VWs

VWs is a shorthand used to refer to the vehicles produced by Volkswagen, the German automaker at the core of the Volkswagen Group. The term is most often used in informal contexts to denote Volkswagen-brand passenger cars, though it can also be understood to encompass the broader range of vehicles built by the group’s multiple brands.

The company’s name, Volkswagen, means “people’s car” in German, a concept dating to the 1930s. Volkswagen was founded in 1937 as part of a state-supported project under the Nazi regime to manufacture affordable cars for the masses. After World War II, the plant and its leadership were reoriented under British occupation, and Volkswagen rebuilt its reputation with the iconic Beetle. In the following decades, VW expanded its lineup and global footprint, with the Golf emerging in the 1970s as a cornerstone model and a key driver of the company’s postwar growth.

The Volkswagen Group is one of the world’s largest automakers and includes multiple brands beyond Volkswagen Passenger Cars, such as Audi, Škoda, SEAT, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, and Porsche. It also owns commercial-vehicle brands like Scania and MAN. VWs in this broader sense cover a range of body styles and segments, from compact hatchbacks to sedans and sport utility vehicles, across global markets.

In recent years, the group has pursued electrification through the ID. family and shared platforms like MEB, aiming to expand its electric-vehicle lineup while maintaining its traditional emphasis on practical, mass-market cars. The company has faced regulatory and reputational challenges, including the Dieselgate emissions scandal of 2015, which prompted investigations, settlements, and reforms across the organization.