launched in Europe. This was a joint project with Ford.

The company continued to update its car range with the Volkswagen Golf Mk4, released in late 1997. Its chassis was used for many other cars within the Volkswagen Group, including the Volkswagen Bora (Jetta in the US), SEAT Toledo, SEAT León, Audi A3, Audi TT, and Škoda Octavia. Other important models during this time included the smaller Volkswagen Polo and the larger Volkswagen Passat.

In 1998, the company launched the new Volkswagen Lupo city car. In 1999, they announced the first "3-liter" car, a lightweight version of the Lupo that could travel 100 kilometers (62 miles) using only 3 liters of diesel fuel. This made it the most fuel-efficient car in the world at the time.

More Growth and Challenges (2000–2016)

Volkswagen started introducing many new models after Bernd Pischetsrieder became the CEO of the Volkswagen Group in 2002. The sixth-generation VW Golf was launched in 2008. It led to several related cars like the VW Jetta, VW Scirocco, SEAT León, SEAT Toledo, Škoda Octavia, and Audi A3. The GTI, a high-performance version of the Golf, had a powerful 2.0 L turbocharged engine. VW started selling the Golf under the Rabbit name again in the US and Canada in 2006.

The sixth-generation Passat and fifth-generation Jetta both came out in 2005. Volkswagen also planned to bring back the Volkswagen Scirocco by 2008. Other new models included the Volkswagen Tiguan mid-sized SUV in 2008. In 2007, Martin Winterkorn became the new CEO of the Volkswagen Group.

Volkswagen's sales in North America continued to grow. The company also changed where some of its cars were made. For example, the 2007 Volkswagen Eos, a hardtop convertible, was made in a new factory in Portugal. All Golfs and GTIs from 2006 onwards were made in Wolfsburg, Germany.

Volkswagen worked with other companies like Daimler AG to promote "BlueTec" clean diesel technology. The US Environmental Protection Agency noted that several of the most fuel-efficient cars in the US were powered by Volkswagen diesel engines. Volkswagen offered many of its vehicles with a TDI (Turbocharged Direct Injection) engine, which gave great fuel economy.

Volkswagen had resisted making an SUV for a long time, but they finally introduced the Volkswagen Touareg in partnership with Porsche. The Touareg was praised for its handling but didn't sell as well as expected. Volkswagen then planned to add a smaller SUV, which became the Volkswagen Tiguan in 2006.

In 2008, Volkswagen launched the Volkswagen Routan, a minivan made for the American and Canadian markets, which was based on the Dodge Grand Caravan.

In September 2006, Volkswagen started offering the City Golf and City Jetta only in Canada. These were older versions of the Golf and Jetta, later replaced by Brazilian versions.

In May 2011, Volkswagen opened a new factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. This was VW's first plant in the US since the one in Pennsylvania closed. This factory makes Volkswagen cars and SUVs specifically for the North American market, starting with the Passat B7 in 2011.

In 2015, the company faced a big problem known as the Volkswagen emissions scandal, or "Dieselgate." The US Environmental Protection Agency found that Volkswagen had cheated on emissions tests. Volkswagen had put special software in about 11 million diesel cars worldwide. This software made the cars seem to meet US pollution standards during tests, but in real driving, they released up to 40 times more pollution.

The Volkswagen Atlas, a large SUV, started production in late 2016. It was designed to help Volkswagen recover from losses in the US market. In September 2016, Volkswagen also announced a partnership with cybersecurity experts to create a new company called Cymotive, focused on car security.

Focus on Electric Cars (2017–Present)

In 2017, Volkswagen announced big plans to focus on electric vehicles (EVs). Their goal was to launch at least 30 new EV models by 2025 and have EVs make up 20-25% of their total yearly sales. In September, Volkswagen CEO Matthias Müller said the company aimed to have electric versions of all its car models by 2030.

