| When people talk about Volkswagen, the first | | | | released several other models like the Golf, |
| thing that usually pops up in their mind is | | | | Polo and the Passat with varying degrees of |
| the ever-popular Type 1 or Beetle model. The | | | | success and with the Golf as its mainstay |
| German-based car manufacturing company first | | | | model. It wasn't until 1998 that Volkswagen |
| entered the scene during the late 1930's when | | | | decided to go back to its roots, releasing |
| Adolf Hitler asked Ferdinand Porsche Sr. to | | | | the New Beetle, a design which was based on |
| design an automobile that would be more | | | | the Golf chassis but retained some |
| accessible to the common man. The result was | | | | similarities to the original, providing a |
| the very first Beetle (known that time as the | | | | huge boosts to the brand up to the present. |
| KdF-Wagen), which despite only having less | | | | |
| than 200 parts, served as Volkswagen's | | | | Much of Volkswagen's prominence can easily be |
| foundation throughout its history. | | | | attributed to the staying power of their |
| | | | first model, the Beetle. Originally an |
| After the Second World War, the company fell | | | | economy vehicle, the classic Type 1 sported |
| into disarray but bounced back when British | | | | an air-cooled engine, making it easily |
| Army Major Ivan Hirst took over the felled | | | | customizable and came with durable and easily |
| factory. This came after American forces | | | | repairable parts. |
| handed control over to the British. The | | | | |
| Beetle was once again put to production | | | | The use of VW Parts are not limited to the |
| despite the damage brought on by the war, | | | | Beetle alone, as other companies have |
| with the Wolfsburg factory producing around | | | | collaborated with Volkswagen or used |
| 1000 cars per month. | | | | Volkswagen Auto Parts and components to |
| | | | produce their cars, like the Porsche 914 and |
| As Germany started recovering from the | | | | 914-6 and the Porsche 356. |
| aftermath of WWII, Volkswagen would further | | | | |
| grow and break into foreign markets, most | | | | VW Parts were also provided for a series |
| notably that of the US automotive industry. | | | | commercial trucks under the joint venture |
| Volkswagen also ventured on other projects, | | | | between the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles |
| releasing the Type 2 or Transporter, a van | | | | and MAN AG, whose production was from 1979 to |
| based on the design of the Beetle. Despite | | | | 1993. |
| the shaky start, the Type 2 and the Beetle | | | | |
| became the front runners for Volkswagen | | | | Finally, other industries also found use for |
| throughout the 1960s to the 1970s with | | | | VW Parts, specifically the Volkswagen air |
| Volkswagen releasing updated versions | | | | cooled engine, which found action on many |
| periodically. The mid-60s was also the time | | | | experimental airplanes during the 60's. In |
| that Volkswagen started acquiring different | | | | Australia, the engine was used in rather odd |
| subsidiaries, effectively making it the | | | | ways, powering a ski lift for the Thredbo ski |
| Volkswagen Group. | | | | resort in New South Wales, and also modified |
| | | | as an air-compressor for some remote mining |
| From the 1970s and onward Volkswagen has also | | | | communities. |