Start of Type 1 VW Beetle production in 1945 at the factory in Wolfsburg, Germany. (VW US)
Series production of the Volkswagen “Beetle” Limousine began on Dec. 27, 1945. It was referred to internally as “Type 1,” and later became world-famous as the “Beetle.” The little sedan’s success story started in Wolfsburg, Germany, and is credited to British Major Ivan Hirst.
According to a release by VW US, in June 1945, the British Military Government Series assumed the trusteeship over Volkswagenwerk GmbH. Following the end of World War II, the production of the Volkswagen Type 1 sedan (limousine) began as a vehicle for transport tasks.
Major Hirst’s British was known for his pragmatism and talent for improvisation. The two traits made it possible for him to transform an armaments plant into a civilian industrial company in an impressively short timeline.
The British Military Government issued an order for 20,000 vehicles in August 1945. The start of production was a visible sign of a new beginning and hope. The factory had been largely destroyed by the end of World War II.
The first Beetle, with the split rear window. (VW US)
Wartime Challenges
There were many wartime challenges. There were personnel shortages to support the workforce and production bottlenecks for raw materials and energy. But the first Volkswagen sedan left the production line just after Christmas. By the end of 1945, 55 cars had been produced.
From 1946 to the currency reform of 1948, about 1,000 vehicles were produced per month. It was not possible to produce more vehicles with the material shortages, rationing, and lack of personnel. Sales were jump-started in 1947 with exports of the car.
Volkswagen discontinued production of the original VW Beetle in Mexico in 2003. By then 21,529,464 VW Beetles had been manufactured, including about 15.8 million in Germany.
For more on the so-called “People’s Car” see its Wikipedia page.
