The Volkswagen Beetle was originally called the KdF-Wagen before the name “Beetle” became established.
“KdF” referred to Kraft durch Freude, or “Strength Through Joy,” a Nazi German organization that sponsored the people’s-car program. The vehicle was intended to be inexpensive, economical, and practical for ordinary German families, and Ferdinand Porsche’s engineering team developed the design during the 1930s.
The car also carried technical designations, including Porsche Type 60 and Volkswagen Type 1. However, KdF-Wagen is the historically recognized name associated with its prewar civilian project and early production plans. The Second World War delayed mass civilian production, and the factory instead concentrated on military vehicles such as the Kübelwagen and Schwimmwagen.
After the war, British administrators restarted the factory, and the car was generally marketed simply as the Volkswagen. The English name “Beetle” was adopted much later and was not Volkswagen’s original designation.