Volkswagen’s Best Kept Secrets
You might drive a VW every day, but you probably haven't heard their whole story yet. This world-class automaker has had a long and eventful tenure as one of the world's preeminent automakers, and there's no shortage of crazy and interesting facts and historical tidbits for you to discover. Want to find out how much you know? Here are 20 facts about Volkswagen that will blow your mind.
1. What’s In The Name?
Talk about the perfect brand name. "Volkswagen," in German, translates to "people's car." Back in the day, this wasn't just clever marketing. It was a bold promise to make cars accessible to everyday folks. It’s pretty cool how they've stuck to that mission with their affordable cars.
2. First Car
In 1938, they launched their first car, the Volkswagen Type 1. You might also know this one as the Beetle. It was the first model. The Beetle was intended to be an affordable "people's car." The car later became one of the most famous vehicles.
3. Early Ownership
Did you know that VW was originally owned by the German government under the control of the Nazi regime? Yes, it wasn't until after WWII that Volkswagen grew to become a public company and started mass production for civilian use.
4. First Logo
The VW logo started as a cluttered symbol. The first version had a swastika-like design. Over the years, it kept on changing and turned into today's simple, clean VW emblem. The current logo is the perfect mix of retro and modern.
5. War Years
Volkswagen's wartime pivot was pretty intense. In 1939, they launched the Kübelwagen. You can think of it as Germany's Jeep. Then, they developed the Schwimmwagen, which could swim across rivers. These vehicles talk about the fact that the brand was ready to engineer in any situation.
6. The American Dream
When VW first hit American shores in 1949, they weren't exactly an overnight sensation. But those first few Beetles and Buses were like scouts paving the way for a full-blown invasion of hearts. These German cars soon turned as American as apple pie.
Charles from Port Chester, New York on Wikimedia
7. Hollywood Chapters
The lovable Beetle didn't just conquer roads. It also conquered Hollywood with six blockbusters, Herbie, based on the Beetle. Right after the first movie in 1968, the car formed a huge fan base. Around 21.5 million Beetles were sold. That's like giving every person in Florida a car.
Panamaherbie at English Wikipedia on Wikimedia
8. Mother Of All Luxury Brands
When you're drooling over an Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, or Bugatti, you're looking at a distant cousin of the Beetle. The Volkswagen Group owns the world’s most prestigious supercar brands. Also, it was Ferdinand Porsche, the founder of the Porsche car company, who designed the first Beetle.
9. Baby Bonds
Imagine this: A couple is rushing to the hospital in their Beetle, but there is no time, and the baby is finally born in the car. In the '60s, VW awarded a savings bond to such babies as part of a unique promotion. Talk about being born into the VW family.
Fernando Venâncio da Silva on Unsplash
18. A World Record
As we thought driving on ice was tricky, VW’s supercar set a speed record on ice. In 1995, VW's Bugatti EB 110 SS hit a mind-blowing 184.1 mph on the frozen Baltic Sea. That's faster than a commercial airplane at takeoff on ice.
11. Unique Car Names
You may think that the VW Golf was named after the sport. But the truth is, they named that car after the Gulf Stream, a powerful ocean current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico. Wind currents might seem random for car names, but VW didn’t hesitate.
12. Employment For All
Volkswagen is one of the world’s largest employers, with a workforce of over 600,000 people. To put it in perspective, that's about the same as having the entire population of Baltimore working under one company’s roof.
13. Their Unique Delivery Center
Have you ever seen a car-themed wonderland that’s also a museum and a shop? The Autostadt in Wolfsburg is exactly that. This huge complex is an exhibit where lucky VW owners can pick up their new cars from giant glass towers that look amazing.
14. The Fame of the XL1 Model
If you think your car is good on gas, wait until you hear about VW's XL1. This incredible 2013 model could run around 62 miles on just one liter of fuel. You could drive from downtown Los Angeles to Disneyland (31 to 37 miles) and still have enough fuel left for the return journey.
MotorBlog from Ca, USA on Wikimedia
15. Peace and Love
The Volkswagen Bus was a cultural icon. In the '60s and '70s, if you wanted to be part of the hippie movement, this was your ride. With its distinctive "bread loaf" shape and roomy interior, it became the ultimate ride of freedom and groovy times. Even the “Mystery Machine” in Scooby-Doo was inspired by the VW Bus.
16. The Glass Factory
In 2000, Volkswagen turned car manufacturing into a spectator sport. At their Autostadt facility, they created "The Transparent Factory." Here, visitors could watch every step of the process, from assembly to final touches, in real-time. It was like a car enthusiast’s dream come true.
17. VW in Space
Volkswagen's ambitions reach the stars. They have collaborated with multiple space projects. Recently, they partnered with artist Tom Sachs for the "SPACE PROGRAM: RARE EARTHS" exhibit, where they provided their ID. SPACE VIZZION concept car as the official mobility partner.
Rutger van der Maar from Leiden, The Netherlands on Wikimedia
18. A World Record
In 2010, the VW Beetle became the center of a serious, thought-provoking world record. A group of people from the Asbury University Emancipation Project successfully fit 20 people inside the tiny VW car. It was done to ignite discussion on human trafficking.
19. The Test Track
Volkswagen has a huge test track in Ehra-Lessien, Germany, which is used for high-speed testing and includes a 9-kilometer straight. It’s one of the longest in the world. In this facility, Volkswagen tests future models under various conditions—far from prying eyes.
Oxfordian Kissuth on Wikimedia
20. A Grave Mistake
In 2015, Volkswagen made a serious misstep with the "Dieselgate" scandal. They had secretly installed software in millions of diesel vehicles to cheat on emissions tests. VW was found guilty, paid the price with $2.8 billion, and learned a lesson. The former CEO, Martin Winterkorn, resigned right after the scandal broke.
