Since its creation in 1937, Volkswagen Group has grown to become the third largest car manufacturer in the world. This phenomenal growth is largely due to the success of the company’s first and flagship vehicle the Type 1 also known as the Beetle. Developed in conjunction with Dr. Ferdinand Porsche the "People’s Car" was finally released in 1938.
However the Beetle very nearly didn’t survive the Second World War and it was only the fortitude of Major Ivan Hirst that kept this iconic vehicle from becoming a distant memory. As part of the Morgenthau Plan, the factory was meant to be dismantled and shipped to Britain, however no British car manufacturer took up the offer thinking the vehicle didn’t meet the fundamental requirement of a motor car. This was a huge error of judgment considering the Type 1 was manufactured for 68 years and sold more than 21 million units. In fact in 1973, Volkswagen could claim the world production record for the most-produced, single make of car in history.
Another pivotal moment in Volkswagen’s illustrious history came with the release of the Volkswagen Golf. This was a culmination of technological expertise between Volkswagen and Auto Union – the owners of Audi. The Golf rescued Volkswagen and paved the way for many of Volkswagen’s later vehicles.
Volkswagen is committed to eco friendly transport and has announced that it will be launching the VW L1 in 2010. The VW L1 is a 1 litre, two person vehicle that weighs an amazing 290Kg. This incredibly lightweight vehicle is capable of achieving over 235 miles per gallon. Volkwagen is also dedicated to hybrid technology with VW Head of Development Ulrich Hackenberg stating that "Future VW models will fundamentally also be constructed with hybrid concepts".