Volkswagen Group

About Volkswagen Group

The story begins in 1937, with the German Labour Front, a Nazi organization, establishing the 'Gesellschaft zur Vorbereitung des Deutschen Volkswagens mbH'. The goal was to produce a car accessible to the masses. Ferdinand Porsche was the chief engineer behind the iconic design that would later be known as the Beetle. After World War II, the British military government took control of the factory and restarted production, a pivotal moment that saved the company from being dismantled. In the post-war era, Volkswagen, under the leadership of Heinrich Nordhoff, became a symbol of West German economic recovery. The Beetle's success in export markets, especially the United States, was phenomenal. The company went public in 1960, issuing shares to the German public. This period also saw the introduction of the Transporter van, another cultural icon. A significant chapter in Volkswagen's history was its multi-decade relationship with Porsche. This culminated in a complex series of events where Porsche attempted to acquire Volkswagen, but ultimately, Volkswagen turned the tables and completed the acquisition of Porsche in 2012, integrating the storied sports car maker into its growing portfolio of brands. More recently, the company faced a major crisis in 2015 known as 'Dieselgate,' where it was found to have manipulated emissions tests. This event forced a significant strategic shift towards electric mobility, with the company now investing billions into developing a new generation of electric vehicles, marking another transformation in its long and complex history.