The iconic car produced by Volkswagen beginning in 1945 was the Volkswagen Beetle.
The car was officially known as the Volkswagen Type 1, while “Beetle” became the best-known name in English-speaking markets. In Germany it was called the Käfer, meaning “beetle,” and it was also widely nicknamed the “Bug.” Its rounded shape, rear-mounted air-cooled engine, and simple mechanical design made it one of the most recognizable cars ever built.
Although prototypes and limited vehicles existed before the end of World War II, regular postwar series production began in December 1945 at the Wolfsburg factory under British supervision. The factory assembled only 55 vehicles that month, but production soon expanded as demand grew across Europe and beyond.
The Beetle remained in production for decades and was eventually built in countries including Brazil and Mexico. Production of the original model ended in Mexico in 2003, after more than 21 million had been made. It is often confused with the modern New Beetle, which Volkswagen introduced in 1997 as a separate, front-engine design.