Volkswagen Celebrates 75 Years in America
Seventy-five years ago, a pair of Volkswagen Beetles were imported to this country, marking the start of this brand on our shores. Tempus fugit, VW plans to roll out numerous advertisement efforts to mark the milestone.
It was exactly 75 years ago today, according to VW, that those two Volkswagen Type 1 vehicles landed on the shores of New York, marking the first attempt to sell the thing to Americans. Better known as the Beetle today, the scamp eventually wove itself into the country, becoming a poster child for the 1960s peace-love-joy atmosphere before serving as a panacea to rising fuel prices a decade later. Some people loved the things, others reviled them for playing a part in decimating the Big Three – though one could successfully argue they were doing a good enough job of that on their own during the ‘70s.
As fodder for yer next trivia night, it was a Dutch businessman named Ben Pon who arrived in New York with those Type 1s in 1949, initially struggling to sell them before Americans warmed to the car’s quirky charms. Volkswagen of America was established in 1955 to organize dealers whilst providing parts and service. It was in 1959 that the brand ran its first of now-famous “Think Small” ads, ones touting the benefits of owing an air-cooled, easy-to-maintain Beetle.
Students of the industry know that Volkswagen opened its first U.S. plant in Westmoreland, Pennsylvania in 1978, eventually assembling more than 1.1 million Rabbits at that facility. There’s a joke about rabbits and multiplying in there, somewhere. The company broke ground on its Chattanooga assembly plant 30 years after the Westmoreland opening, investing more than $4 billion in its Tennessee operations. In July 2022, the plant began production of the ID.4, its first electric vehicle assembled in the United States, with the facility remaining home to the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport SUVs.
[Images: VW]
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Matthew buys, sells, fixes, & races cars. As a human index of auto & auction knowledge, he is fond of making money and offering loud opinions.
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I had a '63 Beetle which I very much miss.
Felt the 1st generation Gulf, Scirocco, and Jetta were the true modern VWs. Had issues, but a step in the right direction.
As for anything recent, I would prefer a Skoda over a VW. Drove a Skoda Fabia wagon in the Czech Rep just prior to COVID. Felt it represented what VW used to be (value for your money). I was very much impressed! 🚗🚗🚗
First car was a 73 super Beetle, it was great. Have had 87 fox gl, 85 jetta , 85 cabriolet, 98 cabrio. All were good cars no problems there than 85s both got stolen. Current 78 super beetle convertible has 17k orig miles. Definitely a headed turner. Always starts conversations where ever I am.