Company overview
Volkswagen, established in 1937 by the German Labour Front, began as a project to create a ‘people’s car’. Initially conceived during the 1920s, development continued through various manufacturers before being adopted by the Nazi Party. The company’s name, ‘Volkswagen,’ means ‘people's car.’ Production began in 1938 at a factory built in Wolfsburg, Germany. Following World War II, the British Army, under Major Ivan Hirst, took control of the factory and initiated production in 1945. The initial focus shifted to wartime military vehicles, including Kübelwagens and Schwimmwagens. In 1948, Heinrich Nordhoff was appointed to lead the factory and oversaw a period of post-war regeneration for West Germany. The Volkswagen Beetle became an iconic symbol of this revival, and production expanded internationally in the 1950s. By 1960, Volkswagenwerk GmbH was renamed Volkswagenwerk AG. The company’s advertising campaigns in the 1960s, particularly those created by Doyle Dane Bernbach, significantly boosted sales and cemented the Beetle's popularity.
