What does Volkswagen, the popular German car, mean in English?

Volkswagen, shortened to VW, is a German automaker founded on 28 May 1937 by the German Labour Front, a Nazi labour union, and headquartered in Wolfsburg. It is the flagship marque of the Volkswagen Group. "Volkswagen" translates to "people's car" in German.

In the early 1930s cars were a luxury: most Germans could afford nothing more elaborate than a motorcycle. Only one German out of 50 owned a car. Seeking a potential new market, some car makers began independent "people's car" projects – the Mercedes 170H, Adler AutoBahn, Steyr 55, and Hanomag 1.3L, among others.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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21 Comments

Lynne Cohen

Not sure it was a good thing for the people who were forced to work on the cars. The company operated four concentration camps and 8 forced labor camps. They used Jews and non Jews for their labor.

Irene Townsend

Lynne Cohen, Well at least while they were working it meant that they lived another day. So looking at it from that point of view the company helped keep them alive. Though in saying that war, forced labour, mass killing, I hope none of it ever happens again to that extent.

Andre White

I got a metalflake blue 74 beetle from my Dad as a graduation gift from high school back in 77! His name was Lincoln because he dreamed of being a Continental one day!

Suzanne Beer

Guessed right..

Humberto Carrasco

GOT IT RIGHT

Carroll Price

Lynne Cohen, Work never hurt anyone.

Mary Jo Ward

thevoyers, read upon it, you're in for a shock

thevoyers

Lynne Cohen, I would find it hard to believe any VW’s were ever built with slave labor! Did you not understand it was started by the German Nazi Labor Union!? That was devised not only to let the common person own an Automobile, but crest good paying JOBS for German Men an Women to build them!