Timeline of VW Beetle production milestone vehicles.
1930s-50s | 1960s-70s | 1980s-10s
1937
Courtesy Undis Kanape
The second banner reads, ‘23.9.37 Wg. [Wagen] IIIA 37003 Drivers Denk & Eichner’
23 SEPTEMBER 1937 – PORSCHE WORKSHOPS, STUTTGART. 1,000,000 test kilometres on vehicle IIIA 37003.
Cars were tested in the Black Forest (Schwartzwald).
1940
20 DECEMBER 1940 – WOLFSBURG. Kubelwagen – 1,000.
1941
The first series production Volkswagen in war year 1941
The first KdF-Wagens to be produced on 11 July 1941. The sign above the plate indicates the car has been allocated to ‘Reichsorganisationsleiter Dr R Ley’, the leader of the Deutsche Arbeits Front (DAF).
11 JULY 1941 – WOLFSBURG. First off production line – Kdf-1.
SEPTEMBER 1941 – WOLFSBURG – Kubelwagen – 5,000.
1946
For the first time, production figures reach the level of 1,000 vehicles a month ordered by the British. The milestone is marked by a small ceremony. Apart from slight fluctuations, the monthly production figures remain at this level until the beginning of 1948 because the necessary volumes of raw materials and components cannot be obtained. Total production for the whole of 1946 was 10,020 cars.
The 1000th car(?) on its way to completion. Courtesy ‘VW Kafer’, Ulrich von Pidoll.
30 MARCH 1946 – WOLFSBURG. Volkswagen – 1,000 cars for March.
Up to 1946, staff turnover was high with the main reasons being lack of food and the awful housing situation. Many workers were living in huts, some even with their families. The transport system was in ruins and an hour on foot to get to work was not unusual. Wages didn’t mean much as there was nothing to buy. The men building the cars worked long hours with a great deal of hard, manual labour in harsh, noisy conditions, often hungry and very tired. – Pete Frost
14 OCTOBER 1946 – WOLFSBURG. Volkswagen – 10,000.
1948
‘The success of our work’
1948 – WOLFSBURG. Beetle – 19,220 per year.
JANUARY 1948 – WOLFSBURG. Since the end of the war – Volkswagen – 20,000
MAY 1948 – WOLFSBURG. Volkswagen – 30,000.
1949
14 MAY 1949 – WOLFSBURG. Volkswagen – 50,000.
1950
Heinrich Nordhoff and the 100000th Beetle
4 MARCH 1950 – WOLFSBURG. Volkswagen – 100,000.
Car now at Stiftung AutoMuseum Wolfsburg.
1950 – DUBLIN, IRELAND – First CKD off production line.
1950 – KARMANN OSNABRÜCK. Typ 15 Convertible – 1,000.
DECEMBER 1950 – KARMANN OSNABRÜCK Convertible – 3,000
1951
The 2000th Volkswagen for Deutsche Bundespost (German Federal Post) is handed over at the Wolfsburg plant in November 1951.
NOVEMBER 1951-WOLFSBURG. 2000th for Deutsche Bundespost.
6 OCTOBER 1951 – WOLFSBURG. Volkswagen – 250,000
Courtesy Steve Truesdale
31 AUGUST 1951 – UITENHAGE, SOUTH AFRICA – First off production line CKD Beetle
1952
The 100,000th VW for export produced in August 1952. The car was assigned to the Hoogenboom dealer group in Rotterdam and is pictured on G.J. Mulderstraat, Rotterdam with Mr Piet A. Hoogenboom, owner of the Dealer Group
AUGUST 1952 -WOLFSBURG – Export. 100,000th Volkswagen
1953
3 JULY 1953 – WOLFSBURG. Volkswagen – 500,000.
MAY 13, 1953 – IPIRANGA, BRAZIL Fusca – 1000
1954
14 APRIL 1954 – VORST, BELGIUM – First off production line – D’Ieteren.
These photos were taken in late June 1954 and show the first CKD-assembled Beetle coming off the assembly line at a factory owned by Martin & King Pty Ltd at Clayton outside Melbourne, Australia. The man in the dark suit and seen driving this Beetle is Baron Klaus Detlof von Oertzen. He was a personal friend of Dr Ferdinand Porsche from the 1930s when they both worked for Mercedes Benz in Stuttgart. After the war, Heinz Nordhoff used the Baron as a special agent to set up the Volkswagen assembly and manufacturing plants in both South Africa and Australia.
JUNE 1954 – CLAYTON, AUSTRALIA – First CKD Beetle
1955
5 AUGUST 1955 – WOLFSBURG. Volkswagen – 1.000,000 (Golden Beetle).
50s – Export record. Dealer Rheinland-Pfalz (FR) – 5,000
50s – Export record. USA – 100,000
1955 – WOLFSBURG – Export record Volkswagen Luxembourg – 3,000
1956
JANUARY 1956 – WOLFBURG – export record – 50,000 Volkswagen for Netherlands.
