The German automaker that popularized the dual-clutch transmission through its DSG system was Volkswagen.
DSG stands for Direct-Shift Gearbox, Volkswagen’s branding for a family of electronically controlled dual-clutch automatic gearboxes. The system uses two clutches and two gear trains, allowing the transmission to preselect an upcoming gear and transfer drive between the clutches quickly. That gave Volkswagen a distinctive combination of automatic convenience, rapid shifts, and strong efficiency claims.
Volkswagen brought the modern production version to the market in the Golf R32, introduced in 2003. The technology then spread across Volkswagen Group vehicles, including models from Audi, SEAT, Škoda, and other brands. Audi’s related branding is S tronic, which can make the answer seem less clear, but Audi’s systems belong to the same wider corporate and technical story.
Volkswagen did not invent the entire dual-clutch idea. Earlier concepts and racing applications existed, including Porsche development in the 1980s. Volkswagen’s major contribution was making the electronically controlled format visible and widely available in series-production passenger cars.