Volkswagen Type 1 "Käfer"

The Volkswagen Beetle (officially the Volkswagen Type 1) informally in German the Käfer (meaning “beetle”) is a two-door, rear-engine economy car intended for five occupants. It was manufactured and marketed by German automaker Volkswagen (VW) from 1938 until 2003.

On June 22, 1934, Ferdinand Porsche received a development contract from the Reich Association of the German Automobile Industry for the prototype of an economical and affordable car. The official name “Volkswagen” was replaced by KdF car (“power by joy”). At the end of 1938, a number of pre-production cars were produced, which were used as demonstration cars and displayed at exhibitions, but none were delivered to customers.

Although the Beetle was designed in the 1930s, civilian Beetles only began to be produced in significant numbers by the end of the 1940s due to World War II. The car was then internally designated the Volkswagen Type 1 and marketed simply as the Volkswagen. Over time, many different models were introduced. With 21,529,464 produced, the Beetle is the longest-running and most-manufactured car of a single platform ever made.