Volkswagen GroupFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to: navigation, search This article is about Volkswagen Group and its parent company, Volkswagen AG. For the Volkswagen brand of cars, see Volkswagen. For Volkswagen vans and light trucks, see Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. For the Brazilian heavy trucks and buses company, see Volkswagen Trucks and Buses.

Volkswagen GroupVolkswagen Aktiengesellschaft

TypePublic company - Aktiengesellschaft

(FWB: VOW, VOW3)

Industry Automotive

Founded Germany (1937)

Headquarters Wolfsburg, Germany

Number of

locations61 production plants in 21 countries [1]

Area served Worldwide

Key people

Ferdinand K. Piëch (Chairman of the supervisory

board)

Martin Winterkorn (CEO and Chairman of the

board of management)

ProductsAutomobiles, commercial vehicles,

engines

Production

output

6,054,829 units for sale in 153 countries

(2009)[2]

Services Financial services

Revenue €105.2 billion (2009)[2]

Operating income €1.855 billion (2009)[2]

Profit €960 million (2009)[2]

Total assets €177.2 billion (2009)[2]

Total equity €37.43 billion (2009)[2]

Employees 368,500 (end 2009)[2]

DivisionsAutomotive Division,

Financial Services Division

Subsidiaries

Automotive[1] [3] [4] [show]

Financial Services[show]

Others[show]

Website www.volkswagenag.com

Volkswagen Group (sometimes abbreviated to VW Group[5] and previously known as VAG[6]) is a German automobile manufacturing group. As of 2008, Volkswagen was ranked as the world’s third largest motor vehicle manufacturer.[7]

The Group's parent company Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft,[8] (FWB: VOW3), usually abbreviated to Volkswagen AG, develops vehicles and components for all marques of the whole Group, and also manufactures complete vehicles for the Volkswagen Passenger Cars and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles marques.[8] Volkswagen Group is divided into two primary divisions: the Automotive Division, and the Financial Services Division.[1] The Group consists of 342 Group companies, which are involved in either vehicle production or other related automotive services.[1]

Contents[hide]

1 Overview 2 History 3 Volkswagen AG ownership

o 3.1 Share information 4 Leadership 5 Corporate structure, brands and companies

o 5.1 Recent acquisitions 5.1.1 Wilhelm Karmann GmbH 5.1.2 Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG 5.1.3 Suzuki Motor Corporation 5.1.4 Italdesign Giugiaro S.p.A.

o 5.2 Commercial vehicle interests 5.2.1 Scania AB 5.2.2 MAN SE

6 See also 7 References

8 External links

[edit] Overview

In 2009, according to data published by all three companies, Volkswagen was the third biggest motor vehicle manufacturer, with 6.29 million units delivered to customers,[9][10] after Toyota Group with 7.23 million units[11] and General Motors, with 6.503 million units.[12]

Although it operates worldwide, Volkswagen Group's core market is primarily Europe. Of its automobile brands, Volkswagen Passenger Cars is its mainstream marque, and the Group's major subsidiaries also include well-known car marques such as SEAT, Audi, Škoda, and the prestige marques Lamborghini, Bentley, and Bugatti. The Group also has operations in commercial vehicles, owning Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, along with a controlling stake in Swedish truck and diesel engine maker Scania AB, and a 29.9% stake in MAN SE.

Volkswagen's second-largest market is China, where its subsidiary, Volkswagen Group China (VGC), is the largest joint venture automaker, selling more than one million vehicles in 2008.[1] The Volkswagen Golf is the third bestselling automobile in the world, selling over 26 million units through 2008.[1] In 2009, Volkswagen Group sold 6.31 million vehicles,[2] claiming over 11% of the world passenger car market.[13]

Volkswagen AG is heavily involved in sports sponsorship, with investments having included the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2014 Winter Games,[14][15] as well as the David Beckham Academy. The company also wholly owns the Bundesliga football side VfL Wolfsburg.[16] The company is also the shirt sponsor of Major League Soccer club D.C. United.

In August 2009, Porsche SE and Volkswagen Group reached an agreement that Volkswagen AG and Porsche AG would merge in 2011.[17][18]

[edit] History

This section requires expansion.

Volkswagen was founded on 28 May 1937 as the Gesellschaft zur Vorbereitung des Deutschen Volkswagens mbH [19] ("Society for the preparation of the German People's Car", sometimes abbreviated to Gezuvor[20]) by the Nazi Deutsche Arbeitsfront [21] (German Labour Front). The purpose of the company was to manufacture the Volkswagen Type 1, later better known as the Volkswagen Beetle.[19] On 16 September 1938, the company was renamed Volkswagenwerk GmbH [19] ("Volkswagen Factory limited liability company").

After the Second World War in June 1945, Major Ivan Hirst [19] of the British Army Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) took control of the bomb-shattered factory, and tried to dismantle it and ship it home. However, no British car manufacturer was interested; "the vehicle does not meet the fundamental technical requirement of a motor-car ... it is quite unattractive to the average buyer ... To build the car commercially would

be a completely uneconomic enterprise".[22] As part of the Industrial plans for Germany, large parts of German industry, including Volkswagen, were to be dismantled. Total German car production was set at a maximum of 10% of the 1936 car production numbers.[23] The company survived by producing cars for the British Army, and in 1948, the British Government handed the company back over to the German state, where it was managed by former-Opel chief Heinrich Nordhoff.

Volkswagen's Golf is the third best-selling car in the world, selling over 26 million through 2008

In 1960, upon the floatation of part of the German federal government's stake in the company on the German stock market, its name became Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft (usually abbreviated to Volkswagenwerk AG).

On 1 January 1965, Volkswagenwerk acquired Auto Union GmbH from its parent company Daimler-Benz. The new subsidiary went on to produce the first post-war Audi models, the Audi F103 series, shortly afterwards.[24]

Another German manufacturer, NSU Motorenwerke AG, was merged into Auto Union on 26 August 1969, creating a new company, Audi NSU Auto Union AG (later renamed AUDI AG in 1985).[24]

From the late 1970s to 1992, the acronym V.A.G was used by Volkswagen AG as a brand for group-wide activities, such as distribution and leasing. Contrary to popular belief, "V.A.G" had no official meaning.[6]

On 30 September 1982, Volkswagenwerk made its first step expanding outside of Germany by signing a co-operation agreement with the Spanish car manufacturer SEAT, S.A..[24]

In order to reflect the company's increasing global diversification from its headquarters and main plant (the Volkswagenwerk in Wolfsburg), on 4 July 1985, the company name was changed again - to Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft (Volkswagen AG).

On 18 June 1986, Volkswagen AG acquired a 51% controlling stake in SEAT making it the first non-German subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group, and also later that year became the Spanish company's major shareholder by increasing its share up to 75%.[24]

In 1990 - after purchasing its entire equity - Volkswagen AG took over the full ownership of SEAT making the company a wholly-owned subsidiary, and on 28 March 1991 another step to the expansion of the group's activities was made through the signing of a joint venture partnership agreement with Škoda automobilová a.s. of Czechoslovakia, accompanied with the acquisition of a 31% stake in the Czech car manufacturer.[24]

Three prestige automotive marques were added to the Volkswagen portfolio in 1998: Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti.[24]

On 30 May 2000, Volkswagen AG - after having gradually raised its equity share - turned Škoda Auto into a wholly-owned subsidiary.[24]

From 2002 up to 2007, the Volkswagen Group's automotive division was restructured so that two major Brand Groups with differentiated profile would be formed,[25] the Audi Brand Group focused on more sporty values - consisted of Audi, SEAT and Lamborghini - and the Volkswagen Brand Group on the field of classic values - consisted of Volkswagen, Skoda, Bentley and Bugatti[26][27] - with each Brand Group's product vehicles and performance being respectively under the higher responsibility of Audi and Volkswagen brands.

[edit] Volkswagen AG ownership

This section needs additional citations for verification.Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2009)

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Under the so-called "Volkswagen Law", no shareholder in Volkswagen AG could exercise more than 20 percent of the firm's voting rights, regardless of their level of stock holding.[28] In October 2005, Porsche acquired an 18.53 percent stake in the business, and in July 2006, Porsche increased that ownership to more than 25 percent. Analysts disagreed as to whether the investment was a good fit for Porsche's strategy.[29]

On 26 March 2007, after the European Union moved against a German law that protected Volkswagen Group from takeovers,[30] Porsche took its holding to 30.9 percent, triggering a takeover bid under German law. Porsche formally announced in a press statement that it did not intend to take over Volkswagen Group, setting its offer price at the lowest possible legal value, but intended the move to avoid a competitor taking a large stake, or to stop hedge funds dismantling Volkswagen Group, which is Porsche's most important partner.[31] On 3 March 2008, Porsche announced that it has decided to increase its Volkswagen AG stake up to 51 percent, which would be completed before the end of the

year. This was announced just hours after VWAG declared it would take a majority stake in the Swedish truck and engine maker Scania.[32]

Wikinews has related news: Porsche and Volkswagen automakers agree to merger

On 16 September 2008, Porsche announced that the company had increased its stake in Volkswagen AG to 35 percent.[33] As of October 2008, Porsche held 42.6 percent of Volkswagen AG's ordinary shares, and holds stock options on another 31.5 percent.[citation

needed] On 28 October 2008, Porsche announced that they effectively held over 74 percent; 42.6 percent actual shares, and the rest as convertible options. It was announced on 7 January 2009 that Porsche now owns 50.76 percent of Volkswagen AG.[34] Volkswagen AG briefly became the world's most valuable company, as the stock price rose to over €1,000 per share as short sellers tried to cover their positions.[35]

The current share ownership of Volkswagen AG is distributed as follows:[36]

In percent of subscribed capital as of 31 December 2009:[36]

percentage shareholder name notes

32.2% Porsche Automobil Holding SE

(In accordance with report of Porsche Automobil Holding SE

from 18 July 2010)

16.2%Private

shareholders / others

15.0%Foreign

institutional investors

14.8% State of Lower Saxony [30] (As at 31 December 2009)

12.3% Qatar Holding LLC (As at 31 December 2009)

2.5%German

institutional investors

1.8% Porsche Holding GmbH, Salzburg

(In accordance with notification on 12 January 2009 )

In percent of current voting rights as of 31 December 2009:[36]

percentage shareholder name notes

50.74% Porsche Automobil Holding SE, Stuttgart

2.37% Porsche GmbH, Salzburg20.01% State of Lower Saxony, Hanover [30] 17.00% Qatar Holding9.87% Others

These figures are likely to change dramatically, as Volkswagen AG has agreed the issue of new shares to facilitate the merger with Porsche.[37]

[edit] Share information

Volkswagen AG shares are primarily traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange,[38] and are listed under the 'VOW' and 'VOW3' stock ticker symbols. First listed in August 1961, the shares were issued at a price of DM 350 per DM 100 share,[38] Volkswagen AG shares are now separated into two different types or classes: 'ordinary shares' and 'preference shares'.[38] The ordinary shares are now traded under the WKN 766400 and ISIN DE0007664005 listings, and the preference shares under the WKN 766403 and ISIN DE0007664039 listings.[38]

Volkswagen AG shares are also listed and traded on other major domestic and worldwide stock exchanges. In Germany's domestic exchanges, since 1961 these include those in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich and Stuttgart. International exchanges include those in Basel (listed in 1967), Geneva (1967), Zürich (1967), Luxembourg (1979), London (1988), and New York (1988).[38]

Since the start of trading in 1961, Volkswagen AG shares have been subjected to two stock splits - the first was on 17 March 1969 when they were split at a ratio of 2:1, from a DM 100 share to a DM 50 share. The second split occurred on 6 July 1998, the DM 50 share being converted into a share of no overall nominal value, at a ratio of 1:10.[38]

From 23 December 2009, Volkswagen AG preferred shares replaced its ordinary shares in the DAX index.[39]

[edit] Leadership

Volkswagen (mbH, GmbH, AG) leadersfrom to person(s)

1937 1945Bodo Lafferentz, Ferdinand Porsche, Jakob Werlin [40]

June 1945 January 1948 Ivan Hirst (REME)[19]

2 January 1948 1967Heinrich Nordhoff

1968 1971Kurt Lotz1971 1975Rudolf Leiding

1975 1982Toni Schmücker1982 1993Carl Hahn

1 January 1993 16 April 2002 Ferdinand K. Piëch

16 April 2002

31 December 2006Bernd Pischetsrieder

1 January 2007 presentMartin Winterkorn

[edit] Corporate structure, brands and companiesThe Volkswagen Group comprises nine active automotive companies, and their corresponding marques:

AUDI AG, the Audi Group, and the Audi marque 99.55% ownership; the Audi marque is the sole active marque of the former Auto Union, bought from Daimler-Benz on 30 December 1964. Audi AG wholly own the private high performance subsidiary company, quattro GmbH.

Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.,[3] and the Lamborghini marque 100% ownership by Audi AG; company was bought in June 1998.

Bentley Motors Limited,[3] and the Bentley marque 100% ownership by Volkswagen AG; the company (at the time known as Rolls-Royce & Bentley Motors Ltd.) was bought on 28 July 1998 from Vickers, but did not include the 'Rolls-Royce' brand name. The Rolls-Royce marque was subsequently restarted by BMW who had licensed the brand from Rolls-Royce plc.

Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S., and the Bugatti marque 100% ownership via the Volkswagen France subsidiary, Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. was created after Volkswagen Group purchased the right to the Bugatti marque.[41]

SEAT, S.A.,[3] and the SEAT marque 100% ownership since 1990; initially in 1982 a co-operation agreement with Audi AG; 51% and 75% ownership in 1986, being the first non-German subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group.[24]

Škoda automobilová a.s.,[3] Škoda Auto, and the Škoda marque 100% ownership since 2000; initially in 1991 a co-operation agreement and 31% ownership.[24]

Volkswagen Passenger Cars, and the Volkswagen marque the founding marque of the company, 100% ownership.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV), or German: Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge (VWN)

100% ownership; started operations as an independent entity in 1995. VWCV/VWN is in charge of all commercial vehicle developments within the Group, and has control over Scania AB and is a major shareholder in MAN SE.

Scania AB (publ),[3] and the Scania marque (controlling shareholder) Acquired July 2008 becoming the 9th marque of the Group,[1] 70.94% of voting rights as of 30 November 2009.[42]

Note: From July 1998 until December 2002, the Group's Bentley division also sold cars under the Rolls-Royce marque, under an agreement with BMW, which had bought the rights to the Rolls-Royce name, but not the Rolls-Royce operations. From 2003, only BMW has been able to make cars under the Rolls-Royce marque.

The Group also owns five inactive marques, via Audi AG:

Auto Union (the Auto Union company, together with NSU Motorenwerke AG (NSU), were merged into "Audi NSU Auto-Union AG" in 1969. The name was shortened to "Audi AG" in 1985, and the interlocked four-ring badge from Auto Union is still used by Audi AG).

Dampf-Kraft-Wagen (DKW)

Horch

NSU Motorenwerke AG (NSU) - bought in 1969 by Volkswagen AG, and merged into Audi AG; the NSU brand has not been used since 1977. However, the current Audi AG shares trade under the ticker symbol "NSU".

Wanderer

These heritage marques are retained and managed through the companies Auto Union GmbH and NSU GmbH, both of which are 100% owned by Audi AG.

[edit] Recent acquisitions

[edit] Wilhelm Karmann GmbH

Volkswagen Group revealed on 24 October 2009 that it had made an offer to acquire long-time partner and German niche automotive manufacturer Wilhelm Karmann GmbH out of bankruptcy protection.[43] In November 2009, the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG approved the acquisition of assets of Karmann, and plan to restart vehicle production at their Osnabrück plant in 2012.[44]

[edit] Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG

In December 2009, Volkswagen AG bought a 49.9% stake in Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG (more commonly known as Porsche AG) in a first step towards an 'integrated automotive group' with Porsche. This was agreed between Volkswagen AG and Porsche SE during negotiations on the contracts of implementation relating to the merger of the two

companies.[17][18] The merger of Volkswagen AG and Porsche SE is scheduled to take place during the course of 2011.[45]

[edit] Suzuki Motor Corporation

Volkswagen AG completed the purchase 19.9% of Suzuki Motor Corporation's issued shares on 15 January 2010.[46] Suzuki intends to invest up to one half of the amount received from Volkswagen into shares of Volkswagen.[47]

[edit] Italdesign Giugiaro S.p.A.

On 25 May 2010, it was announced that Volkswagen Group, through it subsidiary Lamborghini Holding S.p.A., had acquired a 90.1% stake in the Italian automotive design house Italdesign Giugiaro.[48] In only less than three months time, the transaction had been completed making the Italian firm a member of the Volkswagen Group.[49]

[edit] Commercial vehicle interests

This section requires expansion with:detail of the MAN Latin America outfit.

Volkswagen AG is the controlling shareholder in the Swedish commercial vehicle and diesel engine maker Scania AB,[3] with a capital stake of 37.73%, and 68.60% of the voting rights. Volkswagen AG originally acquired a stake in Scania after Volvo's aborted takeover attempt in 2000, and then increased that to a capital stake of 16.5% and a voting stake of 33.4% in 2007. On 3 March 2008, Volkswagen announced that it would acquire all the shares in Scania AB held by Investor AB and the Wallenberg Foundation. Once cleared by the relevant authorities, Scania became the ninth marque in the Volkswagen Group.

On 4 October 2006, Volkswagen acquired a 15.1% stake in German commercial vehicle maker MAN AG,[3] and later increased to 29.9%. In 2007, MAN AG launched a hostile offer to acquire Scania AB, but this was subsequently withdrawn.

Former Volkswagen Group CEO Bernd Pischetsrieder, and his successor Martin Winterkorn, have considered a three-way merger between MAN, Scania, Volkswagen AG's own Brazilian heavy truck division, and possibly their light truck and van division as well. Due to the size of Volkswagen AG's stakes in MAN and Scania, it is expected that Volkswagen AG would own a majority stake in such a merged entity.

[edit] Scania AB

The Wallenberg family began divesting its interests in various Swedish companies, but as a result of Volvo's aborted takeover of Scania AB (publ), it agreed to hold a "significant share holding" in only one of Sweden's heavy truck manufacturers. This resulted in Volkswagen AG securing an 18% capital stake and 34% voting stake in Scania AB. On

the 3 March 2008, it was announced that the Wallenberg's would sell their remaining stake in Scania AB to Volkswagen AG.[50] The purchase of the stake increased Volkswagen AG's total votes in Scania to 68.60% (previously 37.98%) which corresponds to 37.73% of the capital (previously 20.89%).[50] As of 30 November 2009, Volkswagen AG holds 70.94% voting rights and 45.66% overall capital of Scania AB.[42]

[edit] MAN SE

Volkswagen AG has a 29.9% stake in German truck manufacturer MAN SE (formerly MAN AG). In 2006, MAN AG launched a takeover bid for the Swedish truck maker Scania, in which Volkswagen AG held, at the time, 20.3% of company and 35.31% of the voting stock. Volkswagen AG had previously announced that it would like to see MAN and Scania merge, together along with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Truck and Bus operations, and form a new company in which Volkswagen AG has a blocking minority stake. However later press released stated that such a merger was not a priority, and Scania would continue to be run as a separate entity. A merged MAN-Scania would become the largest European truck maker, leapfrogging both Volvo AB and Daimler AG. However, Daimler will still be the largest worldwide truck maker, as it has operations in the U.S., where MAN and Scania currently do not.

[edit] See also

Companies portal

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Volkswagen Group Leading firms by activity List of automobile manufacturers List of German cars Volkswagen Group China Volkswagen of America Volkswagen do Brasil Ecomotive

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44. ̂ "Volkswagen Supervisory Board lays foundation for car manufacture at Karmann site in Osnabrück". VolkswagenAG.com. Volkswagen AG. 2009-11-20. http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/news/2009/11/Karmann.html. Retrieved 21 December 2009.

45. ̂ "Volkswagen takes 49.9 percent stake in Porsche AG". VolkswagenAG.com. Volkswagen AG. 7 December 2009. http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/news/2009/12/Porsche_Beteiligung.html. Retrieved 15 December 2009.

46. ̂ "Volkswagen completes Suzuki tieup". Japan Times. 2010-01-15. http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nb20100116a4.html. Retrieved 2010-01-16.

47. ̂ "Volkswagen and Suzuki agreed to establish a comprehensive partnership". VolkswagenAG.com. Volkswagen AG. 9 December 2009. http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/news/2009/12/Suzuki.html. Retrieved 15 December 2009.

48. ̂ "Volkswagen Group takes majority shareholding in Italdesign Giugiaro". www.volkswagenag.com. Volkswagen AG. 2010-05-25. http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/themes/2010/05/Volkswagen_Group_takes_majority_shareholding_in_Italdesign_Giugiaro.html.

49. ̂ Volkswagen Group completes acquisition of majority shareholding in Italdesign Giugiaro http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/news/2010/08/Volkswagen_Group_completes_acquisition_of_majority_shareholding_in_Italdesign_Giugiaro.html

50. ^ a b "Volkswagen acquires entire Investor and Wallenberg Foundations stake in Scania". Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft. VolkswagenAG.com. 3 March 2008. http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/news/2008/03/Scania_PM.html. Retrieved 27 December 2009.

[edit] External links Official website Volkswagen Financial Services official website

[show]

v • d • e

Volkswagen Group — companies, subsidiaries, people, technologies

main companies

passengercars

Volkswagen Passenger Cars • AUDI AG • (quattro GmbH) • SEAT, S.A. • Škoda Auto • Lamborghini S.p.A. • Bentley Motors Ltd • Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S.

large vehiclesVolkswagen Commercial Vehicles • Scania AB (publ)

internationalVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. • Electronics Research Laboratory • Volkswagen do Brasil • Volkswagen Group China • Volkswagen Group in India • Volkswagen Group Ireland

major interestsPorsche AG • MAN SE • IAV GmbH • Suzuki Motor Corporation • Italdesign Giugiaro S.p.A.

and subsidiaries

see also

list of Volkswagen Group factories • list of Volkswagen Group platforms

lists ofVW Group engines

North American Volkswagen enginespetrolcurrent petrol engines • discontinued petrol engines

dieselcurrent diesel engines • discontinued diesel engines

VW Group technologiesTDI • SDI • Pumpe Düse • Digifant • FSI • BlueMotion • DSG • ETKA • VAG-COM

[show] v • d • e

Porsche road car timeline, 1960–present

[show]

v • d • e

DAX companies of Germany

[show] v • d • e

British car industry – companies and marques

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Group"

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VolkswagenFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to: navigation, search "VW" redirects here. For the airline using IATA designator VW, see Aeromar.This article is about Volkswagen Passenger Cars. For the business group, see Volkswagen Group. For Volkswagen vans, trucks and buses, see Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

This article may be too long to read and navigate comfortably. Please consider splitting content into sub-articles and using this article for a summary of the key points of the subject. (September 2009)

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Volkswagen

Type

Public

FWB: VOW

OTCBB: VLKAY

Industry Automotive

Founded 28 May 1937

Headquarters Wolfsburg, Germany

Area served Worldwide

Key people

Martin Winterkorn:

Chairman of the Board of Management,

Ferdinand Piëch : Chairman of Volkswagen

Supervisory Board

Products Cars

Employees 368,500 (2009)

WebsiteVolkswagen.com (International)

VW.com (US)

Volkswagen (abbreviated VW) is one of the world's largest automobile manufacturers.[1] The company is headquartered in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. Volkswagen is the original marque within the Volkswagen Group, which includes the car marques Audi, Bentley Motors, Bugatti Automobiles, Automobili Lamborghini, SEAT, Škoda Auto and heavy goods vehicle manufacturer Scania.

Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, in which it is pronounced [ˈfɔlksˌvaːɡən]. Its current tagline or slogan is Das Auto (in English The Car). Among its largest owners are the Porsche family, the Emirate of Qatar and the state of Lower Saxony.

Contents[hide]

1 History o 1.1 1945: British Army, Major Ivan Hirst, unclear future o 1.2 1945 to 1948: survival in Allied-occupied Germany o 1.3 1948 onwards: icon for the West German regeneration o 1.4 1961 to 1973: product line expansion o 1.5 1974: from Beetle to Golf/Rabbit o 1.6 1974 to 1990: entering the mainstream o 1.7 1991 to 2000: moving upmarket o 1.8 2001 to date: model range expansion

2 Global ranking

3 Ownership 4 Relationship with Porsche, and the Volkswagen Law 5 Clean and advanced vehicles

o 5.1 Clean Diesel o 5.2 Neat ethanol vehicles o 5.3 Flexible-fuel vehicles o 5.4 Electric vehicles

5.4.1 All-electric vehicles 5.4.2 Hybrid electric vehicles

6 Current Volkswagen models o 6.1 Europe o 6.2 Americas

6.2.1 North America 6.2.2 Central America and Caribbean

o 6.3 Asia o 6.4 Africa

7 Motorsport o 7.1 The Dakar o 7.2 Volkswagen motorsport: around the world o 7.3 Motorsport gallery

8 See also 9 Notes & references 10 External links

o 10.1 Official site o 10.2 Official Motorsport links

o 10.3 Unaffiliated sites

[edit] HistoryFor vehicle time line tables, see: Volkswagen (timeline),

Model of Porsche Type 12 (Zündapp), Museum of Industrial Culture, Nuremberg

Volkswagen was originally founded in 1937 by the Nazi trade union, the German Labour Front (Deutsche Arbeitsfront).[2] In the early 1930s German auto industry was still largely composed of luxury models, and the average German rarely could afford anything more than a motorcycle. Seeking a potential new market, some car makers began independent

"peoples' car" projects - Mercedes' 170H, Adler's AutoBahn, Steyr 55, Hanomag 1,3L, among others. The trend was not new, as Béla Barényi is credited with having conceived the basic design in the middle 1920's. Josef Ganz developed the Standard Superior (going as far as advertising it as the "German Volkswagen").[3][broken citation]Also, in Czechoslovakia, the Hans Ledwinka's penned Tatra T77, a very popular car amongst the German elite, was becoming smaller and more affordable at each revision. In 1933, with many of the above projects still in development or early stages of production, Adolf Hitler declared his intentions for a state-sponsored "Volkswagen" program. Hitler required a basic vehicle capable of transporting two adults and three children at 100 km/h (62 mph). The "People's Car" would be available to citizens of the Third Reich through a savings scheme at 990 Reichsmark, about the price of a small motorcycle (an average income being around 32RM a week).[4]

Despite heavy lobbying in favour of one of the existing projects, Hitler chose to sponsor an all new, state owned factory. The engineer chosen for the task was Ferdinand Porsche. By then an already famed engineer, Porsche was the designer of the Mercedes 170H, and worked at Steyr for quite some time in the late 1920s. When he opened his own design studio he landed two separate "Auto für Jedermann" (car for everybody) projects with NSU and Zündapp, both motorcycle manufacturers. Neither project come to fruition, stalling at prototype phase, but the basic concept remained in Porsche's mind time enough, so on 22 June 1934, Dr. Ferdinand Porsche agreed to create the "People's Car" for Hitler.[citation needed]

Changes included better fuel efficiency, reliability, ease of use, and economically efficient repairs and parts. The intention was that ordinary Europeans would buy the car by means of a savings scheme ("Fünf Mark die Woche musst Du sparen, willst Du im eigenen Wagen fahren" — "Five Marks a week you must save, If to drive your own car you crave"), which around 336,000 people eventually paid into. Volkswagen honoured its savings agreements in West Germany (but not in East Germany) after World War II[citation

needed]. Prototypes of the car called the "KdF-Wagen" (German: Kraft durch Freude — "strength through joy"), appeared from 1936 onwards (the first cars had been produced in Stuttgart). The car already had its distinctive round shape and air-cooled, flat-four, rear-mounted engine. The VW car was just one of many KdF programs which included things such as tours and outings. The prefix Volks— ("People's") was not just applied to cars, but also to other products in Europe; the "Volksempfänger" radio receiver for instance. On 28 May 1937, the Gesellschaft zur Vorbereitung des Deutschen Volkswagens mbH (sometimes abbreviated to Gezuvor[5]) was established by the Deutsche Arbeitsfront. It was later renamed "Volkswagenwerk GmbH" on 16 September 1938.[6]

VW Type 82E

Erwin Komenda, the longstanding Auto Union chief designer, developed the car body of the prototype, which was recognizably the Beetle known today. It was one of the first to be evolved with the aid of a wind tunnel, in use in Germany since the early 1920s.

The building of the new factory started 26 May 1938 in the new town of KdF-Stadt, now called Wolfsburg, which had been purpose-built for the factory workers. This factory had only produced a handful of cars by the time war started in 1939. None was actually delivered to any holder of the completed saving stamp books, though one Type 1 Cabriolet was presented to Hitler on 20 April 1938 (his 49th birthday).

War meant production changed to military vehicles, the Type 82 Kübelwagen ("Bucket car") utility vehicle (VW's most common wartime model), and the amphibious Schwimmwagen which were used to equip the German forces..

Volkswagen factory with one of its own power plants

[edit] 1945: British Army, Major Ivan Hirst, unclear future

The company owes its post-war existence largely to one man, British Army officer Major Ivan Hirst, REME. In April 1945, KdF-Stadt, and its heavily bombed factory were captured by the Americans, and subsequently handed over to the British, within whose occupation zone the town and factory fell. The factories were placed under the control of Oldham-born Hirst. At first, the plan was to use it for military vehicle maintenance. Since

it had been used for military production, and had been in Hirst's words a "political animal" rather than a commercial enterprise, the equipment was in time intended to be salvaged as war reparations. Hirst painted one of the factory's cars green and demonstrated it to British Army headquarters. Short of light transport, in September 1945 the British Army was persuaded to place a vital order for 20,000. The first few hundred cars went to personnel from the occupying forces, and to the German Post Office.

Some British Service personnel were allowed to take their VW Beetles back to the United Kingdom when they were demobilised, and one of the very first Beetles brought back in that way (UK registration number JLT 420) is still owned by Peter Colborne-Baber, the son of the original proprietor of the UK's first official Volkswagen Importer, Colborne Garages of Ripley, Surrey.[7]

By 1946 the factory was producing 1,000 cars a month, a remarkable feat considering it was still in disrepair. Owing to roof and window damage, rain stopped production and new vehicles were bartered for steel required for more production.

The car, and its town changed their Second World War-era names to "Volkswagen", and "Wolfsburg" respectively, and production was increasing. It was still unclear what was to become of the factory. It was offered to representatives from the British, American and French motor industries. Famously, all rejected it. After an inspection of the plant, Sir William Rootes, head of the British Rootes Group, told Hirst the project would fail within two years, and that the car "is quite unattractive to the average motorcar buyer, is too ugly and too noisy … If you think you're going to build cars in this place, you're a bloody fool, young man".[citation needed] In an ironic twist of fate, Volkswagen would manufacture a locally built version of Rootes's Hillman Avenger in Argentina in the 1980s, long after Rootes had gone bankrupt at the hands of Chrysler in 1978—the Beetle outliving the Avenger by over 30 years.

Ford representatives were equally critical: the car was "not worth a damn," according to Henry Ford II, the son of Edsel Ford, although he did reportedly look at the possibility of taking over the VW factory, but dismissed the idea as soon as he looked up Wolfsburg on the map and found it to be too close for comfort to the East German border.[citation needed]

In France, Citroën started the 2CV on a similar marketing concept. Meanwhile, in Italy, the Fiat 500 "Topolino" was developed

[edit] 1945 to 1948: survival in Allied-occupied Germany

In Occupied Germany, the Allies followed the Morgenthau Plan, to remove all German war potential, by complete or partial pastoralisation. As part of this, in the Industrial plans for Germany, the rules for which industry Germany was to be allowed to retain were set out. German car production was set at a maximum of 10% of the 1936 car production numbers.[8]

As mentioned above, the Volkswagen factory at Wolfsburg came under British control in 1945; it was to be dismantled and shipped to Britain. Thankfully for Volkswagen, no British car manufacturer was interested in the factory; "the vehicle does not meet the fundamental technical requirement of a motor-car … it is quite unattractive to the average buyer … To build the car commercially would be a completely uneconomic enterprise".[9]

The factory survived by producing cars for the British Army instead. Allied dismantling policy changed in late 1946 to mid 1947, although heavy industry continued to be dismantled until 1951. In March 1947 Herbert Hoover helped change policy by stating: "There is the illusion that the New Germany left after the annexations can be reduced to a 'pastoral state'. It cannot be done unless we exterminate or move 25,000,000 people out of it".[10] Thanks to the protection of British Army Major Ivan Hirst, Volkswagen survived the perilous times, and became part of the German economic recovery.

[edit] 1948 onwards: icon for the West German regeneration

Volkswagen Type 4 assembly line in Wolfsburg as of 1973

1949 Volkswagen Sedan

1958 Volkswagen Pickup truck

An original 1300 Deluxe, circa 1966.

Rear, restored 1967 VW Beetle in Sri Lanka.

Volkswagen Beetle found in Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico

From 1948, Volkswagen became a very important element, symbolically and economically, of West German regeneration. Heinrich Nordhoff (1899–1968), a former senior manager at Opel who had overseen civilian and military vehicle production in the 1930s and 1940s, was recruited to run the factory in 1948. In 1949 Major Hirst left association with the company, as it had now been re-formed as a trust, controlled by the West German government, and the government of the State of Lower Saxony. Apart from the introduction of the Volkswagen Type 2 commercial vehicle (van, pick-up and camper), and the VW Karmann Ghia sports car, Nordhoff pursued the one-model policy until shortly before his death in 1968.

Volkswagens were first exhibited and sold in the United States in 1949, but only sold two units in America that first year. On its entry to the U.S. market, the VW was briefly sold as a "Victory Wagon". Volkswagen of America was formed in April 1955 to standardise sales and service in the United States. Production of the Type 1 Volkswagen Beetle increased dramatically over the years, the total reaching one million in 1955.

Volkswagens in Canada - VW Canada ordered their first cars on 10 July 1952. (shipping order 143075) The order consisted of 12 vehicles, (3) model 11C, a black, green, and sandcolor (3) 11GS, a chestnut brown and two azure blue, (2) 24A-M51 in red, (1)21A in blue, (1) 23A in blue, (1) 22A beige color, and one Ambulance. Volkswagen Products were seen in Canada for the first time at the Canadian National Exhibition in August 1952 and were accepted enthusiastically. The first shipment of cars reached Toronto in December 1952. By 1955 sales were on a basis that warranted the building of the fine Volkswagen plant on a 32-acre (130,000 m2) site on Scarboro's Golden Mile. To this, a 60,000-square-foot (5,600 m2) building with administration, showrooms, service, repairs and parts, an addition of 60,000 feet (18,000 m) was built in 1957, with storage for $4,000,000 of parts. (See 1959 Canadian Register of Commerce & Industry held in the Western Libraries at the University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario.)

