An automobile manufacturer and mobility organisation and is the pioneer brand within the Volkswagen Group, which contains the car brands Audi AG, Bentley Motors Limited, Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S., Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A, SEAT, Škoda Auto and heavy goods vehicle manufacturer Scania AB.
In the early 1930s German auto industry was still largely composed of luxury models, and the average German rarely could afford something more than a motorcycle. Seeking a potential new market, some auto industries begun independent projects of a "Volks Auto" (people's automobile)
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. Despite heavy lobbing in favor of one of the existing projects, Hitler choose to sponsor an all new, state owned factory. The engineer chosen for the task was Ferdinand Porsche.
On 28 May 1937, the Gesellschaft zur Vorbereitung des Deutschen Volkswagens mbH was established by the Deutsche Arbeitsfront. It was later renamed "Volkswagenwerk GmbH" on 16 September 1938.
Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, in which it is pronounced. Its current tagline or slogan is Das Auto (in English The Car).
Headquartered in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany.