In March 2017, Volkswagen showed off its prototype for a fully self-driving car called Sedric at the Geneva Motor Show.

Volkswagen returned to motorsport in 2018 with its all-electric Volkswagen I.D. R race car. At the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, Romain Dumas set a new record driving the I.D. R.

In September 2018, Volkswagen announced that it would stop making the Beetle in 2019. Also, Volkswagen invested $100 million in a company called QuantumScape, which develops solid-state batteries for electric cars.

In February 2019, Volkswagen said it would launch a new car brand in China called Jetta, aimed at young buyers. Three models were announced in July 2019: a sedan and two SUVs, all made in China.

In September 2019, at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Volkswagen showed a new, simpler logo and new sounds for its brand. This came with the launch of the Volkswagen ID.3 electric vehicle, which Volkswagen said marked the start of a "new era" for the company.

Volkswagen also announced a program to convert old Beetle models to run on electric power, working with a German company called eClassics.

In November 2020, Volkswagen announced it would invest $86 billion over the next five years in electric and self-driving cars to stay a top carmaker in the green energy era.

In January 2021, Volkswagen reported that its sales dropped in 2020 due to global events. In March 2021, the company said it would stop developing new gasoline engines, though it would keep improving existing ones to meet stricter pollution rules.

In March 2022, Volkswagen released the Volkswagen ID. Buzz electric minivan. On May 11, 2022, Volkswagen confirmed it would bring back its Scout off-road vehicle brand, but this time as an electric vehicle. Production is planned to start in 2026.

In July 2022, Volkswagen announced it was building its first "Gigafactory" in Germany, focused on all battery activities, from raw materials to recycling.

In December 2023, VW announced that its brands selling in North America (Volkswagen, Porsche, Audi, Scout Motors) would start using the Tesla-designed NACS charging connector in 2025.

How Volkswagen Works

Global sales figures of the Volkswagen Group
Year	Sales (in millions)
2006	5.7
2007	6.2
2008	6.3
2009	6.3
2010	7.3
2011	8.4
2012	9.3
2013	9.7
2014	10.2
2015	10.0
2016	10.3
2017	10.7
2018	10.8
2019	11.0

Volkswagen is the main brand of the Volkswagen Group, a huge international company that owns many car and truck brands. These include famous names like Audi, SEAT, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bentley, Bugatti, Scania, MAN, and Škoda. The Volkswagen Group's main office is in Wolfsburg, Germany.

The Volkswagen Group is Europe's largest car maker, with over 74,000 employees and more than 7,700 dealerships. For a long time, Volkswagen has had a market share of over 20%.

In 2010, Volkswagen sold a record 6.29 million vehicles. In 2018, the company had record deliveries of 10.8 million vehicles. Volkswagen Group's main markets are Germany and China.

In July 2019, Volkswagen invested $2.6 billion in Argo AI, a company that develops self-driving cars.

Factories Around the World

Volkswagen has factories in many parts of the world. These factories build or assemble vehicles for local markets. Besides Germany, Volkswagen has factories in Mexico, the United States, Slovakia, China, India, Russia (though it sold its Russian operations in 2023), Malaysia, Brazil, Argentina, Portugal, Spain, Poland, the Czech Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kenya, and South Africa.

In 2011, Forbes magazine named Volkswagen one of the top 25 largest companies in the world. In January 2016, Volkswagen opened a new factory in Algeria. This factory produces several Volkswagen, SEAT, and Škoda cars.

Volkswagen also has a museum in Wolfsburg, Germany, called the Volkswagen AutoMuseum, which shows the history of the company.

Working Conditions at VW

Volkswagen is known for having very strong labor representation in Germany, with 120,000 employees. Workers at VW have some of the best collective agreements in the world.

In December 2011, Volkswagen agreed to a rule to help employees balance work and life. It limited company emails on work phones to only during working hours and a short time before and after. This was to help prevent burnout.