Sales soared—thanks in part to the famous advertising campaigns by New York advertising agency Doyle, Dane Bernbach. Led by art director Helmut Krone, and copywriters Julian Koenig and Bob Levinson, Volkswagen advertisements became as popular as the car, using crisp layouts and witty copy to lure the younger, sophisticated consumers with whom the car became associated. Even though it was almost universally known as the Beetle (or the Bug), it was never officially labelled as such by the manufacturer, instead referred to as the Type 1. The first reference to the name Beetle occurred in U.S. advertising in 1968, but not until 1998 and the Golf-based New Beetle would the name be adopted by Volkswagen.[dubious – discuss]

Although the car was becoming outdated, during the 1960s and early 1970s, American exports, innovative advertising, and a growing reputation for reliability helped production figures surpass the levels of the previous record holder, the Ford Model T. On 17 February 1972 the 15,007,034th Beetle was sold. Volkswagen could now claim the world production record for the most-produced, single make of car in history. By 1973, total production was over 16 million.

To commemorate its passing the Ford Model T's record sales mark and its victories in the Baja 1000 Mexican races from 1967 to 1971, Volkswagen produced its first limited-edition Beetle. It was marketed as the "Baja Champion SE"[11] in the United States and the "Marathon" Superbeetle in the rest of the world. It featured unique "Marathon Blau" metallic blue paint, steel-pressed 10-spoke 15-inch (38 cm) magnesium-alloy wheels, a commemorative metal plate mounted on the glovebox and a certificate of authenticity presented to the original purchaser. Dealer-installed options for this limited-edition Superbeetle included the following: white stripes running the length of the rocker-panel, a special shifter knob, bumper overriders, tapered exhaust tips, fake walnut inserts in the dashboard (behind the steering wheel and the glovebox cover) as well as Bosch fog lights mounted on the front bumper.

[edit] 1961 to 1973: product line expansion

An original and unmodified 1963 VW Type 3 Notchback.

VW expanded its product line in 1961 with the introduction of four Type 3 models (Karmann Ghia, Notchback, Squareback) based on the new Type 3 mechanical underpinnings, and again in 1969 with the larger Type 4 (411 and 412) models. These differed substantially from previous vehicles, with the notable introduction of monocoque/unibody construction, the option of a fully automatic transmission, electronic fuel injection, and a sturdier powerplant. Volkswagen added a "Super Beetle"[12] (the Type 113) to its lineup in 1971. The Type 113 differed from the standard Beetle in its use of a MacPherson strut front suspension instead of the usual torsion bars. Also the nose of the car was stretched 2 inches (51 mm) to allow the spare tire to lie flat, and the combination of these two features significantly increased the usable front luggage space. Despite the Super Beetle's (marketed outside North America as the VW 1302, later 1303) popularity with Volkswagen customers, purists preferred the standard Beetle with its less pronounced nose and its original torsion bar suspension. In 1973, Volkswagen introduced the military-themed Type 181, or "Trekker" in Europe and the UK, "Thing" in America, recalling the wartime Type 81. The military version was produced for the NATO-era German Army during the Cold War years of 1970 to 1979. The US Thing version only sold for two years, 1973 and 1974, thanks at least in part to Ralph Nader's automobile safety campaigns.

In 1964, Volkswagen succeeded in purchasing Auto Union, and in 1969, NSU Motorenwerke AG (NSU). The former company owned the historic Audi brand, which had disappeared after the Second World War. VW ultimately merged Auto Union and NSU to create the modern day Audi company, and would go on to develop it as its luxury vehicle marque. However, the purchase of Auto Union and NSU proved to be a pivotal point in Volkswagen's history, as both companies yielded the technological expertise that proved necessary for VW to survive when demand for its air-cooled models went into terminal decline as the 1970s dawned.

[edit] 1974: from Beetle to Golf/Rabbit

Volkswagen was in serious trouble by 1973.[13] The Type 3 and Type 4 models had sold in much smaller numbers than the Beetle and the NSU-based K70 also failed to woo buyers. Beetle sales had started to decline rapidly in European and North American markets. The company knew that Beetle production had to end one day, but the

conundrum of replacing it had been a never-ending nightmare. VW's ownership of Audi / Auto Union proved to be the key to the solution - with its expertise in front-wheel drive, and water-cooled engines which Volkswagen so desperately needed to produce a credible Beetle successor. Audi influences paved the way for this new generation of Volkswagens, known as the Passat, Scirocco, Golf and Polo.

First in the series was the Volkswagen Passat (Dasher in the U.S.), introduced in 1973, a fastback version of the Audi 80, using many identical body and mechanical parts. Estate/wagon versions were available in many markets. In Europe, the estate/wagon version dominated in market share for many years.

In spring 1974, the Scirocco followed. The coupe was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro. Based on the platform of the not yet released Golf, it was built at Karmann due to capacity constraints at Volkswagen.

The pivotal model emerged as the Volkswagen Golf in 1974, marketed in the United States and Canada as the Rabbit for the 1st generation (1975–1985) and 5th generation (2006–2009). Its angular styling was designed by the Italian Giorgetto Giugiaro). Its design followed trends for small family cars set by the 1959 Mini — the Golf had a transversely mounted, water-cooled engine in the front, driving the front wheels, and had a hatchback, a format that has dominated the market segment ever since. Beetle production at Wolfsburg ended upon the Golf's introduction. It continued in smaller numbers at other German factories (Hanover and Emden) until 1978, but mainstream production shifted to Brazil and Mexico.

In 1975, the Volkswagen Polo followed. It was a re-badged Audi 50, which was soon discontinued in 1978. The Polo became the base of the Volkswagen Derby, which was introduced 1977. The Derby was for all intents and purposes a three-box design of the Polo. After a second model generation, the Derby was discontinued in 1985.

Passat, Scirocco, Golf and Polo shared many character defining features, as well as parts and engines. They built the basis for Volkswagen's turn-around.

[edit] 1974 to 1990: entering the mainstream

Volkswagen Polo, 1990

While Volkswagen's range of cars soon became similar to that of other large European automakers, the Golf has been the mainstay of the Volkswagen lineup since its introduction, and the mechanical basis for several other cars of the company. There have been six generations of the Volkswagen Golf, the first of which was produced from the summer of 1974 until the end of 1983 (sold as the Rabbit in the United States and Canada and as the Caribe in Latin America). Its chassis also spawned the Volkswagen Scirocco sport coupe, Volkswagen Jetta saloon/sedan, Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet convertible, and Volkswagen Caddy pick-up. North American production of the Rabbit commenced at a factory in New Stanton, Pennsylvania in 1978. It would be produced in the United States as the Rabbit until the spring of 1984. The second-generation Golf hatchback/Jetta sedan ran from late 1983 to late 1991, and a North American version produced in Pennsylvania went on sale at the start of the 1985 model year. The production numbers of the first-generation Golf has continued to grow annually in South Africa as the Citi Golf, with only minor modifications to the interior, engine and chassis, using tooling relocated from the New Stanton, Pennsylvania plant when that site began to build the Second Generation car.

In the 1980s, Volkswagen's sales in the United States and Canada fell dramatically, despite the success of models like the Golf elsewhere. The Japanese and the Americans were able to compete with similar products at lower prices. Sales in the United States were 293,595 in 1980, but by 1984 they were down to 177,709.[14] The introduction of the second-generation Golf, GTI and Jetta models helped Volkswagen briefly in North America. Motor Trend named the GTI its Car of the Year for 1985, and Volkswagen rose in the J.D. Power buyer satisfaction ratings to eighth place in 1985, up from 22nd a year earlier.[15] VW's American sales broke 200,000 in 1985 and 1986 before resuming the downward trend from earlier in the decade. Chairman Carl Hahn decided to expand the company elsewhere (mostly in developing countries), and the New Stanton, Pennsylvania factory closed on 14 July 1988.[16] Meanwhile, four years after signing a cooperation agreement with the Spanish car maker SEAT in 1982, Hahn expanded the company by purchasing a majority share of SEAT up to 75% by the end of 1986, which VW bought outright in 1990.[17]

Volkswagen had entered the supermini market in 1975 with the Volkswagen Polo, a stylish and spacious three-door hatchback designed by Bertone. It was a strong seller in West Germany and most of the rest of Western Europe, being one of the first foreign small cars to prove popular in Britain. The second-generation model, launched in 1981 and sold as a hatchback and "coupe" (with the hatchback resembling a small estate car and the coupe being similar to a conventional hatchback), was an even greater success for Volkswagen. It was face-lifted in 1990 and was still selling well after 13 years, when it was replaced by the third-generation Polo in 1994.

[edit] 1991 to 2000: moving upmarket

The 2000 Volkswagen Golf GL, in North American form

In 1991, Volkswagen launched the third-generation Golf, which was European Car of the Year for 1992. The Golf Mk3 and Jetta arrived in North America just before the start of 1994 model year, first appearing in southern California in the late spring of 1993. The sedan version of the Golf was badged Vento in Europe, but remained Jetta in the U.S.

The late 1990s saw a gradual change in perception of the company's products - with Audi having elevated itself into same league[clarification needed] as BMW and Mercedes-Benz,[citation

needed] Volkswagen moved upmarket to fill the void left by Audi; with SEAT and the further addition of the Czech car maker Škoda being acquired in the late 1990s, now occupying what was once VW's core market.

This move upmarket was continued with the Golf Mk4, introduced at the end of 1997 (and in North America in 1999), its chassis spawned a host of other cars within the Volkswagen Group—the Volkswagen Bora (the sedan called Jetta in the U.S.), New Beetle, SEAT Toledo, SEAT León, Audi A3, Audi TT, and Škoda Octavia.

The other main models have been the Polo, a smaller car than the Golf, and the larger Passat for the segment above the Golf. The Scirocco and the later Corrado were both Golf-based coupés.

This section does not cite any references or sources.Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2010)

The Volkswagen New Beetle

In 1994, Volkswagen unveiled the J Mays-designed Concept One, a "retro"-themed concept car with a resemblance to the original Beetle, based on the platform of the Polo. Due to a positive response to the concept, a production version was developed as the New Beetle, based on the Golf's larger platform.[18]

Volkswagen's fortunes in North America improved once the third-generation Golf and Jetta models became available there. Marketing efforts included Trek bicycles with accompanying bicycle racks on the 1996 Jetta sedan. The introductions of the New Beetle and the fifth-generation Passat were a major boost to the brand.[citation needed]

In the UK, Volkswagen's market share grew throughout the 1990s. In 1990, the Golf was Britain's 12th most popular car with nearly 50,000 units sold.[citation needed] The Mk3 Polo achieved similar success in the mid 1990s, but in 1999 the Mk4 Golf was Volkswagen's first ever entrant in Britain's top 10 list of most popular new cars.[citation needed]

In the late 1990s Volkswagen acquired the three luxury brands Lamborghini (through Audi), Bentley, and Bugatti due to Ferdinand Piëch" strategy. Audi's plans for Lamborghini included a small supercar later to be named the Gallardo, and a new halo vehicle, the Murciélago, and later the Reventon limited edition halo car. In late 2008, a 4-door saloon for the Lamborghini brand was shown in the form of the Lamborghini Estoque concept.

For Bentley, its future within the Volkswagen Group seemed bright as the launch of the Bentley Continental range helped Bentley post record-breaking sales of 10,000.

