Volkswagen produced the Volkswagen Beetle, officially designated the Volkswagen Type 1. The compact rear-engined car became one of the most recognizable automobiles in history because of its rounded body, air-cooled flat-four engine, and extraordinary production longevity.
The Type 1 was developed in Germany before the Second World War, with Ferdinand Porsche and his design team involved in its engineering. Large-scale civilian production began after the war, when the factory at Wolfsburg was placed under British administration. The simple mechanical layout made the car relatively easy to maintain in many markets.
“Beetle” was an export nickname rather than the original official name. Volkswagen used names such as Käfer in German-speaking markets and Type 1 in factory terminology. Production continued in different countries for decades, and the final classic Beetle was built in Puebla, Mexico, in 2003.