Volkswagen's Connection with Porsche

Volkswagen has always had a close relationship with Porsche, the sports car maker founded in 1931 by Ferdinand Porsche, who also designed the original Volkswagen. The first Porsche car, the Porsche 64 from 1938, used many parts from the Volkswagen Beetle. The 1948 Porsche 356 also used many Volkswagen parts.

The two companies continued to work together. For example, in 1969, they made the VW-Porsche 914. The Porsche Cayenne, released in 2002, shares its entire base with the Volkswagen Touareg and Audi Q7. All three are built at the same Volkswagen factory in Slovakia.

In 2005, Porsche started to buy more shares in Volkswagen. By 2009, Porsche had a majority holding in Volkswagen AG. On May 6, 2009, the two companies decided to officially join together.

Volkswagen Car Models

Best-selling Volkswagen models in 2022
Rank	Model	Production output
1	Tiguan	604,536
2	Polo/Virtus/Taigo/Nivus	448,043
3	Passat/Magotan	447,246
4	Lavida	377,284
5	T-Roc	322,211
6	T-Cross/Tacqua/Taigun	315,036
7	Golf	300,090
8	Jetta/Sagitar	292,038
9	Atlas/Teramont	217,771
10	Tharu/Taos	216,397

The Volkswagen brand makes many different car models. Some are sold all over the world, while others are made specifically for big markets like Europe, China, and Latin America. In 2022, the best-selling Volkswagen model globally was the Volkswagen Tiguan, followed by the Polo range and the Passat.

Hatchback Cars

Volkswagen has been a leader in making hatchback cars, which are very popular in Europe. The company offers hatchbacks in different sizes. The Volkswagen Golf has traditionally been the best-selling car for the brand in Europe, followed by the smaller Volkswagen Polo. However, sales of hatchbacks have slowed down as SUVs have become more popular.

SUVs and Crossovers

Volkswagen introduced its first SUV, the Volkswagen Touareg, a large luxury SUV, in 2002. The company expanded its SUV lineup with the release of the Volkswagen Tiguan in 2007. In the mid-2010s, Volkswagen decided to make an SUV for almost every car size. Between 2017 and 2020, the brand quickly increased its SUV models from 2 to 8, including models for different regions. Volkswagen also started making "coupe SUVs" with a sloped roof, which are popular in China.

In 2019, one out of every four vehicles sold by Volkswagen was an SUV, with the Tiguan being the top seller. Volkswagen plans to offer over 30 SUV models worldwide by 2025, hoping they will make up 50% of its global sales. The rise of SUVs has led to some minivans, like the Volkswagen Sharan, being phased out.

Cars for Specific Regions

Chinese Market

Volkswagen was a market leader in China until 2022. China is the largest single car market in the world. In 2019, Volkswagen sold 3.16 million vehicles there. Because China is so important, Volkswagen makes many models specifically for that market.

Sedans are very popular in China because they have spacious interiors and large trunks. In 2019, Volkswagen sold 1.6 million sedans in China. These include China-only models like the Sagitar, Lamando, Bora, Santana, and Lavida. The Lavida was the best-selling car in China from all manufacturers in 2019.

The popularity of SUVs in China also led to several SUV models built or changed specifically for China. These include the Tharu, Tayron, and special versions of the T-Cross and T-Roc. Volkswagen also has a strong presence in the luxury car market in China with models like the Phideon and Viloran.

In July 2023, Volkswagen announced it would invest $700 million in a Chinese electric vehicle maker called XPeng. Volkswagen will work with XPeng to develop two new electric models for the Chinese market by 2026.

Brazilian Market

Volkswagen has a long history in Brazil. In 1956, Volkswagen built its first factory outside Germany in São Bernardo do Campo, near São Paulo. This was because Brazil had banned importing fully assembled cars. One year later, the factory started making the Kombi model. Out of 81 million vehicles made in Brazil over six decades, 23 million were built by Volkswagen. In 2018, Volkswagen made up almost 15% of the Brazilian car market.

