Volkswagen Group

Volkswagen AG {{tyo|7659}} is a German corporation. It was founded in 1937 as a public concern by the then Nazi government to sell the now legendary Volkswagen Beetle automobile. After the Second World War in 1945, the British Army took control of the bomb-shattered factory and restarted Beetle production for the difficult post-war years which Germany had to face. In 1948, the British Government handed the company back over to the German state, where it was managed by ex-Opel chief Heinrich Nordhoff.

Related Topics:
German - 1937 - Nazi - Volkswagen Beetle - Automobile - Second World War - 1945 - Opel - Heinrich Nordhoff

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Volkswagen's second-largest market is China where its subsidiary, Volkswagen Group China is the largest foreign automaker.

Related Topics:
China - Volkswagen Group China

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In 1960, upon the floatation of part of the German federal government's stake in the company on the German stock market, its name became Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft (Aktiengesellschaft, abbreviated AG, being equivalent to the English Corp or American Inc). The name was changed to VOLKSWAGEN AG on 4th July 1985, to reflect the company's increasing global diversification from its headquarters and main plant, the Volkswagenwerk in Wolfsburg, Germany. The corporation now goes by that name or occasionally 'Volkswagen Group' in non-German speaking markets, and is currently the third largest car-manufacturer in the world.

Related Topics:
1960 - Aktiengesellschaft - 4th July - 1985 - Wolfsburg - Germany

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Leadership:

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• 1945-1948 - Ivan Hirst
• 1948-1967 - Heinrich Nordhoff
• 1968-1971 - Kurz Lotz
• 1971-1975 - Rudolf Leiding
• 1975-1982 - Toni Schmucker
• 1982-1993 - Dr. Carl Hahn
• 1993-2002 - Ferdinand Piëch
• April 16, 2002-present - Bernd Pischetsrieder

Automobile brands owned by the company:

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• Audi
• Bentley
• Bugatti
• Lamborghini
• SEAT
• ?koda
• Volkswagen

These brands are organised into two groups:

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Audi branch

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• Audi (D)
• Lamborghini (I)
• SEAT (E)

Volkswagen branch

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• Volkswagen (D)
• Bentley (GB)
• ?koda (CZ)
• Bugatti (F)
 
Volkswagen Group: See also ►