Volkswagen

Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer based in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. Founded in 1937, Volkswagen is the best selling and namesake brand of the Volkswagen Group, the holding company created in 1975 by the growing company, and is now the largest car manufacturer in Germany and Europe.

Volkswagen has three cars in the top 10 cars of all time compiled by the website 24/7 Wall St Topseller: The Volkswagen Golf, Volkswagen Beetle and Volkswagen Passat. With these three cars, Volkswagen has most cars of any automaker in the list is still being manufactured.

Volkswagen History

Volkswagen was originally founded in 1937 by the German Labour Front (Deutsche Arbeitsfront). In early 1930, the German auto industry was still largely composed of luxury models, and rarely the German media could afford more than a motorcycle. As a result, only 50 were German so. Looking for a new potential market, some automakers began “peoples car” projects – Mercedes’ independent 170H, AutoBahn Adler, Steyr 55, Hanomag 1,3L, among others.

In 1933, with many of the projects before even mentioned in earlier stages of development or production, Adolf Hitler was involved, requiring the production of a basic vehicle capable of transporting two adults and three children at 100 km / h (62 mph) . He wanted his Germans to have the same access to a car as American citizens. The “people’s car” would be available to citizens of the Third Reich through a savings scheme at 990 Reichsmark (US $ 396 to $ 1,930) -on price of a small motorcycle (an average income is around 32RM a week).

The construction of the new plant began May 26, 1938 in the new town of KdF-Stadt (now Wolfsburg), which had been built especially for factory workers. This factory had only produced the handful of cars by the time war started in 1939. None were actually delivered to any holder of savings coupon books completed, though one Type 1 Cabriolet was presented to Hitler on April 20, 1939 (his 50th birthday).

The company owes its post-war largely a man, officer Major Ivan Hirst British, Army REME existence. In April 1945, KdF-Stadt, and bombed factory were captured by the Americans, and later handed over to the British, within whose occupation zone town and factory fell. The factories were placed under control of Oldham-born Hirst. Initially, the plan was used for the maintenance of military vehicles, and possibly dismantled and shipped to Britain. As had been used for military production, and had been in words Hirst a “political animal” rather than a commercial enterprise technically so he is responsible for the destruction in the terms of the Potsdam Agreement-The equipment was in time destined to be rescued as war reparations.

VW has expanded its product line in 1961 with the introduction of four models 3 Type (Karmann Ghia, Notchback, Fastback and Squareback) based on the new Type 3 mechanical underpinnings, and again in 1969 with the largest type 4 (411 and 412 ) models. These differ substantially from previous vehicles, with notable introduction of monocoque / unibody construction, the option of fully automatic transmission, electronic fuel injection, and a more robust engine. Volkswagen adds a “Super Beetle” (the Type 113) to its lineup in 1971.

In 1975, the Volkswagen Polo continued. It was a re-badged Audi 50, which was soon discontinued in 1978. The Polo became the basis of Volkswagen Derby, which was introduced in 1977. The Derby was for all intents and purposes, a design of three volumes of Polo. After a second generation model, the Derby was discontinued in 1985, although the bodystyle lived after the manner of the classic sedan polo / polo until 1991.

Volkswagen has produced four winners of the World Car of the Year, so the winner of the Volkswagen those awards of any automaker. In 2013, the Volkswagen XL1 became the car more fuel efficient production in the world with a combined fuel economy of 261 mpg.

Volkswagen Operations

Volkswagen is the founder and namesake member of the Volkswagen Group, the  large international corporation in charge of various brands of cars and trucks, including Audi, SEAT, Lamborghini, Bentley, Bugatti, Scania, and Škoda. The Volkswagen Group’s global headquarters are located in the historic home of Volkswagen in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen Group, as a unit, is currently the largest carmaker in Europe. For a long time, Volkswagen has had a market share exceeding 20 percent.

In 2010, Volkswagen, posted record sales of 6.29 million vehicles, with its global market share at 11.4%. In 2008, Volkswagen became the third largest automaker in the world and, from 2012, Volkswagen is the second largest producer. Volkswagen has aimed to double its share of the US market from 2% to 4% in 2014, and is aiming to become a sustainable manner, the manufacturer world’s largest automaker by 2018. Volkswagen Group’s core markets include Germany and China.

Volkswagen Electric Vehicles

Volkswagen announced it has hired Karl-Thomas Neumann as Chief Officer Group for electric traction. VW Chief of Research, Dr. Jürgen Leohold, said the company has concluded hydrogen fuel cell cars are not a viable option. The two-door E-Up! electric car concept premiered at the 63rd Frankfurt Motor Show in 2009. The 3.19 meters (10 feet 6 inches) long all-electric E-Up! is expected to start production in 2013, and uses a configuration of 3 + 1 seats. Use about 60 kilowatts (82 PS, 80 hp) electric motor driving all integrated (continuous rating of 40 kW (54 PS, 54 CV)) mounted on the front and driving the front wheels

Volkswagen Environmental Record

Volkswagen first implemented seven environmental objectives in technical development in 1996. The plan contains issues related to climate protection, resource conservation and health care, through objectives such as reducing greenhouse emissions and fuel consumption, allowing the use of alternative fuels, and avoiding use of hazardous materials. The original objectives since 1996 have been revised in 2002 and 2007. Volkswagen was the first automaker to implement the ISO 14000 standard during its drafting stage and was re-certified under the standards in September 2005. In 2011 Greenpeace began Volkswagen criticize opposition to legislation requiring tighter controls on CO2 emissions and energy efficiency and advertising campaign was launched parodying recent series of trade-based Star Wars Volkswagen.

Volkswagen