Because the Brazilian market is so important, Volkswagen has developed several models specifically for Brazil. These include the Fox, Gol, Nivus, Saveiro, Virtus, and Voyage. These models are also often exported to other countries in Latin America. The Gol, first launched in 1980, was the best-selling car in Brazil for 27 years in a row, until 2013.

Environment-Friendly Cars

Pure Ethanol Cars

Volkswagen do Brasil used to make and sell cars that ran only on pure ethanol fuel in Brazil. This stopped when newer "Flex Fuel" technology became available. After the 1973 oil crisis, the Brazilian government started promoting bioethanol as a fuel. In 1975, the National Alcohol Program was launched.

After more testing, pure ethanol cars were launched in the Brazilian market. Gasoline engines were changed to work with ethanol. Within six years, about 75% of all Brazilian passenger cars were made with ethanol engines.

However, production and sales of pure ethanol cars dropped starting in 1987. This was because gasoline prices fell, and sugar prices rose, making it more profitable to turn sugarcane into sugar instead of fuel. By mid-1989, there was a shortage of ethanol fuel, which made many people stop buying ethanol cars.

Flexible-Fuel Cars

The 2003 VW Gol 1.6 Total Flex was the first "flexible-fuel" car launched in Brazil. This meant it could run on any mix of gasoline and up to 100% ethanol fuel. After the problems with pure ethanol cars, people felt more confident in ethanol-powered vehicles, and flex-fuel technology quickly became popular. This was helped by the many fueling stations already set up for ethanol across Brazil.

Because flex-fuel cars were so successful, by 2005, VW had sold many more flex-fuel cars than gasoline-only cars. By 2006, VW do Brasil stopped making gasoline-only car models for the local market. By March 2009, Volkswagen do Brasil had made two million flex-fuel vehicles since 2003.

Hybrid Cars

Volkswagen and Sanyo worked together to create a battery system for hybrid cars. Volkswagen has confirmed plans to build small hybrid electric cars, like the Polo and Golf, with both gasoline and diesel options. For example, the Golf is a good car for a hybrid version because the Golf 1.4 TSI was named one of the most environmentally friendly cars in 2007. Volkswagen is also working on a hybrid version of the next-generation Volkswagen Touareg.

VW plans for all future models to have a hybrid option. This means cars like the Up! concept car and all future models could be offered with either full or partial hybrid options.

At the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, Volkswagen announced the launch of the 2012 Touareg Hybrid. VW also plans to introduce diesel-electric hybrid versions of its most popular models, starting with the new Volkswagen Jetta in 2012, followed by the Volkswagen Golf Hybrid in 2013. In 2012, the Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid set a world record as the fastest hybrid car, reaching 187 mph.

Plug-in Electric Cars

As of May 2016, the Volkswagen Group offers nine plug-in electric cars to customers. Three of these are all-electric cars: the Volkswagen e-Up!, e-Golf, and Audi R8 e-tron. Six are plug-in hybrids, which means they can run on both electricity and gasoline: the Volkswagen Golf GTE, Passat GTE, Audi A3 Sportback e-tron, Q7 e-tron quattro, Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid, and Cayenne S E-Hybrid.

To meet stricter carbon dioxide emission limits, the VW Group expects to sell about one million all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles worldwide each year by 2025. The Group plans to add 20 new pure electric and plug-in hybrid cars, including two cars to compete with Tesla, Inc.. Volkswagen announced in October 2015 that it would develop a special platform for battery-electric cars, called the MEB. This system will be designed for all types of electric vehicles and will allow the company to build exciting EVs with a range of up to 310 miles. In June 2016, VW launched a program to develop 30 all-electric cars in 10 years and sell 2–3 million electric cars per year by 2025. The Volkswagen ID.4 was launched in the U.S. in September 2020.