It was on August 3, 1956 that the 25,000th Volkswagen, assembled by D’Ieteren, – a White (Possibly Pearl) 1200 – came out of the Vorst plant’s assembly lines bringing together management and staff and Mr. Pierre D’leteren.
3 AUGUST 1956 – VORST, BRUSSELS – Volkswagen – 25,000
1956 – WOLFSBURG. Volkswagen – 10,000 for Norway.
1956 – WOLFSBURG Export record – 500,000 for Sweden
1957
15 NOVEMBER 1957 – Export record. Netherlands – 100,000
1957 – WOLFSBURG – Export record for USA – Volkswagen – 100,000.
1958
Export record photo taken at Wolfsburg.
1958 – WOLFSBURG. Export record. Australia – 50,000
50s – WOLFSBURG. Export record. Finland – 1,000
The celebration vehicle was imported by Porsche K.G. Salzburg who were the national distributor for Volkswagen in Austria.
30 JUNE 1958 – Export record. Austria – 50,000
50s – Export record. France – 10,000
1959
A display in Amsterdam by Volkswagen importer Pon’s Automobielhandel states that cars 100,001 and 100,002 are donated to the Anne Frank Foundation.
FEBRUARY 1959 – NETHERLANDS. Import record – Volkswagen – 100,000
25 AUGUST 1959 – WOLFSBURG. Production record – Volkswagen – 3,000,000
1959 – MANILA, PHILIPPINES – First off the production line – Beetle.
1959 – Production record for Canada Volkswagen – 100,000
1960s and 1970s
1960
1960 – Export for Norway – Volkswagen – 25,000
60s – Export record. South Africa – 100,000
60s – Export record. Paraguay – 1,000
60s – Export record. USA – 250,000
‘This is Volkswagen Nr. 1000 delivered to Olrud Auto Hamar’
1960 – 1000th Volkswagen for Norway
1961
4 DECEMBER 1961 – Production record. Volkswagen – 5,000,000
Vehicle officially presented to the Red Cross.
The 100,000 Volkswagen to be built in Australia rolled from the line at the Clayton plant in Melbourne in March 1961. The ceremony was attended by the Premier of Victoria Sir Henry Bolte. Prior to the big occasion, Volkswagen Australasia had searched for ‘Australia’s oldest VW’ for four months, with the help of extensive advertising and dealer enquiries, before finally locating Ted and Therese Haenel in the state of Victoria who owned a 1946 Beetle. At the 100,000 Volkswagen ceremony in Clayton, Sir Henry Bolte presented the celebration car to Mr and Mrs Haenel in exchange for their 1946 model. “Take good care of it, it’s a good little car” said Mrs Haenel with a moist eye and who can be seen seated on the left in the photo.
MARCH 1961 – Production record. Plant. Australia – 100,000
1962
Placeholder.
SEPTEMBER 1962 – WOLFSBURG. Production record. Beetle – 5,000,000
OCTOBER 1962 – WOLFSBURG. Export record. 200,000 Volkswagen for Netherlands.
1962 – OTAHUHU, NEW ZEALAND Production record – 10,000 Beetle.
1963
1963 – WOLFSBURG – Export record – Volkswagen – Norway – 50,000
Courtesy Steve Truesdale
1963 – UITENHAGE, SOUTH AFRICA – CKD Beetle – 100,000
1964
With F. R. Smith, Mayor of Ramsgate.
SUMMER 1964 – RAMSGATE DISTRIBUTION CENTER, UK – Import record VW (GB) Ltd. – Volkswagen 1200 – 100,000
6 DECEMBER 1964 – EMDEN. First off production line for USA
The Volkswagen VW 1200 passenger car, known as the bubble, is on the transport platform in front of the Stockmann department store, Helsinki. The car is part of the opening procession on Christmas Street. According to the advertisement text, it’s the 50,000th Volkswagen in Finland. On the right a man is filming with a film camera along Aleksanterinkatu east.
Mauri Helenius 1964/ Museum Agency
1964 – FINLAND – Volkswagen – 50,000
1965
15 SEPTEMBER 1965 – WOLFSBURG – Volkswagen – 10,000,000
1965 – Export record. Kreis Oldenburg – 5,000.
MAY 1965 – Export record. Bergamo – 3,000.
