Volkswagen is the original German “people’s car,” and it was first founded in Germany in 1937. This German automaker cemented its place in automotive history with the Beetle. First produced in 1938, the Beetle, or “Volkswagen Type 1,” became an iconic automobile worldwide. The Beetle was enormously successful in the 1960s, where it was sold by the millions in the US.

Volkswagen today is part of the Volkswagen Group, one of the world’s largest automakers by sales. There are numerous popular VW models, including the Golf, Jetta, Passat, and Tiguan SUV.