Which automaker produced the Beetle from 1938 to 2003?

The automaker that produced the Beetle from 1938 to 2003 was Volkswagen. Officially called the Volkswagen Type 1, the car became known around the world simply as the Beetle, Bug, or Käfer.

The vehicle was developed as a “people’s car,” an affordable and practical automobile for Germany. Ferdinand Porsche and his engineering team shaped the production design, which used an air-cooled, rear-mounted flat-four engine and rear-wheel drive. Series production expanded after World War II, helping Volkswagen become a major global manufacturer.

The Beetle’s rounded body, simple mechanical layout, and relatively low running costs made it popular across Europe, the Americas, and many other markets. More than 21.5 million examples were produced, making it one of the most successful single automobile platforms ever built. The final classic Beetle left Volkswagen’s Puebla plant in Mexico on July 30, 2003.

A frequent confusion is between the classic Beetle and the later New Beetle, introduced in 1997. The New Beetle borrowed the older car’s styling but was a modern front-engine model. Renault, Fiat, and Opel all produced famous small cars, but none built the Beetle itself.