The story of Volkswagen is one of the most dramatic transformations in industrial history—a journey from a dark political origin to a global symbol of peace and counterculture. The Birth of the "People's Car"
: Renamed the "Beetle" (or Käfer ), the car became a symbol of West Germany's post-war economic recovery. volkswagen
In 1937, the German government under Adolf Hitler founded a state-owned automobile company called Gesellschaft zur Vorbereitung des Deutschen Volkswagens mbH , later renamed or "The People's Car Company". Hitler commissioned engineer Ferdinand Porsche to design an affordable, reliable vehicle for the masses that could carry two adults and three children at speeds of 62 mph. The story of Volkswagen is one of the
: In February 1972, the Beetle surpassed the Ford Model T to become the most manufactured car of all time. Modern Challenges Hitler commissioned engineer Ferdinand Porsche to design an