Bugatti, after Volkswagen purchased the rights to use the name, showed three concept cars, the Bugatti EB110 (coupe and saloon) and the Bugatti Chiron. Bugatti then launched the Veyron hypercar, with a top speed of 252 mph (406 km/h). Although Bugatti makes a huge loss on every Veyron,[citation needed] Volkswagen is still going to keep the brand and maybe will launch a new Rolls Royce Phantom-rivaling saloon rumoured to be called Royale.[citation needed]

[edit] 2001 to date: model range expansion

2006 Volkswagen Phaeton

Volkswagen began introducing an array of new models after Bernd Pischetsrieder became Volkswagen Group CEO (responsible for all Group brands) in 2002. The sixth-generation VW Golf was launched in 2008, came runner-up to the Opel/Vauxhall

Insignia in the 2009 European Car of the Year, and has spawned several cousins: VW Jetta, VW Scirocco, SEAT León, SEAT Toledo, Škoda Octavia and Audi A3 hatchback ranges, as well as a new mini-MPV, the SEAT Altea. The GTI, a "hot hatchback" performance version of the Golf, boasts a 2.0 L Turbocharged Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) direct injection engine. VW began marketing the Golf under the Rabbit name once again in the U.S. and Canada in June 2006. (The GTI had arrived to North America four months earlier). The fifth-generation Jetta, and the performance version, the GLI, are also available in the United States and Canada. The sixth-generation Passat and the fifth-generation Jetta both debuted in 2005, and VW has announced plans to expand its lineup further by bringing back the Scirocco by 2008. Other models in Wolfgang Bernhard's (Volkswagen brand CEO) "product offensive" include the Tiguan mid-sized SUV in 2008 and a Passat Coupé. In November 2006 Bernd Pischetsrieder announced his resignation as Volkswagen Group CEO, and was replaced by Audi worldwide CEO Martin Winterkorn at the beginning of 2007. Winterkorn is credited with making Audi a challenger to the dominance of BMW and Mercedes, and his design-led strategy has led to Audi being considered one of the most important brands in the world.[citation needed] Nevertheless, Volkswagen continues to have complicated relations with both unions and shareholders. The German state of Lower Saxony owns 20% of the stock.[19]

The B5.5 fifth-generation Passat facelift

In North America, VW faced many challenges. After rising significantly between 1998 and 2001, VW's North American sales began to fall sharply leading to a 2005 loss of roughly US$1 billion for its operations in the U.S. and Canada. Profitability has not been strong, and the lack of reliability of the company's cars appears to bear some of the responsibility for this situation. By 2005, its models sat near the bottom of Consumer Reports reliability ratings, and J.D. Power and Associates ranked VW 35th out of 37 bands in its initial quality survey. Attempts to enter a new market segment also compromised Volkswagen's standing in North America. In 2002, Volkswagen announced the debut of its Phaeton luxury car, which was critically acclaimed but not well received in the marketplace. VW announced its discontinuance in the U.S. market for the 2007 model year due to the disappointing sales.

The 2006 Jetta

Volkswagen in 2005, despite challenges, still maintained North American sales of 224,195—a dramatic increase from the low in 1993 when US sales totalled only 49,533 vehicles. Momentum continued for fiscal 2006, as VW's North American sales for the year were 235,140 vehicles, a 4.9 percent increase over 2005, despite a slump in domestic North American manufacturer's sales. VW plans to close out the decade[when?] with the release on several new vehicles worldwide and a barrage of advertising. In conjunction with the introduction of new models, production location of Volkswagen vehicles also underwent great change. The 2007 Eos, a hardtop convertible, is produced in a new facility in Portugal. All Golfs/Rabbits and GTIs as of 2006 are manufactured in Wolfsburg, Germany, rather than VW's Mexican factory in Puebla, where Golfs and GTIs for the North American market were produced from 1989 to 1998, and the Brazilian factory in Curitiba, where Golfs and GTIs were produced from 1999 to 2006. (The Jetta has primarily been made in Mexico since 1989). VW is also in the process of reconfiguring an automotive assembly plant in Belgium. The new models and investments in manufacturing improvements were noticed immediately by automotive critics. Favorable reviews for VW's newest cars include the GTI being named by Consumer Reports as the top sporty car under $25,000, one of Car and Driver magazine's "10 Best" for 2007, Automobile Magazine's 2007 Car of the Year, as well as a 2008 Motor Trend comparison ranking the mid-size Passat first in its class. The J. D. Power and Associates 2006 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study scored Volkswagen fourteenth overall with strong performances by its new Jetta and Passat models.

The fifth-generation Golf, sold in North America as the Rabbit.

Volkswagen is recognised[by whom?] as one of the leading small diesel engine manufacturers, and is partnering with Mercedes and other companies to market BlueTec clean diesel technology, calling it BlueMotion.[dubious – discuss] Volkswagen has offered a number of its vehicles with a TDI (Turbocharged Direct Injection) engine, which lends class-leading fuel economy to several models. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, four of the ten most fuel-efficient vehicles available for sale in the U.S. in 2004 were powered by Volkswagen diesel engines. They were a three-way tie for 8th (TDI Beetle, TDI Golf, TDI Jetta) and ninth, the TDI Jetta Wagon. As of 2007, VW has not yet offered a gasoline/electric hybrid powertrain such as that in the Toyota Prius (though a diesel-electric hybrid 5th generation Jetta was produced as a test vehicle). In addition, all Volkswagen TDI diesel engines produced from 1996 to 2006 can be driven on 100% biodiesel fuel. For the 2007 model year, however, strict U.S. government emissions regulations have forced VW to drop most diesels from their U.S. engine lineup, but a new lineup of diesel engines compatible to U.S. standards are due for 2008.

The 2006 Eos hardtop convertible

Volkswagen long resisted adding a utility vehicle to its lineup, but it finally relented with the introduction of the Touareg in the early 2000s, sharing major components with the Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7 sport utility vehicles. Though acclaimed as a fine handling vehicle, the Touareg has been a modest seller at best. Some automotive analysts blame the Touareg's absence of a third-row seat, the relatively poor fuel economy, and the high vehicle mass. VW plans to add a compact SUV with styling influences from its "Concept A" concept vehicle. On 20 July 2006, VW announced that the new vehicle would be called the Tiguan. Since the discontinuance of the T4 in 2003 and decision not to bring the T5 to the US market, it was ironic that Volkswagen lacked a van in its North American lineup considering that VW was a major player in the development of the class with its original Transporter. The firm did however launch a rebadged DaimlerChrysler named the Volkswagen Routan for the U.S. and Canadian markets in 2008. Owing to technical difficulty adapting the Polo to meet North American vehicle regulations, VW presented in 2006 the "Iroc" as a concept of the proposed 2009 Scirocco as a potential new small model.

In September 2006, Volkswagen began offering the City Golf and City Jetta only for the Canadian market. Both models were originally the Mk4 Golf and Jetta but were later replaced with the Brazilian versions of the Golf Mk4 and Bora. The City Golf and City Jetta were introduced to compete with the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit. Volkswagen's introduction of such models is seen as a test of the market for a subcompact and, if successful, may be the beginnings of a thriving subcompact market for Volkswagen.

When Martin Winterkorn became the eighth postwar CEO of Volkswagen, the company made several personnel changes in Wolfsburg.[which?] Though the VW Group already had their presence in India with Škoda Auto, Volkswagen introduced the Passat and Touareg with TDI engine to India's automobile market in September 2007.

The VW 1L will be available in 2010, in limited numbers.[citation needed] The 1L is a lightweight two-person vehicle made out of a magnesium frame covered by an unpainted carbon-fiber skin. Every component of the vehicle is intended to reduce the vehicle's weight. Aluminum brakes, carbon-fiber wheels, titanium hubs, and ceramic bearings all contribute to the vehicle's light weight of a mere 290 kg.[citation needed] To reduce the weight even further, and to increase the aerodynamics of the vehicle, there are no rearview mirrors. Instead, the car is equipped with cameras that display visual information to the driver through the internal LCD screen. The car is extremely fuel-efficient, each gallon of fuel will take you over 235 miles (378 km). The fuel tank holds just 1.7 gallons[clarification

needed], making the entire travel distance capability about 400 miles (640 km) per tank. Its top speed is 120 km/h (75 mph), which although not very fast is a welcome tradeoff for the huge savings in fuel consumption.[citation needed]

On 15 July 2008 Volkswagen announced that they will construct an automobile assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee.[20] This plant will produce cars specifically designed for North America beginning with the New Midsize Sedan, which will be more competitive with North American market leaders Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. Production is scheduled to begin in early 2011 and is expected to end more than five years of losses in the world's largest auto market.[20]

In 9 December 2009, Volkswagen AG and Suzuki reached a common understanding to establish a close long-term strategic partnership. Volkswagen will purchase 19.9% of Suzuki’s issued shares.[21]

In February 2010, Volkswagen announced the latest Polo BlueMotion model with a 1.2 litre TDI three-cylinder common rail diesel engine rated at 75 PS and 133 ft·lbf (180 N·m) of torque from 2000 rpm. This model emits 91g/km of CO2 and has a combined cycle fuel consumption of 80.7 mpg.[22]

[edit] Global rankingFor a long time, Volkswagen has been Europe's largest automobile manufacturer with a market share over 20 percent.[23] Worldwide, Volkswagen officially ranks as the 3rd

largest manufacturer as measured by OICA in 2009.[24] Volkswagen is aiming to become, sustainably, the world's largest car maker by 2018.[25]

[edit] OwnershipVolkswagen is a publicly traded company, which issued ordinary shares and preferred shares. The ownership structure is complex. The following table shows the current shareholder structure. Note that neither the Porsche Automobil Holding nor the Porsche GmbH are identical with the Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, which is responsible for the production of Porsche sports cars. The Porsche Automobil Holding is owned by the Porsche family, the Emirate of Qatar, 49.9% are owned by the Volkswagen AG. The Porsche GmbH was sold to the Volkswagen AG.[26]

Shares Held by50.76% as of 30 Jan 2009 Porsche Automobil Holding2.37% as of 30 Jan 2009 Porsche Holding GmbH20.26% as of 16 Feb 2008 State of Lower Saxony17% as of 18. Dec 2009 Emirate of Qatar9.61% widely held

[edit] Relationship with Porsche, and the Volkswagen Law

Volkswagen has always had a close relationship with Porsche, the Zuffenhausen-based sports car manufacturer founded in 1931 by Ferdinand Porsche, the original Volkswagen designer and Volkswagen company founder. The first Porsche car, the Porsche 64 of 1938, used many components from the Volkswagen Beetle. The 1948 Porsche 356 continued using many Volkswagen components, including a tuned engine, gearbox and suspension.

The two companies continued their collaboration in 1969 to make the VW-Porsche 914 and 914-6, whereby the 914-6 had a 6-cylinder Porsche engine, and the standard 914 had a 4-cylinder Volkswagen engine, and in 1976 with the Porsche 912E (USA only), and the Porsche 924, which used many Audi components and was built at an Audi Neckarsulm factory. Most 944s also were built there, although they used far fewer VW components.

The Porsche Cayenne, introduced in 2002, shares its entire chassis with VW Touareg and Audi Q7, which are built at the Volkswagen factory in Bratislava.

In September 2005, Porsche announced it would increase its 5% stake in Volkswagen to 20% at a cost of €3 billion, with the intention that the combined stakes of Porsche and the government of Lower Saxony would ensure that any hostile takeover by foreign investors would be impossible.[27] Speculated suitors included DaimlerChrysler, BMW, and Renault. In July 2006, Porsche increased their ownership again to 25.1%.

On 13 February 2007 Advocate General Dámaso Ruiz-Jarabo Colomer ruled that a German law preventing any shareholder in Volkswagen from executing more than 20% of the total voting rights in the firm was illegally restricting the flow of capital in Europe.[28] This again opened the possibility of a hostile takeover of VW and so on 26 March of the same year Porsche took its holding of Volkswagen shares to 30.9%. Porsche formally announced in a press statement that it did not intend to take over Volkswagen, but intended the move to avoid a competitor taking a large stake and to stop hedge funds from dismantling VW.[29] As expected, on 22 October 2007 the European Court of Justice ruled in agreement with Ruiz-Jarabo and the law was struck down.[30]

Wikinews has related news: Porsche and Volkswagen automakers agree to merger

On 26 October 2008, Porsche finally revealed its plan to assume control of VW. As of that day, it held 42.6 percent of Volkswagen's ordinary shares and stock options on another 31.5 percent. Combined with the state of Lower Saxony's 20.1% stake, this left only 5.8% of shares on the market most of which were held by index funds who could not legally sell.[31] Hedge funds desperate to cover their short positions forced Volkswagen stock above one thousand euros per share, briefly making it the world's largest company by market capitalisation on 28 October 2008.[32] By January 2009, Porsche had a 50.76% holding in Volkswagen AG, although the "Volkswagen Law" prevented it from taking control of the company.[33]

On 6 May 2009 the two companies decided to join together, in a merger.

