Volkswagen AG, also known as the Volkswagen Group internationally and with its headquarters in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany, is a multinational automobile manufacturer. The business creates, produces, and sells motorcycles, passenger and commercial vehicles, engines, and turbomachinery in addition to providing related services including financing, leasing, and fleet management. It held the title of largest carmaker in the world in 2016 and continued to hold it in 2017, 2018 and 2019, selling 10.9 million vehicles. [5] For more than 20 years, it has consistently held the greatest market share in Europe. [6] On the 2020 Fortune Global 500 list of the biggest businesses in the world, it came in at number seven. [7]
In addition to selling passenger cars under the Audi, Bentley, Cupra, Lamborghini, Porsche, SEAT, koda, and Volkswagen names, the Volkswagen Group also sells motorcycles under the Ducati brand, light commercial vehicles under the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles name, and heavy commercial vehicles under the names of listed subsidiary Traton (IC Bus, International, MAN, Scania and Volkswagen Caminhes e nibus). It consists of the Automotive Division and the Financial Services Division as its two main divisions, and as of 2008, it had roughly 342 subsidiary businesses. [8] FAW-Volkswagen and SAIC Volkswagen are two other significant joint ventures for Volkswagen in China. The business operates in about 150 nations and has 100 production sites spread across 27 nations.
In 1937, Volkswagen was established in Berlin and incorporated in Wolfsburg with the goal of producing the car that would come to be known as the Beetle. In the 1950s and 1960s, the company’s production increased significantly. It purchased Auto Union in 1965, which went on to build the first Audi vehicles after World War II. In the 1970s, Volkswagen introduced a new line of front-wheel-drive cars, including the Passat, Polo, and Golf, which went on to become its best-selling model. SEAT became Volkswagen’s first non-German brand when the corporation acquired a controlling interest in it in 1986. Volkswagen also gained ownership of koda in 1994, Bentley, Lamborghini, and Bugatti in 1998, Scania in 2008, and Ducati, MAN, and Porsche in 2012. Over the past ten years, the company’s operations in China have expanded significantly, making China its largest market.
Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft is a publicly traded business with secondary listings on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and SIX Swiss Exchange in addition to its principal listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, where it is a component of the Euro Stoxx 50 stock market index. Since 1988, it has been traded via American depositary receipts in the US; it is currently traded on the OTC Market. In 2013, Volkswagen ceased trading on the London Stock Exchange. [9] [10] 12.7% of the company’s shares are owned by the Lower Saxony government, giving it legally 20% of the voting rights. [11]
In This Article...
Are Volkswagens regarded as foreign vehicles?
It’s a little unexpected that the most important European company is largely absent from the US market. Since 1949, they have been selling automobiles in the United States, with the Beetle being one of their most well-known models.
The corporation has recently been attempting to penetrate into that market sector by promoting its more expensive line of vehicles.
What sort of vehicle is deemed foreign?
In the strictest sense, a foreign car is one that has had its components created and put together outside of the nation. The cost of many foreign cars is higher than that of American-made vehicles. It is frequently more expensive to ship an assembled car than it is to ship the individual parts and assemble the vehicle locally.
Is Volkswagen a car made in America?
Volkswagen AG, often known as Volkswagen Group, with its headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany, is the manufacturer of the sleek-looking Volkswagen vehicles you see driving about Chicago. Up until 1960, when it was largely denationalized, the corporation was held jointly by the governments of West Germany and the State of Lower Saxony.
Which automakers are domestically produced?
The following are the brands and models that we consider to be American-made:
- Buick. Car and Driver by Chris Doane.
- Cadillac. Car and Driver, Steve Siler.
- Chevrolet. NissanCar and Driver.
- GMC. Car and Driver by Chris Doane.
- Dodge. Driver and Car by Bradley Fick.
- Bradley FickCar and Driver. Jeep.
- The Ram.
- The Ford.
A Jetta is it foreign?
If you’re looking for a 4-door family-sized car from this German automaker, there are numerous models and trim levels to pick from. The two most highly rated sedan options are the Volkswagen Passat and the Volkswagen Jetta.
Are Lexus vehicles imported?
Although technically from Japan, Lexus has a long history. So, who is Lexus’s owner? Technically, the Toyota Motor Corporation, a name that many automobile owners are familiar with, owns Lexus. Despite being a member of Toyota, Lexus was built as a luxury brand that is distinct from those of other automakers.
Lexus is either domestic or international.
Since it is owned by the Japanese business Toyota, Lexus is considered to be a foreign automobile. Having said that, Lexus automobiles are produced in the US, Canada, and Japan. Here are some other excellent choices if you wish to purchase an automobile built in America: Model 3 Tesla.
Audi A: Is it foreign?
Audi AGAktiengesellschaft, also known as Audi, is a German luxury car manufacturer with headquarters in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, Germany. German pronunciation: [adi ae](listen). In nine manufacturing plants across the world, Audi produces automobiles as a division of its parent business, the Volkswagen Group.
