Volkswagen literally translates as “people’s car”, and the brand has lived up to the name.
In 1933 Ferdinand Porsche was commissioned to produce an affordable family car which could drive at least 60 mph. German car manufacturing at that time was focused on luxury models, and most families simply couldn’t afford a vehicle. Mass production was delayed until after the war, but it was worth the wait. The Beetle sold over 21 million models and became a symbol of West Germany’s post-war regeneration.
Fittingly for a brand intended to be the people’s car, Volkswagen has become Germany’s largest car manufacturer and the second largest in the world. With the Porsche family still holding a major stake its portfolio includes three of the ten best selling cars in history in the Beetle, the Golf and Passat.