Flying Vehicles

In February 2021, Volkswagen said that "vertical mobility" (flying vehicles) could be the next big step after self-driving technology. The company announced it was looking into the possibility of making flying vehicles in China.

Awards and Achievements

Volkswagen was named the fourth most important car of the 20th century in the 1999 Car of the Century competition, for its Volkswagen Type 1 "Beetle" model. Only the Ford Model T, BMC Mini, and Citroën DS ranked higher.

Volkswagen has won the "European Car of the Year" award four times:

• 1992 – Volkswagen Golf
• 2010 – Volkswagen Polo
• 2013 – Volkswagen Golf
• 2015 – Volkswagen Passat

Volkswagen has also won the United States "Motor Trend Car of the Year" award five times:

• 1985 – Volkswagen GTI
• 1999 – Volkswagen New Beetle
• 2004 – Volkswagen Touareg (SUV category)
• 2012 – Volkswagen Passat
• 2015 – Volkswagen Golf line-up

Volkswagen has won the "World Car of the Year" award five times:

• 2009 – Volkswagen Golf
• 2010 – Volkswagen Polo
• 2012 – Volkswagen up!
• 2013 – Volkswagen Golf
• 2021 – Volkswagen ID.4

Volkswagen in Motorsport

Formula Racing

• In 1963, Formula Vee circuit racing began in the United States. These cars were built using easily available parts from the Volkswagen Beetle. It quickly became popular as a low-cost way to get into formula racing.
• In 1971, Volkswagen of America started the more powerful Formula Super Vee. This series became known for helping new talented drivers. Many future Formula One drivers, like Niki Lauda and Nelson Piquet, raced in it. Volkswagen also won several races and the championship in Formula Three.

World Rally Championship

• In 1981, Volkswagen started competing in rallying with the first-generation Golf.
• Volkswagen Motorsport won the World Rally Championship with driver Sébastien Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia four years in a row, from 2013 to 2016, using the Volkswagen Polo R WRC.

Dakar Rally

• In 1980, Volkswagen competed in the Dakar Rally with the Volkswagen Iltis and finished 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 9th overall.
• In 2003, the team entered with a buggy called Tarek, finishing 6th overall.
• Volkswagen won the 2009, 2010, and 2011 Dakar Rally, which were held in South America.

Volkswagen Motorsport Around the World

• Europe: In 1998, Volkswagen started the ADAC Volkswagen Lupo Cup (later renamed Polo Cup and Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup). Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles also entered truck racing and became champions in 2004 and 2005.
• United States: In 1976, Volkswagen entered the Trans-Am Series with the Scirocco and won its class. Starting in 2008, Volkswagen introduced the Jetta TDI Cup, a race series for young drivers.
• Argentina: Many Volkswagen models have competed in the TC 2000 championship, including the Volkswagen 1500 and the Volkswagen Gol.
• Finland: VW won the Finnish Rally Championship several times with the Golf GTI and Golf Mk3 KitCar.
• Austria: From 1967 to 1974, the Austrian distributor Porsche Salzburg entered the Volkswagen Beetle in rallies across Europe, achieving victories in the Austrian championship and other races.

Volkswagen Leaves the Russian Market

After February 24, 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Volkswagen stopped production at its factories in Russia. This was in line with international rules against Russia. Volkswagen also stopped sending models of its Porsche brand to Russia.

In March 2023, a Russian court froze all of Volkswagen's assets in Russia. Volkswagen AG completely stopped its operations in Russia. The company ended all agreements with Russian partners and sold all its shares to a local company.

See Also

In Spanish: Volkswagen para niños

• Baja Bug
• Cal Look
• List of German cars
• List of automobile manufacturers
• Punch buggy
• Standard Superior – an earlier attempt to make a "Volkswagen"
• Steyr 50
• VDub – a nickname for Volkswagen
• Volksflugzeug
• Volksrod
• Volkswagen advertising
• VW 276 Schlepperfahrzeug, military use 1944