Volkswagen: Golf celebrates 45th birthday
DAUERBRENNER The Golf, successor to the legendary Beetle, is 45 years old and still in top form. Production of the bestseller started at the Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg on March 29, 1974. On that day, nobody at Volkswagen could have guessed that the Golf would go on to be sold more than 35 million times around the world. [...]
On that day, nobody at Volkswagen had any idea that the Golf would be bought more than 35 million times around the world. Since the start of production 45 years ago, a new Golf has been ordered somewhere in the world every 41 seconds of every day without interruption - an average of around 780,000 vehicles per year.
Golf stands for progress and technology
For Ralf Brandstätter, Volkswagen's Chief Operating Officer, the Golf is "the heart of our brand".
Ralf Brandstätter: "It stands for progress and technology like no other car. In the Golf, for example, safety technology became affordable for millions of people for the first time. It has shaped entire generations."
For seven generations, the Golf has also contributed to Volkswagen's development as a brand and Group into one of the world's most important automobile manufacturers.
Classless compact model
Dr. Stefan Loth, Plant Manager Volkswagen Wolfsburg: "In 1974, our employees were faced with the challenge of making the transition from the Beetle to the Golf. Since then, we have consistently developed our main plant and now build the e-Golf1, the Golf GTE2, the Golf Sportsvan and three other models here in Wolfsburg in addition to the Golf."
As one of the few classless compact models on the world market, the Golf will continue to be a key product pillar of the Volkswagen brand and will provide decisive impetus for the future of mobility with state-of-the-art drive, assistance, infotainment and operating systems.
