Made in Germany: History of the German Car Industry

1950 – The rise of the Beetle

In the early 20th century, Germany’s car industry was not as big as other countries’ industries, such as France, the USA, and the UK. They mostly sold cars in their own country. But in the 1940s, a car called the Volkswagen Beetle was made. Ferdinand Porsche designed it as a car for everyone.

This car became popular in the 1950s as a symbol of Germany’s revival after the war. When the car was first introduced to the United States in 1949, only two cars were sold in the first year.

But soon, a company called Volkswagen of America was started in 1955 to help sell the cars better. By 1955, one million VW Beetles had been made. The Beetle was made in Germany until 1978 and in Mexico and Brazil until 2003.