Volkswagen was established on 28 May 1937 by Germany’s National Socialist German Workers’ Party via the Deutsche Arbeitsfront to build a “people’s car,” designed by Ferdinand Porsche as the Type 1 Beetle. After World War II, British officer Major Ivan Hirst revitalized the Wolfsburg plant, launching the Beetle’s global success. Volkswagen expanded its portfolio with icons like the Golf, Passat and the modern ID. all-electric series. Today, as the flagship marque of the Volkswagen Group—the world’s top automaker by global sales—it sells over 8 million vehicles annually, with China accounting for roughly 40 percent of volume. The name means “people’s car,” reflecting its mass-market heritage and ongoing electrification drive.