What was the Beetle's official model designation?

The Beetle’s official model designation was Volkswagen Type 1.

The car was originally developed under internal names including Porsche Type 60 and was publicly associated with the KdF-Wagen before and during the early production period. After the war, Volkswagen identified the model as the Type 1, distinguishing it from later Volkswagen designs such as the Type 2 van and Type 3 family cars.

“Beetle” was not the vehicle’s original official model name. It began as an informal nickname, including the German Käfer and the English Bug, and Volkswagen adopted “Beetle” officially in some markets in the late 1960s. The Type 1 designation therefore refers to the original model line, regardless of its engine size, body style, or market nickname.

The Type 2 was the Transporter van, while Type 3 and Type 4 were larger Volkswagen models introduced later. The New Beetle and later Beetle were retro-styled successors, not the original Type 1 itself.