The Volkswagen name is one of the longest running brands in the automotive industry and the brand has been successful enough to be the name that’s stamped on the group that is comprised of twelve different brands under the umbrella of The Volkswagen Group.  While we know this name has been mired in the recent past, the fact that VW has bounced back the way it has is a testament to the trust we have in the name and the fortitude shown by those that continue to work to bring us the vehicles we want to drive.

Volkswagen is a global brand and one that shows up to give us a long list of vehicles we love to drive.  Chief among these are the Jetta, Golf, Santana, and Polo models.  While a couple of those names are not on the market in North America, the brand has had success in markets such as China where the Santana has become one of the most popular models for the brand.  There is also a growing demand for the Tiguan, Arteon, and T-Roc models around the world to be some of the names we know and trust.

The Growing Numbers

For the 2017 calendar year, Volkswagen was able to produce six million vehicles.  That’s a huge number being built at over fifty plants in fourteen different countries to give this brand a global presence and portfolio.  This global brand now consists of sixty different models and it seems a bit surreal to think about the fact that this brand began with the original Beetle model rolling off the assembly line 72 years ago.  Since that time, the brand has produced over 150 million vehicles with the Beetle being the model that has sold in greater numbers than any other model in history.

Since VW has reached the six million model number for 2017, the brand is looking to continue to build on the success around the world.  The entire product range will expand with more SUVs offered and there will be a variety of EV models that will become part of the brand by 2020.  We expect to see nineteen new SUV models along with the new I.D. electric family that will be the platform that’s used for the future of the EV models that will certainly be ready to give us what is expected in the future of driving on the roads.

There’s no doubt that VW knows what the need to do to produce large numbers of vehicles to ensure we continue to have what we want to drive.  Will they be able to break the six million number in 2018 and beyond?  It seems there’s no real reason for this brand see anything but success as they have begun to work for the future while continuing to offer us what we want to drive on the road today.  If you own a VW, you’re part of a group of owners that has enjoyed the drive of one of the most popular brands in history.