Now the largest automaker worldwide, Volkswagen was started in 1937 in Germany. Volkswagen, or VW, as it is often called, means “people’s car” in German and the Type 1, better known as the Beetle, was originally designed to be an affordable car that was accessible to all Germans. Produced from 1938 until 2003, the Beetle was one of the first rear-engined cars developed since the Brass Era. In 1950 the brand expanded to include the now iconic Volkswagen Bus, and in 1961 VW further expanded their product line with the Karmann Ghia, Notchback, Fastback, and Variant models.
