Born out of 1930s Germany and the desire for ordinary Germans to own cars, Volkswagen or 'People's Car' has grown into a major player in the global car market. Today, breaking away from these utilitarian traditions, Volkswagen is positioned as a more up-market, higher quality choice than other mainstream volume-selling brands. Traces of the people's car ethos can still be recognised in the marque's classless image and low-key design philosophy.

It was the Ferdinand Porsche designed Type 12 model that kicked things off for Volkswagen in 1931, that car evolving into the VW Kafer or Beetle by 1938. Versions of the Beetle, the Karmann Ghia sportscar and the Type 2 commercial vehicle which became the VW Camper van were the only vehicles produced by the firm until 1968 but successful modern era for Volkswagen can probably be traced back to the arrival of the Golf in 1974.

The Golf has become a modern classic through its many generations and dramatic increases both in size and sophistication. Recent spin-off models using Golf-based underpinnings include the Touran, Jetta, New Beetle, Tiguan and Eos as well as many other products produced by other Volkswagen Group brands. The popular Golf GTi models remain the benchmark by which other hot hatchbacks are judged.

Volkswagen products tend to command premium prices over equivalent mainstream rivals but these are justified in the eyes of buyers buy their build quality and superior brand image. The Volkswagen badge has also been thrust further upmarket by platform sharing ventures with Audi which resulted in the Touareg luxury 4x4 and the Phaeton luxury saloon.