August Horch (18681951), a mechanical engineer, formed the first businesses in the early 20th century, including Horch and the Audiwerke, as well as two additional manufacturers, DKW and Wanderer, which eventually led to the founding of Auto Union in 1932. In the 1960s, Volkswagen purchased Auto Union from Daimler-Benz, ushering in the contemporary Audi era. [9] Volkswagen combined Auto Union and NSU Motorenwerke in 1969, reintroducing the Audi brand with the 1965 release of the Audi F103 series and giving the business its current structure.
The Latin translation of the founder’s last name, August Horch, served as the inspiration for the firm name. Horch, which in German means “listen,” becomes audi in Latin. The four rings of the Audi logo each stand for one of the four automakers that joined together to establish Auto Union, the firm that preceded Audi. Vorsprung durch Technik, or “Being Ahead via Technology,” is Audi’s catchphrase. [10] One of the most popular luxury car brands worldwide is Audi, which ranks with the German automakers BMW and Mercedes-Benz. [11]
Volkswagen is dependable?
With a reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5, Volkswagen is ranked 12th overall out of 32 automobile brands. This evaluation is based on the average of 345 different models. Volkswagens have above average ownership expenses with an average annual maintenance cost of $676. Volkswagen reliability is further influenced by an average of 0.5 annual repair visits and an 11% likelihood that a repair may be major.
Is a Volkswagen vehicle affordable?
Everything dates back to the very beginning of Volkswagen’s history. Volkswagen was established with the goal of developing a useful, well-designed vehicle that the average person could afford, though we won’t get into the details here. The notion of Volkswagen, which stands for “Folks’ Wagon” or “People’s Car,” was inspired by this. The cars were designed to be of good quality and reasonable price, and they were.
Since its inception many years ago, Volkswagen has remained committed to the premise that there needs to be an affordable, high-quality vehicle available for the general public. Volkswagen vehicles are still reasonably priced because of this.
Why are other German brands more expensive?
Volkswagen cars are not inexpensive, but their price is excellent for the value they offer. Customers of Volkswagen prefer good engineering and longevity over the more ostentatious luxury features found in other German models.
Unlike those premium brands, which compete in the highest price brackets that make up the standard playing field for the majority of German-made cars, Volkswagen holds a position in the market where it faces intense competition from both local and foreign automakers.
Delivering top-notch German engineering at competitive pricing has allowed them to prosper rather than relying on expensive luxury and technological gizmos and exaggerated brand cache. As a result, their vehicles are well known for the extraordinary value they offer.
What makes Volkswagen so well-liked?
Volkswagen vehicles are a popular choice in many European nations and around the world because they are well-built, secure, well-equipped, affordable, and have high performance levels.
What are non-foreign automobiles?
Undoubtedly, something will bring attention to American production each year.
While many goods supplied by American businesses aren’t actually created or put together here, the opposite is also true. You might be shocked to learn how many Japanese, Korean, and German automakers produce vehicles in the United States. Additionally, the United States does export several models to other nations. Here is a list of 10 non-American firms who produced cars in the US.
Which automaker has the worst reputation?
Fiat is the least popular brand in America It sells the least popular car in America, with retailers having a 250-day stock of cars.
Are foreign automobiles better?
When compared to American vehicles, cars made in Asia or Europe frequently exhibit the following traits:
- lower cost Some American-made car models are frequently included on rankings of the most affordable vehicles. Even so, some of the most affordable automobiles in the US are sold by foreign manufacturers like Hyundai and Kia.
- Reliability. Even if the image of American automobiles has improved over time, foreign automakers are typically regarded as the best in terms of performance and dependability. The Japanese automakers Toyota, Mazda, and Lexus are regarded by consumers as the most dependable options available. A dependable vehicle should need fewer repairs and last longer.
- fuel economy. In general, foreign-built automobiles are more fuel-efficient than American-built ones. You won’t need to fill the tank as frequently as a result, saving you money on gas. A vehicle that uses less fuel is beneficial for the environment.
Is a Volkswagen a car from Europe?
Volkswagen ([flksvan](listen) in German), also known as VW ([fave](listen)), is a German automaker with its headquarters in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. Known for the iconic Beetle and serving as the flagship brand of the Volkswagen Group, the largest automotive manufacturer by global sales in 2016 and 2017, it was established in 1937 by the German Labour Front. [2] China is the group’s largest market, accounting for 40% of sales and profits. [3] [4] Its name is taken from the German words Volk and Wagen, which together mean “people’s car.”
Is Audi a vehicle built in America?
Despite being a German carmaker, Audi produces cars globally. Germany, Hungary, Belgium, Mexico, Slovakia, Spain, Russia, Brazil, India, and China are a few nations where Audi is produced.