Volkswagen

The German translation for “People’s car” emerged as an organisation in the ’30s initially building prototypes of the rear-engined/air-cooled Kdf-Wagen that was envisioned by Hitler and designed by Ferdinand Porsche. But it took a British army officer in post-war Germany to help put it into production as the Type 1 – and help it become a global automotive phenomenon known affectionately as the Beetle. Its 1950 spin-off van, the Type 2, would be equally endearing – and variably known as the Transporter/Kombi/Camper/Microbus – become the vehicle of choice for millions of hippies and backpackers. VW’s ’60s purchase of Auto Union (which included Audi) influenced a move into a new era of front-wheel-drive, water-cooled models – the most famous of which would be the Golf, introduced in 1974 to become an instant and continuous sales hit. A legendary derivative started in 1975 with the GTI hot-hatch. From the ’80s onwards, VW expanded aggressively by consuming multiple brands, including Seat, Skoda, Bentley and Lamborghini.