13 MAY 1965 – D’LETEREN, VORST, BRUSSELS – Plant record Volkswagen – 100,000
1965 – WOLFSBURG – Export record – Volkswagen 1200 for Sweden – 300,000
1966
Volkswagen Emden opened in 1964 and initially concentrated on Beetle production, especially for the North American market. A little over a year later on 11 January 1966, the 100,000th car rolled off the line and after a brief ceremony, was shipped to San Francisco, California. The milestone car was a US-spec Typ.113, chassis number 116511574 and painted in Ruby Red (L456) with Platinum white leatherette interior and fitted with a 1.3-litre 40PS engine. Options fitted were whitewall tyres, hinged rear windows and radio. It also had a special commemorative golden plaque attached next to the spare wheel. – Pete Frost
In 2012 the car was given a new lease of life by owner Larry Marchant of South Carolina with a body-off, bare metal 2-year total restoration to original factory specification by Klassik Rides in Denver, North Carolina. The $100,000 restoration was completed in time for Volkswagen Emden’s 50th anniversary in 2014. As part of those anniversary celebrations, the car was shipped to Germany and featured in a special exhibition hosted by the Ostfriesisches Landesmuseum Emden at the Rathaus am Delft in the city, titled “Als der Käfer nach Emden kam” (When the Beetle came to Emden). After the 6-month exhibition, the car returned home to the United States where it is still going strong today. – Pete Frost
11 JANUARY 1966 – EMDEN – Production record. Plant – 100,000
The 100,000th Volkswagen for Norway on the dockside in Oslo. Captain Schwobmann of the MS Bremer Westen hands the car over to the importer Harald A. Møller.
1966 – WOLFSBURG – Export record to Norway – Volkswagen – 100,000
The 5 millionth VW for export, allocated to the Hoogenboom Dealer Group in Rotterdam. Car is being handed over at the end of the assembly line at the Wolfsburg plant in 1966.
1966 – WOLFSBURG – Export record Netherlands – Volkswagen – 5000,000
1967
12 JANUARY 1967 – D’LETEREN, VORST, BRUSSELS – Production record Volkswagen – 500,000
MARCH 1967 – BRUSSELS – Production record. Plant – 500,000
11 MARCH 1967 – EMDEN – Plant record – Volkswagen – 500,000
4 JULY 1967 – SAO PAULO – Plant record – Volkswagen – 500,000
DECEMBER 1967 – WOLFSBURG – Production record. Beetle – 10,000,000
1967 – WOLFSBURG – Production record for Bolivia. Volkswagen – 2000
1968
7 FEBRUARY 1968 – WOLFSBURG – Export record. Beetle – 300,000 for Netherlands.
The 500,000th Beetle rolled off the assembly line at the Volkswagen plant in Emden in mid-March. Since the start of production at the end of 1964, exactly 3 years, 3 months and 3 days have passed until the anniversary Beetle. The approximately 6,000 Emden employees currently produce 1,100 Beetles and 135 VW Clippers per day. The Emden cars are almost exclusively each. exported to the United States.
MARCH 1968 – EMDEN – Production record Volkswagen – 500,000
Otto Hoehne, member of the VW AG board of directors, presented the car to the National Child Protection Institute.
12 JUNE 1968, 1.30 PM – PUEBLA – Production record for Mexico – Volkswagen – 100,000
Here we see the special car arriving by train at the central delivery and distribution operations centre of Dutch national importer Pon’s Automobielhandel in Leusden near Amersfoort.
8 OCTOBER 1968 – WOLFSBURG – Production record for Netherlands. Volkswagen – 500,000.
29 NOVEMBER 1968 – WOLFSBURG – Production record. Volkswagen – 15,000,000
WOLFSBURG – Production record for Israel – Volkswagen – 9000
WOLFSBURG – Production record for Japan – Beetle – 25,000th
1969
1969 – WOLFSBURG – Export to Norway – Beetle – 100,000
1969 – WOLFSBURG – Export to Norway – Volkswagen – 150,000
Volkswagen began assembling the Beetle in Ingolstadt in 1965
The chalkboard says:
Dear Beetle – Today on September 4th, 69 you will finally part with us. In deep sadness we say goodbye to you and hope that you will continue to live in Wolfsburg. We thank you for your loyalty, which you have shown us for 4 years. In deep sorrow. The bereaved.
And on the wreath is written:
Thank you for saving our lives. With these words, the employees said goodbye to the last VW Beetle produced at Auto Union (Audi) in Ingolstadt. When VW took over the Ingolstadt company in 1965, it was on the verge of collapse. The two-stroke engine that Auto Union had specialized in up to then was no longer up to date and there were no alternatives. The employees feared for their jobs. Building the Beetle with its four-stroke boxer engine was the savior. And the sales also prove that: 347,869 Beetles rolled off the assembly line in Ingolstadt between 1965 and 1969. – translation courtesy Björn Doppke
4 SEPTEMBER 1969 – INGOLSTADT – Beetle – last car off production line – 347,869.
16 DECEMBER 1969 – EMDEN – Production record Beetle – 1,000,000
1970
8 JULY 1970 – Production record. Plant – Volkswagen Brazil – 1,000,000 Volkswagen
1971
Major Ivan Hirst accepts the car on behalf of VW (GB) from the production line.
