The Volkswagen Timeline

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1950s

1950

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1950

1951

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1951

1952

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1952

1953

JanJanuary

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JunJune

James Graydon, who had been the general manager of Henley Motors takes over as Managing Director. Graydon's brief was to build Volkswagen Motors into one of the largest importers of foreign cars in Britain. With solid motor industry experience he succeeds in building up sales of Volkswagens in the early years. All orders made by franchises had to be accompanied by a deposit of £60 and although the cars had to be paid for in full when delivered the deposits weren't returned until the following year. This was one way of funding a difficult cash-flow situation, the only money available to the company being the investments of the directors. As sales increase the premises in Central London fails to cope with the service and spare parts demands and the company takes the lease of a 50,000 sq ft, dis-used railway shed in Plaistow, East London. Volkswagen Motors sold 945 vehicles in 1953 this went up to 3,260 the following year and by the end of 1959 reaches an annual figure of over 9,000.

In 1953, James Graydon, who had been the General Manager of Henley Motors took over as Managing Director. Graydon's brief was to build Volkswagen Motors into one of the largest importers of foreign cars in Britain. With solid motor industry experience he succeeded in building up sales of Volkswagens in the early years.

JulJuly

The 500,000th vehicle leaves the production line.

AugAugust

SepSeptember

OctOctober

Volkswagenwerk GmbH accumulates 82 sales agencies outside of Germany. Exports account for 44% of vehicle production. With 68,754 vehicles exported in 1953, Volkswagen accounts for over 40% of all passenger car exports from the Federal Republic of Germany.

NovNovember

The Volkswagen trademark, the "letters V and W contained in a circle", which was created in 1948 by Franz Xaver Reimspiess, an engine designer at Porsche KG, is registered with the German Patent Office on 21 November 1953.

The Volkswagen trademark, the letters V and W contained in a circle, was created by Franz Xaver Reimspiess, an engine designer at Porsche KG, and was registered with the German Patent Office on 21st November 1953.

An economics committee with equal representation meets for the first time in the Volkswagenwerk. Its purpose is to inform the Works Council about management's company policies.

DecDecember

1953

1954

JanJanuary

FebFebruary

MarMarch

AprApril

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AugAugust

An internal report on the condition of the American automobile market identifies technical deficiencies that are disadvantageous for the company in comparison to American competition. This leads Volkswagen to increase production rationalisation in order to compensate. By modifying the organisational structure, moving to conveyor-belt assembly and automating production, the company completes the changeover to large-scale standard production and is able to meet the high volume demands.

SepSeptember

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1954

1955

JanJanuary

This model was based on the traditional Beetle chassis and drivetrain, with the rear mounted air-cooled flat-four 1192cc engine producing 30 bhp. Styled by Ghia and hand built in the Karmann factory, the interior was redesigned slightly in 1957.

FebFebruary

According to the general agreement on pay scales, wage earners will continue to be paid during periods of illness. Along with this right, a number of new benefits are introduced that give the company an unmistakable social profile during the 1950s.

MarMarch

AprApril

MayMay

JunJune

JulJuly

"Volkswagen United States Inc." is founded with its Headquarters in New York as a market research and observation instrument.

AugAugust

The Ghia Coupé, developed in cooperation with the coachbuilder Karmann, goes into production.

Employees and dealers from home and abroad celebrate the production of the one millionth Volkswagen in Wolfsburg.

SepSeptember

OctOctober

"Volkswagen United States Inc.", later dissolved, is replaced by its successor, "Volkswagen of America, Inc.", founded in Newark, New Jersey. After plans for production in the United States are cancelled, the company assumes the function of a sales organisation. Its main office is moved to Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. The American Volkswagen subsidiary supervises the import of Volkswagens starting in January 1956 and begins to overhaul the presentation of the brand by imposing strict service requirements.

NovNovember

DecDecember

1955

1956

JanJanuary

Sales of the Beetle, once described by the British Motor Industry Commission as "a bizarre, noisy, too flimsy" "a toy not to be taken seriously" a type of car like this will remain popular for two or three years, if that," rose from 945 in 1953 to 5,381 in 1956.