On 13 August, Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft's Supervisory Board signed the agreement to create an integrated automotive group with Porsche led by Volkswagen. The initial decision was for Volkswagen to take a 42.0 percent stake in Porsche AG by the end of 2009, and it would also see the family shareholders selling the automobile trading business of Porsche Holding Salzburg to Volkswagen.[34] In October 2009 however, Volkswagen announced that its percentage in Porsche would be 49.9% for a cost of 3.9 billion euros (the 42.0% deal would have cost 3.3 billion euros).[35]

[edit] Clean and advanced vehicles

[edit] Clean Diesel

A BlueMotion Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen has been selling low sulphur diesel-powered engines for the European market since 2003.[36] VW developed Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) technology for diesel engines, and it offers a wide array of TDI powertrains. As modern diesel fuel economy is 30 percent higher than gasoline engines, a proportional reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is achieved with clean diesel technology.[37] Volkswagen is also developing hybrid technology for diesel-electric.[37] A VW Golf turbo-diesel hybrid concept car was exhibited at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, which has a fuel economy of 70 mpg (3.3 litres per 100 km).[38]

Volkswagen of America Inc. promotes its work in developing "clean diesel", and other fuel-efficient technologies, to increase U.S. sales to environmentally conscious consumers. One of the vehicles being promoted is the 2009 clean-diesel Jetta TDI, which has a 16-valve, four-cylinder common rail direct injection engine which reduces emissions by 90 percent. Volkswagen also claims that this model has the advantage of fuel economy in the mid-50s and mid-40s in city conditions. Stefan Jacoby, CEO of America's Volkswagen, said that it will be released in a sedan and sport-wagon model in May 2008 in California, becoming the first 50-state clean diesel offering.[39]

[edit] Neat ethanol vehicles

VW neat ethanol prototype car developed by Volkswagen do Brasil in 1978.

Volkswagen do Brasil produced and sold neat ethanol vehicles (E100 only) in Brazil, and production was discontinued only after they were substituted by the more modern technology of flexible-fuel vehicles. As a response to the 1973 oil crisis, the Brazilian government began promoting bioethanol as a fuel, and the National Alcohol Program -Pró-Álcool- (Portuguese: Programa Nacional do Álcool) was launched in 1975.[40][41][42] Compelled by the second oil crisis, and after development and testing with government fleets by the Brazilian General Command for Aerospace Technology (CTA) (CTA) at São José dos Campos, and further testing of several prototypes developed by the four local carmakers, including Volkswagen do Brasil, neat ethanol vehicles were launched in the Brazilian market beginning in that year.[40][41] Gasoline engines were modified to support hydrous ethanol characteristics and changes included compression ratio, amount of fuel injected, replacement of materials that would get corroded by the contact with

ethanol, use of colder spark plugs suitable for dissipating heat due to higher flame temperatures, and an auxiliary cold-start system that injects gasoline from a small tank in the engine compartment to help starting when cold. Six years later around three quarters of Brazilian passenger cars were manufactured with ethanol engines.[40][43]

Production and sales of neat ethanol vehicles tumbled beginning in 1987 owing to several factors, including a sharp decline in gasoline prices as a result of the 1980s oil glut, and high sugar prices in the world market, shifting sugarcane ethanol production from fuel to sugar. By mid 1989 a shortage of ethanol fuel supply in the local market left thousands of vehicles in line at gas stations or out of fuel in their garages, forcing consumers to abandon ethanol vehicles.[42][44]

[edit] Flexible-fuel vehicles

The 2003 VW Gol 1.6 Total Flex was the first full flexible-fuel vehicle launched in Brazil, capable of running on any blend of gasoline and ethanol (E100).

In March 2003, on its fiftieth anniversary, Volkswagen do Brasil launched in the local market the Gol 1.6 Total Flex, the first Brazilian commercial flexible fuel vehicle capable of running on any mix of E20-E25 gasoline and up to 100% hydrous ethanol fuel (E100).[45][46][47][48] After the neat ethanol fiasco, consumer confidence on ethanol-powered vehicles was restored, allowing a rapid adoption of the flex technology, which was facilitated by the fuel distribution infrastructure already in place throughout Brazil, with more than 30 thousand fueling stations, a heritage of the Pró-Álcool program,[49][50]

Owing to the success and rapid consumer acceptance of the flex versions, by 2005 VW had sold 293,523 flex cars and light-duty trucks, and only 53,074 gasoline-powered automobiles,[51] jumping to 525,838 flex-fuel vehicles while selling only 13,572 cars and 248 light trucks powered by gasoline in 2007,[52] and reaching new car sales of 564,959 flex fuels in 2008, representing 96 percent of all cars and light-duty trucks sold in that year.[53] VW do Brasil stopped manufacturing gasoline-only vehicles models for the local market in 2006,[46] and remaining gasoline-engine sales comes from imports. The flex fuel models produced for the local market are Gol, Fox, CrossFox, Parati, Polo Hatch, Polo Sedan, Saveiro, Golf, and Kombi.[54] By March 2009 Volkswagen do Brasil had attained the milestone mark of two million flexible-fuel vehicles produced since 2003.[55]

[56]

[edit] Electric vehicles

Volkswagen announced it has hired Karl-Thomas Neumann as its group chief officer for electric traction.[57] VW's Chief of research, Dr. Jürgen Leohold, said the company has concluded hydrogen fuel-cell cars are not a viable option.[58][59]

[edit] All-electric vehicles

Main articles: Electric car and E-Up!

All-electric Volkswagen E-Up! Zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV).

The two-door E-Up! electric car concept was debuted at the 63rd Frankfurt Motor Show in 2009.[60] The 3.19 metres (10 ft 6 in) long all-electric E-Up! is anticipated for production start in 2013, and uses a 3+1 seating configuration.[60] It uses a 60 kilowatts (82 PS; 80 bhp) all-integrated drive electric motor, (continuously rated at 40 kilowatts (54 PS; 54 bhp)) mounted at the front and driving the front wheels.[60]

[edit] Hybrid electric vehicles

Volkswagen and Sanyo have teamed up to develop a battery system for hybrid electric vehicles.[61] Volkswagen head Martin Winterkorn has confirmed the company plans to build compact hybrid electric vehicles. He has stated "There will definitely be compact hybrid models, such as Polo and Golf, and without any great delay", with gasoline and diesel engines. For example, Golf is the ideal model to go hybrid as the Golf 1.4 TSI was recently awarded the “Auto Environment Certificate” by the Oko-Trend Institute for Environmental Research, and was considered as one of the most environmentally friendly vehicles of 2007.[62] Also underway at Volkswagen's Braunschweig R&D facilities in Northern Germany is a hybrid version of the next-generation Touareg.[63]

VW intends all future models to have the hybrid option. “Future VW models will fundamentally also be constructed with hybrid concepts,” VW head of development Ulrich Hackenberg told Automobilwoche in an interview. Hackenberg mentioned that the car based on the Up! concept seen at Frankfurt Motor Show,[64] as well as all future models, could be offered with either full or partial hybrid options. The rear-engine up! will go into production in 2011. Nothing has been said about plug-in hybrid options.[65]

Volkswagen announced at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show the launch of the 2012 Touareg Hybrid, scheduled for 2011.[66][67] VW also announced plans to introduce diesel-electric hybrid versions of its most popular models in 2012, beginning with the new Jetta, followed by the Golf Hybrid in 2013 together with hybrid versions of the Passat.[68][69]

[edit] Current Volkswagen models

[edit] Europe

Volkswagen models in Europe

Caddy Life  

Eos  

Fox  

Golf Mk6  

Golf Plus  

Golf Variant  

Jetta Mk5  

Multivan  

New Beetle  

New Beetle Convertible  

Passat Mk6  

Passat CC  

Phaeton  

Polo Mk5  

Scirocco  

Sharan  

Tiguan  

Touareg  

Touran  

[edit] Americas

[edit] North America

See also: Volkswagen Group of America

ModelUnited States Canada Mexico Notes

City Golf ♦ An updated version of the Mk.IV Golf, only available with base 2.0 I4 engine.

CrossFox ♦Eos ♦ ♦ ♦ Jetta-based 2 door hardtop convertible.GLI ♦ ♦ High-performance version of the Jetta.Gol ♦ [70]

Golf ♦ ♦GTI ♦ ♦ ♦ High-performance version of the Golf.Jetta MkIV ♦ ♦ ♦Jetta MkV ♦ ♦ ♦ Sold as the Bora in Mexico

Jetta Wagon ♦ ♦ ♦ Sold as the Jetta SportWagen in the US and the Golf SportWagen in Mexico

New Beetle ♦ ♦ ♦New Beetle Convertible ♦ ♦ ♦

Passat ♦ ♦ ♦ Mid-size SedanPassat Wagon ♦ ♦Passat CC ♦ ♦ ♦ Sold as the CC in the USRoutan ♦ ♦ ♦ Dodge Grand Caravan-based VW.SportVan ♦ The SportVan is a rebadged SpaceFoxTiguan ♦ ♦ ♦ Small SUV. "The GTI of SUVs"

Touareg ♦ ♦ ♦ Full Size SUV developed alongside Porsche Cayenne.

[edit] Central America and Caribbean

ModelCaddy ♦ ♦CrossFox ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦CrossPolo ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦Eos ♦ ♦Fox ♦ ♦Gol ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦Golf ♦ ♦GTI ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦Jetta/Bora MkIV ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦Jetta/Bora MkV ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Jetta/Bora GLI MkV ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦Jetta/Bora Variant MkV ♦ ♦ ♦New Beetle ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦New Beetle Cabrio ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦Parati ♦ ♦ ♦Passat ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦Passat Variant ♦Polo ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦Saveiro ♦ ♦ ♦SpaceFox ♦ ♦Tiguan ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦Touareg ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

[edit] Asia

See also: Volkswagen Group China and Volkswagen Group India Gol Polo Golf/Golf Plus/Golf Variant Jetta Bora Sagitar Lavida New Beetle/New Beetle Cabriolet        Passat Lingyu

Santana

Santana Vista Passat/Passat Variant Magotan Phaeton Sharan Tiguan Touareg Touran

Vento

[edit] Africa

ModelAlgeria Egypt Morocco Réunion South

Africa Notes

Citi Golf ♦CrossFox ♦CrossPolo ♦ ♦ ♦Eos ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

SpaceFox ♦ ♦ ♦ Sold as the Volkswagen Suran in Egypt

Gol ♦Golf ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦Golf GTI ♦ ♦Golf Plus ♦ ♦ ♦Golf R32 ♦ ♦

Golf Variant ♦Jetta ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦New Beetle ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦New Beetle Cabriolet ♦ ♦ ♦

Parati ♦Passat ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Passat CC ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Sold as the Volkswagen CC in South Africa

Polo ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦Polo GTI ♦ ♦Scirocco ♦ ♦ ♦Sharan ♦Tiguan ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦Touareg ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦Touran ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

[edit] Motorsport In 1963, Formula Vee circuit racing, with cars built from easily available Beetle

parts, started in the United States. It quickly spread to Europe and other parts of the world. It proved very popular as a low-cost route into formula racing.[71]

In 1971, Volkswagen of America started the more powerful Formula Super Vee, which became famous for hothousing new talent. In the 11 years it ran, until 1982, it produced a stable of world-famous Formula One drivers—names like Niki Lauda, Jochen Mass, Nelson Piquet, Jochen Rindt and Keke Rosberg. Volkswagen also notched up several victories, and the championship in Formula Three.

