1930s

1931
Porsche develops their first prototype, the 'Type 12', otherwise known as teh Volksauto or peoples car.

1932
Ferdinand Porsche is offered the position of national State Designer of Russia by Joseph Stalin. He declines.

1935
Porsche deliver the first prototypes of the 'V' car which had been commisioned the year before by Adolf Hitler. THe V stood for Versuch or experimental

1939
30 VW 30 prototypes are constructed and rigorously tested. THe new model is named the KdF-Wagen although the name Volkswagen still persisted with civilians.

1940s

1940
30 VW 30 prototypes are constructed and rigorously tested. THe new model is named the KdF-Wagen although the name Volkswagen still persisted with civilians.

1945
Wolfsburg(then known as Kdf-Town)falls into Allied hands. Rebuilding commences, overseen by the British Army.

1948
Ties with Porsche are re-established. Production goes from 8987 in '47 to 19244 in '48

1949
First Beetle arrives in the U.S.A. Ownership of the company is transferred to the State of Lower Saxony. By May 1949, VW had built 50,000 postwar Beetles

1950s

1950
VW release their second model, the Type 2 otherwise known as the Transporter

1955
Volkswagen United States is established. The one millionth Beetle is produced. Production of the Karmann Ghia begins

1957
Headlines are made around the world when VW replaced the split oval rear window design in the Beetle with a more conventional rectangular design

1959
The Beetle becomes Europe's fasted selling car ever. In teh U.S. annual sales reached 100,000. Wolfsburg, (the town originally built for Volkswagen workers during the thirties) finally received a town hall.

1960s

1960
German Federal Republic privatises Volkswagen. The third millionth Beetle is produced.

1961
VW unveils their new model the Type 3. The design, a compromise between Porsche, Fiat and VW never really captured the market. The now famous "Think small" ad campaign begins.

1964
The Fastback is introduced to the T.S. market. VW and Daimler-Benz take over Auto-Union (later to become Audi)

1967
The second generation Transporters are released. Available in a variety of models, including the Kombi, Campmobile and Station Wagon, all models featured upgraded engines, single piece windscreen and an industry-first sliding side door.

1970s

1971
Audi released their first models onto the U.S. market. VW also released their first front wheel drive, water cooled model, the K70.

1972
The Audi 80 is released. It's inline, four cylinder engine was teh first VW designed without any outside help. A rebadged VW fastback model, the Passat is also released.

1975
The K70 is phased out of production. Only 211,00 were produced, barely enough to pay for the tooling costs. Production of the Karmann Ghia ends. The VW Golf is released, named the Rabbit in the U.S.

1979
Sales of Golf models approached 200,000 and a variety of models are released including a Cabriolet design created by karmann. VW opens an assembly plant in Pennsylvania, the first foreign car manufacturer to open a plant in North America.

1980s

1980
The first VW of the 80's is released in October. The model, a redesigned Passat is larger, faster and slightly more economical thatn predecessors.

1982
The second release of the 80's was the revamped Scirocco. Featuring redesigned styling from VW's own studios, the cabin offered more space but was less engaging to the eye.

1985
The second generation Golf is released in the U.S. VW release their sixteen valve four-cylinder engine in Europe. By now vehicles were offered in a wide array of market segments.

1988
With sales of U.S. manufactured vehicles slumping, and the Audi division suffering as well, VW management approached the Nineties tentatively.

1990s

1990
On March 8th the Volkswagen Transporter celebrated it's 40th anniversary. This vehicle had been resoundingly successful with 6.7 million being built in three generations.

1991
The presentation of the VR6 engine in March gave the VW model range it's first six-cylinder engine. The Passat was to be the first to have it installed.

1993
The Golf 3 arrived in Australia. The new design gave the car a more aerodynamic appeal and resounded in great sales

1998
Introduction of the new Golf 4. This car set a new standard in European style and affordability and with the new VR, performance was that of a racecar.

1999
Introduction of the new Beetle. This revolutionary new design from Volkswagen Engineers leads Volkswagen into the new millenium.