Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles

1940s

• 1947 - Dutch importer Volkswagen Pon Ben, seeing the Plattenwagen truck platform assembled by workers for moving goods between workshops at the VW plant (this design was based on Volkswagen Beetle units, and the driver's seat was located at the rear, above the engine), proposes to create a variant of a commercial cargo minibus based on the same Beetle.
• 1949 - CEO Heinrich Nordhoff approves the drawings of the future Volkswagen Transporter , made by the Dutchman Ben Pont, into production.
• 1949 - The first Transporter prototype was presented to the board of the company and, in a friendly manner, was baptized by the assembled Bulli ( Russian Bull-calf ) for appearance. November 12, 1949 Volkswagen Bulli was officially introduced to the press.

1950s

• 1950 - Before starting production, Bulli had to be renamed Type 2 Transporter due to the presence of an already registered brand from another company. But, among the future owners of this van, he remained - VW Bulli. Full-scale production began on March 8, 1950 with the release of 10 cars per day. The first Transporter used the VW Beetle engine and transmission, although instead of the central tunnel frame it had a chassis of a supporting body, which was supported by a multi-link frame, it could carry cargo weighing about 750 kilograms, the engine displacement was 1131 cubic meters. cm, which developed a power of 18 kW at a speed of 3300 rpm. The first copies had an all-metal van body, but two months later a modification of the combi appeared , in the summer a minibus that could carry up to eight people, and in the fall an ambulance went into series.
• 1951 - The luxury version of the Transporter minibus, called the Samba, is launched. The car was designed exclusively for the carriage of passengers. Samba set new standards with its two-tone solution, folding roof, plenty of chrome details and 21 windows.
• 1952 - Launched into serial production Transporter Dropside truck - pickup truck with folding sides. The size of the pickup platform was four square meters, and it could be covered with tarpaulin and a mounting rim. Under the platform was a lockable compartment for storing goods. The debut of a double-cab pickup truck for five passengers took place in November 1958.
• 1953 - A subsidiary was founded in San Bernardo do Campo, next to São Paulo , Brazil - Volkswagen do Brasil SA. Initially, the plant assembled cars from parts made in Germany. However, the financial situation with the local currency in South America forced to start production of parts in Brazil itself. Volkswagen convinced its German suppliers to open its own production facilities in Brazil.
• 1954 - The 100,000th Transporter is celebrated at the Wolfsburg plant. By this time, the Transporter lineup has 30 different modifications, and 80 cars go off the assembly line per day.
• 1955 - On January 25, a decision was made to build a plant for the production of Transporter in Hanover , Germany. On March 1, 1955, personally, Mr. Volkswagen, Professor Nordhoff, laid the "first stone" in the construction of this plant.
• 1956 - On March 8, the first Transporter left the doors of the new assembly plant in Hanover, and mass production of vans began on April 20, 1956.
• 1956 - shares of its South African importer are acquired and it pawns for the construction of an assembly plant in Eitenhah, Cape, which, in the future, becomes its subsidiary, Volkswagen of South Africa (PTY) Ltd.
• 1957 - Factories in Wolfsburg, Braunschweig and Hanover are already operating at maximum capacity. And in October of this year, it acquires a new land plot in the city of Kassel , Germany, for the construction of a new assembly plant.
• 1959 - From September 11, engine production begins at the Hanover plant: initially horizontal four-cylinder air-cooled, and subsequently water-cooled.

1960s

• 1960 - All models receive a new 34 hp engine. (25 kW) and fully synchronized gearbox.
• 1962 - The millionth Transporter drove out of the doors of an assembly plant in Hanover.
• 1964 Volkswagenwerk AG, being, by this time, one of the largest private sea carriers and owning more than 80 sea vessels, builds its own storage facilities in the city of Emden , Germany.
• 1964 - Opening of the VW subsidiary in Puebla de Zaragoza , Mexico - Volkswagen de Mexico SA de CV. The plant was created for the production of automobiles using as many locally produced parts as possible, while maintaining German quality standards and a competitive price.
• 1966 - 100% of the shares of its South African division Volkswagen of South Africa Ltd. are bought back.
• 1967 - The second generation Type 2 Transporter (T2) was introduced. The one-piece rounded windshield and large windows significantly improved visibility for the driver and passengers, while the car itself remained light, weighing only 1,175 kilograms. Over the years, Transporter has been gradually gaining weight with sophisticated technology and passive safety. Inside, the car’s free space was increased by improving the layout and lengthening the body by 20 cm. A sliding door appeared on the side, and the rear hinged side was much larger. A more powerful engine (47 hp / 35 kW) allowed the van to reach speeds of up to 110 km per hour.
• 1967 - A record on the South American continent: the 500,000th Transporter, made in Brazil, rolled off the assembly line at Volkswagen do Brasil S. A. Particular attention was paid to safety: all cars were equipped with new high-security steering columns. 1,800,000 Transporter issued.
• 1968 - The two millionth Transporter drove out of the doors of an assembly plant in Hanover. On April 12, at the age of 68, Professor Heinrich Nordhoff dies. The post of Acting Chairman of the Board is Kurt Lotz ( German: Dr. Kurt Lotz ).
• 1969 - Volkswagen acquires land for the construction of a plant in the city of Salzgitter , Germany. It is here that in 1970 the production of the K70 model car developed by NSU , which was equipped with front-wheel drive and a water-cooled engine, will begin. Today, the Salzgitter plant is the main supplier of water-cooled engines for new generations of cars.