In 1976, Volkswagen entered the under-2000-cc Trans-Am Series, with the Scirocco, and they won their class outright.[72]

In 1981, now based in Hanover, and renamed Volkswagen Motorsport, VW took a new direction into rallying, with the launch of the first-generation Golf, and Sweden's Per Eklund, Frenchman Jean-Luc Thérier, and the Finn Pentti Airikkala. The final chapters in Volkswagen Racing UK's rallying story were the 'one-make' Castrol Polo Challenge, and the Polo GTI 'Super 1600' in 2001.

In 2000, Volkswagen started a one-make racing cup with the newly released to Europe New Beetle called the ADAC New Beetle Cup. Beside that, the ADAC Volkswagen Lupo Cup, founded in 1998, is continued to support young talents on the way to the top.

In 2001, the department was renamed Volkswagen Racing, and since then has concentrated all its efforts on developing its circuit racing championship, the Volkswagen Racing Cup.

In 2003, VW replaced the ADAC Volkswagen Lupo Cup with the newly released Polo, to become the ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup.

In 2004, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles entered the European Truck Racing series with the Volkswagen Titan series truck - it became back-to-back champions for the 2004 and 2005 series.

[edit] The Dakar

In 1980, Volkswagen competed in the Paris-Dakar Rally with the Audi developed Iltis, placing 1st, 2nd, 4th and 9th overall.

Volkswagen enlists Dakar Champion Jutta Kleinschmidt, the first woman to win the Dakar rally in 2001, to help design and compete a Dakar Racer.

In 2003, the Hanover based team starts with a 2WD buggy named Tarek. It placed 6th outright but took 1st in the 2WD and Diesel class.

In 2004, VW enters the newly developed Race-Touareg T2, finishing 6th overall and 2nd in the Diesel class.

In 2005, an updated Race-Touareg with slightly more power is entered, with driver Bruno Saby, finishing in 3rd overall and 1st in the Diesel class.

In 2006, Volkswagen released the most powerful Race-Touareg yet: the Race-Touareg 2. Five vehicles entered, with driver Giniel de Villiers finishing in 2nd place overall, and 1st in the Diesel class.

In 2009, Volkswagen won the 2009 Dakar Rally held in Argentina and Chile. Race Touareg 2 finished 1st and 2nd.

In 2010, Volkswagen won the 2010 Dakar Rally held in Argentina and Chile. Race Touareg 2 defends 2009 victory with first three places.

[edit] Volkswagen motorsport: around the world

Below are Official, or Dealership-sponsored Volkswagen Racing activities, outside Germany:

China rally participation: Shanghai-VW Santana, Shanghai-VW Polo, FAW-VW Jetta, and Shanghai-VW supported the 1st Shanghai F1 Grand Prix, with a Polo Cup support series.

South Africa rally participation: VW Polo, SEAT Ibiza based Polo Playa, VW Citi and VW Golf. Circuit participation: SEAT Ibiza based Polo Derby/Classic, A3 engined series which supports the A1 Racing series, and the GTI-engined F3 style racing series.

France: A French Volkswagen team entered the 2000 and 2001 Le Mans Series, with their 2.0 Turbo racer, which produced around 356 kW/485 hp.

Argentina: Many Volkswagen models have competed in TC 2000, including the 1980 to 1983 champion Volkswagen 1500 and the 1994 champion Volkswagen Gol.

Brazil rally participation: Gol and Voyage, and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles heavy trucks. Circuit participation: Brasilia, Karmann Ghia, and Gol, Voyage. The Bora used nowadays in Stock Car Brasil is actually a plastic body around a tubular chassis with Chevrolet V8 engine.

Peru : VW Peru Rally the Fox in the S1600 class.

Japan circuit participation: Golf, Lupo and Polo Cup's. Poland circuit participation: Golf with TDI Cup. United Kingdom circuit participation: Lupo, Polo, Golf, Jetta (Vento/Bora),

Scirocco, Corrado, Beetle, Type 3, and Caddy. Rally entries: Beetle, Type 3, Polo and Golf. VW Racing UK now have their own cup; they also have had Rallyed a Polo 1600 class and Golf TDI.

Australia: VW has a very close relationship with motorsport. It was the REDeX and Mobil Trials of the 1950s which propelled VW to be a sales success in Australia. In 1999 and 2000, VW won the F2 Australian Rally Championship with the Golf GTI. In 2001 and 2002, VW raced the New Beetle RSI in the GT Performance series, it was close to the top of the board both seasons. In 2003, VW Australia was the first to race and develop the R32 Golf in the 2004 GT Performance series, and came 2nd overall.

Finland: In 2002, VW won the Finnish Rally Championship in a7/(F2), with a Golf Mk4 KitCar, with Mikko Hirvonen. In 1999 and 2000, VW won the Finnish Rally Championship in a7/(F2) with a Golf Mk3 KitCar. In 2000, 2001 and 2002, VW won the Finnish Racing Championship in Sport 2000 with a Golf Mk4.[73]

Austria: From 1967 until 1974, the Austrian sole distributor "Porsche Salzburg (Austria)" successfully entered the VW Beetle (1500, 1302S and 1303S) in Europe-wide rallies. Victories were achieved in 1972 and 1973 in the overall Austrian championship, on Elba, in the Acropolis rally (first in class). The last versions used the 1600 cc engine with 125 hp (93 kW) and a 5-speed Porsche 914 transmission. Top drivers were Tony Fall (GB), Achim Warmbold (D), Günter Janger (A), Harry Källström(S).

United States: Beginning in 2008 Volkswagen introduced the Jetta TDI Cup. The Jetta TDI Cup is a SCCA sanctioned race series that features 25 drivers between the ages of 16 and 26 driving slightly modified 2009 Jetta TDIs. The series features 10 events at 8 different road courses across North America. There is $50,000 prize money at stake over the course of the series in addition to the $100,000 prize awarded to the champion of the series at the conclusion of the last race.[74]

[edit] Motorsport gallery

1939 Berlin to Rome. Porsche Type 64 racer based on Beetle platform

Twin-engine racing Beetle developed by Wilson and Emerson Fittipaldi brothers

Bora in TC 2000, a national championship of Argentine Bora in Stock Car Brasil

Edition 2007 Race Touareg 2 at Essen Motor Show 2006

Constellation in the 2006 Brazilian Fórmula Truck Championship

[edit] See also Baron Klaus von Oertzen - "father" of Volkswagen in South Africa Murat Günak Twike - hybrid vehicle developed by former VW employee Standard Superior - Volkswagen prototype by Josef Ganz Volkswagen advertising history VDub - tagline for the recent VWoA Golf GTI TV advertisement List of German cars Twin Drive Baja bug Cal Look Punch buggy Steyr 50 Volksrod VW 276 Schlepperfahrzeug , military use 1944

[edit] Notes & references1. ̂ "World Motor Vehicle Production - World Ranking of Manufacturers 2008

(PDF)". OICA. 14 June 2009. http://oica.net/wp-content/uploads/world-ranking-2008.pdf. Retrieved 23 May 2010.

2. ̂ Manfred Grieger, Ulrike Gutzmann, Dirk Schlinkert, ed (2008). Volkswagen Chronicle. Historical Notes. 7. Volkswagen AG. ISBN 978-3-935112-11-6. http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2008/05/chronicle.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/HN7e_www2.pdf. Retrieved 21 December 2009.

3. ̂ Miller, Elan (13 September 2009). "Was Hitler's Beetle designed by a Jew? | Jewish Features | Jerusalem Post". Jpost.com. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1251804553863&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull. Retrieved 7 October 2009.

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5. ̂ Jun. 2009 "Seventy-Five Years Ago: Porsche Receives the Order to Construct the Volkswagen". porsche.com. Porsche AG. 16 June 2009.

http://www.porsche.com/international/aboutporsche/pressreleases/archive2009/quarter2/?pool=international-de&id=16 Jun. 2009. Retrieved 22 January 2010.

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7. ̂ "Volkswagen Model 11 Beetle". rememuseum.org.uk. 15 Oct. 2006. http://www.rememuseum.org.uk/recent/vw.htm. Retrieved 20 October 2008.

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12. ̂ Dean, Wayne (28 October 2006). History of the Super Beetle superbeetles.com 13. ̂ William Beaver (Nov-Dec, 1992). Volkswagen's American assembly plant:

Fahrvergnugen was not enough - international marketing findarticles.com; Business Horizons.

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16. ̂ Holusha, John (21 November 1987). "Volkswagen to Shut U.S. Plant". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE7D6113DF932A15752C1A961948260. Retrieved 17 May 2008.

17. ̂ "A look at SEAT's time line 2008-1950". seat.com. SEAT S.A.. http://media.seat.com/en/company/368-seat-hoy.html.

18. ̂ "The VW Experimental Vehicles - the 1980s to present pt 2". Wheelspin. London & Thames Valley VW Club. February 2003. http://www.ltv-vwc.org.uk/wheelspin/WS_feb_2003/WnW-prototypes04.htm. Retrieved 12 July 2010.

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21. ̂ "Volkswagen and Suzuki agreed to establish a comprehensive partnership". taume.com (Taume News). 9 Dec. 2009. http://news.taume.com/World-

Business/Auto/volkswagen-and-suzuki-agreed-to-establish-a-comprehensive-partnership-14075. Retrieved 9 December 2009.

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24. ̂ "World Ranking of manufacturers year 2009". OICA. 2010-07-27. http://oica.net/wp-content/uploads/ranking-2009.pdf. Retrieved 2010-07-29.

25. ̂ Volkswagen will Autoimperium ausbauen. börsennews.de (in German). 15 September 2009. English translation. Retrieved 31 May 2010.

26. ̂ "Porsche-VW-Fusion: Porsche und Piech verlieren Mehrheit an neuem Konzern - Finanz-News - FOCUS Online". Focus.de. 2009-08-14. http://www.focus.de/finanzen/finanz-news/porsche-vw-fusion-porsche-und-piech-verlieren-mehrheit-an-neuem-konzern_aid_426157.html. Retrieved 2010-09-14.

27. ̂ "Porsche wants 20% Volkswagen deal | 26 September 2005". BBC News. 2005-09-26. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4281864.stm. Retrieved 2010-09-27.

28. ̂ "Top EU court finds against VW law". BBC News. 2007-02-13. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6356787.stm. Retrieved 2010-09-27.

29. ̂ "Porsche triggers VW takeover bid". BBC News. 2007-03-26. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6494593.stm. Retrieved 2010-09-27.

30. ̂ New York Times | Court Strikes Down "Volkswagen Law" 31. ̂ "Financial Times | Porsche plans to raise VW stake to 75%". Ft.com. 2008-10-

26. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/05a4df12-a396-11dd-942c-000077b07658.html. Retrieved 2010-09-27.

32. ̂ "VW vies for title of world's biggest company". Ft.com. 2008-10-28. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/05bbd234-a4d2-11dd-b4f5-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1. Retrieved 2010-09-27.

33. ̂ "Porsche takes majority VW stake". BBC News. 6 January 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7813073.stm. Retrieved 16 June 2010.

34. ̂ "Volkswagen to take a 42.0 percent stake in Porsche AG". Taume News. 14 August 2009. http://news.taume.com/World-Business/Business-Finance/Volkswagen-to-take-a-42-0-percent-stake-in-Porsche-AG-11861. Retrieved 22 January 2009.

35. ̂ "VW to buy half of Porsche by 2010". BBC News. 20 October 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8317010.stm. Retrieved 20 Oct. 2009.

36. ̂ Colin Hefferon (2004). "New Diesels Deliver More Power With Clean Air". About.com cars. http://cars.about.com/cs/cleangreencars/a/vw_diesel_colin.htm. Retrieved 19 April 2009.

37. ^ a b Todd Kaho (1 October 2007). "Volkswagen Pushes for Development of Clean Diesels". Green Car Journal. http://www.greencar.com/articles/volkswagen-pushes-development-clean-diesels.php. Retrieved 19 April 2009.

