Volkswagen Celebrates 100 Million Vehicle Mark

VW Hopes New Models Will Spur Sales out of Current Slump

Volkswagen AG may be struggling in its efforts to bring competitive models to the North American market; efforts which include the

Volkwagen has just delivered its 100 millionth post-World War II vehicle, a silver Touran mini-minivan. (Photo: Volkswagen Canada)

challenges that come with an extremely strong Euro, products that are often smaller, less powerful, more conservatively styled and more expensive than rivals, a quality deficit placing its products near the bottom of J. D. Power and Associates various surveys, among others, and resultant all-time low sales figures, but having just delivered its 100 millionth post-World War II vehicle, a silver Touran mini-minivan - a model not available in North America - there is cause for celebration.

More than one fifth of the automaker's 100 million total, or 21.5 million cars, comes from a vehicle central to VW's roots, the Beetle. The iconic car, developed with

Of VW's 100 million sales, 21.5 million came from a vehicle central to the brand's roots, the Beetle. (Photo: Volkswagen Canada)

guidance from Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler in 1934, was designed to get Germans mobile en masse, and help drive the European country's then fragile economy.

Many vehicles have been added to the Volkswagen lineup since 1945, with varying degrees of success. After the Beetle came the Microvan, a cult classic now considered to be the forerunner of modern day minivans. VW expanded the lineup in the '60s and '70s with the 411 and 412, Karman Ghia and Thing, among others, before transforming its common chassis architecture to front-wheel drive, and in so doing creating what soon became the small car benchmark with the extremely popular Rabbit (Golf), an honour it kept for the following two decades.