FebFebruary

MarMarch

After a one-year period of construction, a new plant in Hanover-Stöcken starts producing the Transporter. The Supervisory Board agrees to this decentralisation of production on 24 January 1955, because higher demands require an increased capacity, which can no longer be met because of a limited pool of workers in the Wolfsburg area. By transferring production of the Transporter to Hanover, it is now possible to expand Beetle production in the plant at Wolfsburg and so keep up with increasing demand. In the autumn of 1957, construction of a new engine factory begins in Hanover, which starts production on 25 March 1959.

AprApril

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OctOctober

In order to consolidate its position on the South African market, the Volkswagenwerk GmbH acquires an interest in the "South African Motor Assemblers and Distributors Ltd. (SAMAD)", a company in Uitenhage predominately in English hands which imports dismantled Volkswagens and then assembles and sells them. In 1957, interest in the company is increased from 38% to 57.6%.

NovNovember

DecDecember

1956

1957

JanJanuary

In 1957, Lord Brabazon became the chairman of Volkswagen Motors Limited when it became part of the Thomas Tilling Group.

Volkswagen Motors Limited becomes part of the Thomas Tilling Group. Thomas Tilling Limited retains the existing board of Volkswagen Motors but appoints someone from its own board, Lord Brabazon, as chairman. He takes an active role in the development of the company which benefits from the financial resources of Thomas Tilling Limited.

Following the release of the last remaining site from British control, the production line in Brunswick is modified to meet the demands of "Ford-ist", large-scale production in Wolfsburg and Hanover. A phase of rationalisation follows accompanied by an expansion of production capacities and manufacturing processes. Shed 3 with 25.000 sq. metres, is completed by the end of 1957 and takes on the construction of front axles for the sedan previously located in Wolfsburg; in 1958 the manufacture of the front axle for the Transporter is temporarily transferred to Hanover in order to free additional capacities in Brunswick for the expanding production of the Beetle.

FebFebruary

MarMarch

AprApril

An agreement between the Works Council and Volkswagen management reduces working hours for shift-workers to 40 hours a week, and for standard employees to 42.5 hours a week. Most of the employees now work a 40-hour week with no reduction in pay.

In 1957, Alfred Hartmann became Chairman of the Volkswagenwerk GmbH Supervisory Board.

Alfred Hartmann becomes Chairman of the Volkswagenwerk GmbH Supervisory Board.

MayMay

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SepSeptember

Production of the two-seat Karmann Ghia convertible starts in Osnabrück.

The convertible or cabriolet was launched in 1957. Originally only available in left-hand drive, the right-hand drive version of both models was introduced in 1959 together with a re-designed front end. New engines were introduced in 1961, 1966 and 1971 together with other styling and interior changes during its lifetime. The model ceased production on the 21st June 1974.

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1957

1958

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1958

1959

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1959

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The Volkswagen Timeline

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James Graydon, new Managing Director of Volkswagen Motors Limited

01 Jun 1953

James Graydon

01 Jun 1953

Production reaches the 500,000 mark

01 Jul 1953

Exports highs of 44%

01 Oct 1953

Iconic "VW" trademark registered

21 Nov 1953

Volkswagen's iconic trademark

21 Nov 1953

First economics committee meeting

30 Nov 1953

Conveyor-belt production for the beetle

01 Aug 1954

Karmann Ghia 2+2 Coupé

01 Jan 1955

Workers social benefits increase

10 Feb 1955

Volkswagen in New York

21 Jul 1955

Ghia Coupé goes into production

01 Aug 1955

Production levels hit 1,000,000

05 Aug 1955

Volkswagen of America, Inc. founded

27 Oct 1955

UK popularity of Beetle

01 Jan 1956

Hanover factory for the Transporter

08 Mar 1956

Volkswagen foothold in South African market

12 Oct 1956

Lord Brabazon

01 Jan 1957

Thomas Tilling Group acquires Volkswagen Motors Ltd

01 Jan 1957

British relinquish control of last remaining site

01 Jan 1957

Employees hours reduced

01 Apr 1957

Alfred Hartmann

01 Apr 1957

Alfred Hartmann

01 Apr 1957

Karmann Ghia convertible

01 Sep 1957

Karmann Ghia convertible

01 Sep 1957