38. ̂ Michael Graham Richard (25 Apr. 2008). "Volkswagen Golf Turbo-Diesel Hybrid Too Expensive for Production". Treehuger.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/04/vw-golf-turbo-diesel-hybrid-dead-tsi.php. Retrieved 19 April 2009.

39. ̂ "VW revs up its clean-diesel technologies". 11 Oct., 2007, mlive.com 3 May 2008[dead link]

40. ^ a b c Milton Briquet Bastos (20 June 2007). "Brazil's Ethanol Program – An Insider's View". Energy Tribune. http://www.energytribune.com/articles.cfm?aid=534. Retrieved 14 August 2008.

41. ^ a b Revista Veja (13 June 1979). "O petróleo da cana" (in Portuguese). Editora Abril. http://veja.abril.com.br/idade/exclusivo/petroleo/130679.html. Retrieved 29 November 2008.

42. ^ a b Marla Dickerson (17 June 2005). "Brazil's ethanol effort helping lead to oil self-sufficiency". The Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002339093_brazilfuel17.html. Retrieved 29 November 2008.

43. ̂ William Lemos (5 February 2007). "The Brazilian ethanol model". ICIS news. http://www.icis.com/Articles/2007/02/12/4500680/the-brazilian-ethanol-model.html. Retrieved 14 August 2008.

44. ̂ Revista Veja (24 May 1989). "Um sonho corroído" (in Portuguese). Editora Abril. http://veja.abril.com.br/arquivo_veja/capa_24051989.shtml. Retrieved 29 November 2008.

45. ̂ Goettemoeller, Jeffrey; Adrian Goettemoeller (2007). Sustainable Ethanol: Biofuels, Biorefineries, Cellulosic Biomass, Flex-Fuel Vehicles, and Sustainable Farming for Energy Independence. Prairie Oak Publishing, Maryville, Missouri. pp. 56–61. ISBN 978-0-9786293-0-4

46. ^ a b "Volkswagen to stop making gas-only cars for Brazil". Automotive News. 23 March 2006. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060323/REUTERS/60323043/1111. Retrieved 18 October 2008.[dead link]

47. ̂ "A Nova Volkswagen" (in Portuguese). Wolkswagen Brazil. http://www.vwbr.com.br/VWBrasil/Historia/A-nova-Volkswagen.aspx. Retrieved 18 October 2008.[dead link]

48. ̂ "Volkswagen lança Golf Total Flex 1.6" (in Portuguese). ParanaOnline. 30 March 2006. http://www.parana-online.com.br/canal/automoveis/news/170341/. Retrieved 18 October 2008.

49. ̂ Henry Xavier Corseuil and Marcus Sal Molin Marins (1997). "Contaminação de Águas Subterrâneas por Derramamentos de Gasolina: O problema é grave?" (in Portuguese) (PDF). Amda.org. http://www.amda.org.br/assets/files/gASOLINA.pdf. Retrieved 13 September 2008.[dead link]

50. ̂ Roberta Scrivano (7 October 2008). "Margem estreita não intimida pequenas" (in Portuguese). Gazeta Mercantil. http://www.gazeta.com.br/GZM_News.aspx?Parms=2108086,604,1. Retrieved 26 November 2008.

51. ̂ "Tabela 08 - Vendas Atacado Mercado Interno por Tipo e Empresa - Combustível Flex Fuel - 2005" (in Portuguese) (PDF). ANFAVEA - Associação Nacional dos Fabricantes de Veículos Automotores (Brazil). http://www.anfavea.com.br/tabelas2005/autoveiculos/tabela08_vendas.pdf.

Retrieved 16 April 2009. See Table 08 for flex-fuel sales and Table 07 for gasoline sales.

52. ̂ "Tabela 08 - Vendas Atacado Mercado Interno por Tipo e Empresa - Combustível Flex Fuel - 2007" (in Portuguese) (PDF). ANFAVEA - Associação Nacional dos Fabricantes de Veículos Automotores (Brazil). http://www.anfavea.com.br/tabelas2007/autoveiculos/tabela08_vendas.pdf. Retrieved 16 April 2009. See Table 08 for flex-fuel sales and Table 07 for gasoline sales.

53. ̂ "Tabela 08 - Vendas Atacado Mercado Interno por Tipo e Empresa - Combustível Flex Fuel - 2008" (in Portuguese) (PDF). ANFAVEA - Associação Nacional dos Fabricantes de Veículos Automotores (Brazil). http://www.anfavea.com.br/tabelas2008/autoveiculos/tabela08_vendas.pdf. Retrieved 16 April 2009. See Table 08.

54. ̂ "VW completa 55 anos como maior montadora do País" (in Portuguese). Norpave VW. 25 March 2008. http://www.norpave.com.br/site/index.php?modulo=detalhe_noticia&id=24. Retrieved 18 April 2009.[dead link]

55. ̂ "VW: dois milhões de carros flex" (in Portuguese). Auto Brasil. 25 March 2009. http://autobrasil.wordpress.com/2009/03/25/vw-dois-milhoes-de-carros-flex/. Retrieved 19 April 2009.

56. ̂ "Volkswagen atinge 2 milhões de carros Flex produzidos no Brasil" (in Portuguese). Noticias Automotivas. 24 March 2009. http://www.noticiasautomotivas.com.br/volkswagen-atinge-2-milhoes-de-carros-flex-produzidos-no-brasil/. Retrieved 18 April 2009.

57. ̂ "Volkswagen Hires New Electric Vehicle Chief – Automotive News & Car Rumors at Automobile Magazine". Rumors.automobilemag.com. 12 November 2009. http://rumors.automobilemag.com/6605889/news/volkswagen-hires-new-electric-vehicle-chief/index.html. Retrieved 22 December 2009.

58. ̂ "Audi's PHEV Concept; Volkswagen Research Chief Criticizes Fuel Cells". Calcars.org. http://www.calcars.org/calcars-news/876.html. Retrieved 2010-09-27.

59. ̂ 06 November 2007 (2007-11-06). "Fuel cell cars won't save the world". Autocar.co.uk. http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/Volkswagen-Concepts/229005/. Retrieved 2010-09-27.

60. ^ a b c "Volkswagen E-Up! concept". VWvortex.com. Volkswagen AG. 14 September 2009. http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/publish/article_2661.shtml. Retrieved 21 December 2009.

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62. ̂ ""Volkswagen Hybrid: Runaway Winner". Eco-Friendly Hybrid Cars, 2 May 2008". Green-hybrid-cars.com. http://www.green-hybrid-cars.com/volkswagen-hybrid.html. Retrieved 2010-09-27.

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65. ̂ "Report: All Volkswagen models to have hybrid option". eGMCarTech. 2007-09-24. http://www.egmcartech.com/2007/09/24/report-all-volkswagen-models-to-have-hybrid-option/. Retrieved 2010-09-27.

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67. ̂ Scott Evans (March 2010). "First Drive: 2011 Volkswagen Touareg". Motor Trend. http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/suvs/1003_2011_volkswagen_touareg_hybrid_drive/index.html. Retrieved 26 March 2010.

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70. ̂ "Gol > Modelos > Volkswagen México". Mx.volkswagen.com. 9 Feb. 2010. http://mx.volkswagen.com/vwcms/master_public/virtualmaster/es_mx/models/Gol2.html. Retrieved 22 February 2010.

71. ̂ "South African Formula Vee History". Formulaveesa.org.za. 2009-05-17. http://www.formulaveesa.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=62. Retrieved 2010-09-27.

72. ̂ "Scirocco Trans Am Article/Advert". http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v243/europlus/77sciroccotransam.jpg. Retrieved 2010-09-27.

73. ̂ DTC (German) 74. ̂ "Twenty two drivers qualify for 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup final driver

selection event". Vw.com. http://www.vw.com/vwbuzz/browse/en/us/detail/Twenty_two_drivers_qualify_for_2010_Volkswagen_Jetta_TDI_Cup_final_driver_selection_event/339. Retrieved 22 December 2009.[dead link]

[edit] External links

This article's use of external links may not follow Wikipedia's policies or guidelines. Please improve this article by removing excessive and inappropriate external links. (September 2009)

[edit] Official site

Volkswagen.com Volkswagen Cars Worldwide portal [1] Official Website concerning Historic Volkswagen Products (German)

[edit] Official Motorsport links

Volkswagen-Motorsport.com Volkswagen Motorsport corporate site (English), (German), (French)

Volkswagen-Group-Motorsport.info Volkswagen Group Motorsport official Press Release website (English), (German)

Volkswagen Racing UK o VW-Cup.co.uk Hankook Volkswagen Racing Cup official site

Volkswagen South Africa Racing official website New Technology Volkswagen’s 115mpg Volkswagen Turtle Automobil Association(VKOD)-Turkey Volkswagen Endurance Cup Netherlands (Dutch)

[edit] Unaffiliated sites

1938 essay on the early VW eBahn.com official aftermarket technical information site for Volkswagen of

America and Audi of America Volkswagen Owners Club Forum Volkswagen Owners Discussion

Forum

The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with USA and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please improve this article and discuss the issue on the talk page. (August 2010)

[show]

v • d • e

Volkswagen Group — companies, subsidiaries, people, technologies

main compa

passengercars

Volkswagen Passenger Cars • AUDI AG • (quattro GmbH) • SEAT, S.A. • Škoda Auto • Lamborghini S.p.A. • Bentley Motors Ltd • Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S.

large vehiclesVolkswagen Commercial Vehicles • Scania AB (publ)

internationalVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. • Electronics Research Laboratory • Volkswagen do Brasil • Volkswagen Group China • Volkswagen Group in India • Volkswagen Group Ireland

major interestsPorsche AG • MAN SE • IAV GmbH • Suzuki Motor Corporation • Italdesign

nies

and subsidiaries

Giugiaro S.p.A.

see also

list of Volkswagen Group factories • list of Volkswagen Group platforms

lists ofVW Group engines

North American Volkswagen enginespetrolcurrent petrol engines • discontinued petrol engines

dieselcurrent diesel engines • discontinued diesel engines

VW Group technologiesTDI • SDI • Pumpe Düse • Digifant • FSI • BlueMotion • DSG • ETKA • VAG-COM

[show]

v • d • e

Volkswagen Passenger Cars — a marque of the Volkswagen Group

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Volkswagen Passenger Cars timeline, European market, 1950–1979 — a marque of the Volkswagen Group — next   »

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«   previous — Volkswagen Passenger Cars timeline, European market, 1980s–present — a marque of the Volkswagen Group

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Volkswagen Passenger Cars timeline, South American market, 1980–present — a marque of the Volkswagen Group

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen"Categories: Companies listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange | Companies listed on the OTC Bulletin Board | Car manufacturers | Volkswagen Group | Volkswagen vehicles | Companies established in 1937 | German brands | Companies of Germany | Cars of Germany | Motor vehicle manufacturers of Germany | Motor vehicle companiesHidden categories: All articles with dead external links | Articles with dead external links from September 2010 | Articles with dead external links from October 2010 | Articles that may be too long from September 2009 | Articles needing additional references from May 2010 | All articles needing additional references | All pages needing cleanup | Articles with unsourced statements from May 2010 | All articles with unsourced statements | Articles containing German language text | Articles with unsourced statements from April 2007 | Articles with unsourced statements from October 2009 | All accuracy disputes | Articles with disputed statements from May 2010 | Wikipedia articles needing clarification from April 2010 | Articles with unsourced statements from April 2010 | Articles with unsourced statements from June 2010 | Vague or ambiguous time | Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from May 2010 | All articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases | Articles with unsourced statements from July 2010 | Wikipedia articles needing clarification from September 2010 | Articles containing Portuguese language text | Wikipedia external links cleanup from September 2009 | Wikipedia spam cleanup from September 2009 | Articles with limited geographic scope | USA-centric | Use British English from August 2010 | Use dmy dates from August 2010

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