1970s

• 1970 - Volkswagen do Brasil S.A. launches its millionth car.
• 1971 - Start of serial production of a new horizontal engine with four cylinders of 1.7 liters, a volume of 1679 cm3, and a power of 66 hp. (49 kW) at a speed of 4800 rpm. Three Million Transporter Released.
• 1972 - Volkswagen General Importer UNIS, together with Volkswagenwerk AG, set up the Volkswagen car assembly company TAS Tvornica Automobila Sarajevo in Sarajevo , Yugoslavia .
• 1973 - A subsidiary, Volkswagen of Nigeria Ltd., was opened in Lagos , Nigeria .
• 1975 - The first generation Volkswagen LT was launched, paving the way for the urban truck market. LTs were produced with a 4-cylinder gasoline engine (1984 cc / 55 kW / 75 hp) and in three different weight categories (from 2.8 to 3.5 tons).
• 1976 - Released LT with diesel engines. Transporter (Typ2) received a larger engine and more power: a volume of 1970 cu. cm, power 51 kW (70 hp) at a speed of 4200 rpm. Despite the decline in the economy, LT quickly gained a market share of about 40%.
• 1977 - The 4,500,000th VW Transporter and 2,277,307th Transporter (Typ3) of the second generation are released. In August, a new 6-cylinder diesel engine developed for LT was introduced. The range has been expanded with the new LT 40 and LT 45 models.
• 1979 - The third generation Transporter (T2) is released. At the IAA in Frankfurt , Germany, presented a new truck manufactured by a joint venture of Volkswagen AG and MAN , with a lifting capacity of 6 and 9 tons.

1980s

• 1980 - The first Transporter (T2) minibus with a diesel engine is launched.
• 1981 - Volkswagenwerk AG acquires two-thirds of the shares of Chrysler Motors do Brasil Ltda. In San Bernardo do Campo , Brazil . In February, the company was renamed Volkswagen Caminhões Ltda and became a manufacturer of large-capacity commercial vehicles. On March 8, the assembly plant in Hanover celebrated the 25th anniversary of VW Commercial Vehicles with the release of its five millionth car.
• 1982 - A water-cooled engine is added to the Transporter (T2) engine range for the German market. The Volkswagen Caddy Ute city van, based on the Volkswagen Golf , was introduced to the press.
• 1983 - The luxury Caravelle MPV model, created on the basis of the third generation Transporter (T2), was introduced to the press.
• 1985 - Volkswagenwerk GmbH changes its name to Volkswagen AG .

1990s

• 1990 - The fourth generation Eurovan / Transporter / Multivan (T4) is released. Volkswagen celebrates the 40th anniversary of Transporter with the launch of a six millionth minibus since 1950.
• 1994 - The five millionth Eurovan / Transporter / Multivan (T4) drives out the gates of the assembly hall in Hanover.
• 1995 - Dr Bernd Wiedemann , Chairman of the Management Board of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, announces the separation of the division into an independent production unit of the Volkswagen Passenger cars group.
• 1996 - The new Caddy Type 9K is released. VW Commercial Vehicles and the commercial vehicle division of Mercedes-Benz have announced the launch of new co-developed LT and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter minibuses .

2000s

• 2000 - VW Commercial Vehicles celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of Transporter.
• 2003 - Eurovan / Transporter / Multivan (fifth generation T5 focused on transport and passenger traffic) was launched.
• 2004 - The entire line of Eurovan / Transporter (T5) minibuses becomes the "Van of the Year" according to the British magazine What Van ?. The new generation of Caddy Type 2K is presented to the press. All new Caddy Type 2K models feature Golf Mk5 front suspension.
• 2005 - Seven-seat passenger Caddy Life is released.
• 2006 - The Honored LT is replaced by the new Volkswagen Crafter , created jointly with Mercedes-Benz and assembled at the factory in Ludwigsfelde, Germany. A similar model in Mercedes-Benz is called Sprinter. Both Crafter and Sprinter models become “ Minibus of the Year ” according to the British magazine “ What Van? ". A similar DSG transmission is used in the new Caddy. A plant in Brazil begins to produce Transporter T2 Combi for the Mexican market. T5 California Trendline Launched
• 2007 - Stefan Schaller ( German: Stephan Schaller ) succeeded Dr. Bernd Weidemann as Chairman of the Management Board of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle. Caddy and Crafter become winners of Professional Van and Light Truck Magazine in the Commercial Vehicle of the Year category. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles launches its ten millionth Transporter in November.
• 2008 - May 1, Martin Zimmermann ( German: Martin Zimmermann ) took over as Head of Communications at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, replacing Gunther Scherelis ( German: Dr Günther Scherelis ), who headed the Department since February 2005.

• Official website of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge) (link not available )
• Official Russian site Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge)
• Official site of the South American division Volkswagen de Mexico SA de CV (port.)
• Official site for the Volkswagen of South Africa (Pty) Ltd South Africa
• Official site of the Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge body architecture division (German)
• Volkswagen California (German)