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SEARCHAs Volkswagen celebrates 75 years in the U.S., the automaker reflects on key milestones along the way.
In 1949, Dutch businessman Ben Pon arrived in New York City with two Volkswagen Type 1 vehicles, marking the automaker's first attempt to sell the vehicle — better known today as the Beetle — to Americans.
See the evolution of the vehicles from the brand that shaped much of the mid-to-late 20th century, plus a look at new vehicles coming down the pipeline from Volkswagen.
The Dasher had a hatchback body design. The 1977 family of Dasher vehicles is pictured here.
Photo: Volkswagen
The original Volkswagen Jetta was born from the demand for a Golf-sized model with a trunk. The 1982 model is shown here.
Photo: Volkswagen
The Volkswagen Golf GTI was the automaker's first American sporty car. The 1983 model is shown here.
Photo: Volkswagen
The Volkswagen Concept 1, a reimagining of the classic Beetle, was so well received that the brand launched the New Beetle in 1998. The 2001 model is shown here.
Photo: Volkswagen
The Volkswagen Deluxe Station Wagon, commonly referred to as the VW Bus, is a variant of the Type 2 bus. Four generations of the Type 2 bus were sold in the U.S., from 1950 to 2003.
Photo: Volkswagen
The Karmann Ghia first arrived in the U.S. as a coupe in 1956.
Photo: Volkswagen
In 1959, Volkswagen ran its first iconic "Think Small" ad touting the benefits of the air-cooled, easy-to-maintain Beetle.
Photo: Volkswagen
Ads for Volkswagen's Deluxe Station Wagon paid homage to the "Think Small" campaign with a side-by-side size comparison of the Beetle and the Deluxe Station Wagon.
Photo: Volkswagen
Volkswagen added the Squareback model in response to the massive popularity of its vehicles in the 1960s. A 1972 Squareback is pictured here.
Photo: Volkswagen
The Volkswagen Golf — better known in the U.S. as the Rabbit — is the best-selling vehicle of all time for the automaker. The vehicle turns 50 in 2024. The 1977 model is shown here.
Photo: Volkswagen
The first Scirocco was the successor to the Karmann Ghia. It was introduced in the U.S. in 1975. The 1979 model is shown here.
Photo: Volkswagen
Dutch businessman Ben Pon arrived in New York City in 1949 with two Volkswagen Type 1 vehicles, the automaker's first attempt at selling its vehicles in the U.S.
Photo: Volkswagen
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz and ID.7 sit next to the original Beetle as a sort of tip-of-the-hat to the vehicle that started it all for the automaker in the U.S.
Photo: Volkswagen
The original Volkswagen Beetle sits alongside the ID. Buzz, the electric reimagining of the VW Microbus, set to launch later this year. The photo also pays homage to the "Think Tall" ad.
Photo: Volkswagen