Vehicle donated to World Wildlife Fund.
5 MAY 1971 – WOLFSBURG – Production record. Beetle – 14,000,000.
AUTUMN 1971 – WOLFSBURG – Production record. Volkswagen – 20,000,000 (Jubilee).
The 2 millionth Beetle to be shipped from the port of Emden is seen on March 31, 1971, being hoisted aboard the Volkswagen transport ship Johann Schulte. The car is a 1302 Super Beetle and was decorated in traditional style with colourful Chrysanthemums.
31 MARCH 1971 – EMDEN – Port/plant export record Beetle – 2,000,000
Puebla boss Hans Barschkis (left) shaking hands with the boss of the Red Cross of the State of Puebla as the car was donated to them.
22 OCTOBER 1971 – PUEBLA, MEXICO – Plant record VW – 200,000
1972
Keys being turned over to The Smithsonian representatives Charles H White and Don H Berkebile by Tony Weaver of VWoA.
15 FEBRUARY 1972 – WOLFSBURG – Production record. Beetle – 15,000,000. Car donated to the Smithsonian.
17 FEBRUARY 1972 – WOLFSBURG – Production record. Beetle – 15,007,034 (Weltmeister).
The Beetle beats the world production record of the Ford Model-T.
Courtesy MIAU.
9 MARCH 1972 – Production record. Plant – Volkswagen Brazil – 1,000,000 Fusca
Douglas B Miller Managing Director of VW GB at Wolfsburg November 1972.
NOVEMBER 1972 – WOLFSBURG. Export record. Great Britain – 300,000. (GT Beetle)
1972 – WOLFSBURG – Export record for Norway – Volkswagen – 200,000
1972 – Sales record. Aveg Linz – 50,000.
70s – Export record. Ireland – 2000 per year.
1973
1973 – Production record. Plant Brazil – Fusca – 1,500,000.
A plant production record was achieved at Volkswagenwerk Emden on Germany’s north-west coast when the factory produced its 2 millionth Beetle since opening almost nine years earlier specifically to produce Volkswagens for the US and Canadian markets. A VW 1303 which was shipped for export to North America.
24 OCTOBER 1973 – EMDEN – Production record Beetle, – 2,000,000
7 JUNE1973 – BRUSSELS – Production record. Plant – 1,000,000.
Michael O’Flaherty (right) leading an Irish management group that includes Dermod Ryan (left), Michael O’Keeffe (3rd left) and Donal Fingleton (4th left) with the 75,000 Beetle for Ireland.
18 JULY 1973 – WOLFSBURG – Export record. Ireland – 75,000
10 NOVEMBER 1973 – VOGOSCA, YUGOSLAVIA – First off (TAS) production line – Beetle.
31 OCTOBER 1973 – WOLFSBURG – Export record. Netherlands – 750,000
1974
1 JULY 1974 – WOLFSBURG – Last off production line. Beetle – 11,916,519.
1975
1975 – UITENHAGE – Production record. Plant South Africa – 250,000 (Lux Bug).
21 MARCH 1975 – First off production line – Nigeria
1975 – Production record – Nigeria – 1,000
The vehicle was presented to the National Child Protection Institute.
15 MAY 1975 – PUEBLA – Production record for Mexico – Volkswagen – 500,000
22 MAY 1975 – VORST, BRUSSELS – Last Beetle – 1,143,664
1976
It’s not known who the gentlemen are. However, the factory was owned by the Japanese Nissan company at the time and VW CKD assembly of Beetles, Golfs, Passats’, and Transporters was being halted. Apart from the Nissan take-over, another issue is that from 01 July 1967 ADR 27A came into force (Australian Design Rule 27A) which imposed tight exhaust emission controls on new cars. We believe these last Australian-built Beetles (and Transporters) sneaked in after 01 July because the build date was determined to be when the CKD crate was packed in Germany which was before 01 July 1976.
15 JULY 1976 – Last off production line – Australia – 260,055.
1976 – JAKARTA – Production record. Indonesia – 10,000.
DECEMBER 1976 – EMDEN – Production record. Beetle – 19,000,000.
1978
Courtesy AG Foto.
Courtesy ARD Foto.
Penultimate Beetle from Emden, Germany.
Antepenultimate Beetle from Emden, 2,362,800. Glory Beetle interior.
19 JANUARY 1978 – EMDEN – Last off production line. Beetle – 16,255,500 (Glory Beetle, Last Edition)
1979
In 2006 several Uitenhage Museum vehicles including this one were severely damaged in a transporter accident on the way to an event.
Restored vehicle on display at AutoPavillion (Volkswagen Museum) Uitenhage.
18 JANUARY 1979 – UITENHAGE, SOUTH AFRICA – Last off production line. Beetle.
1300L, Alaska White.
NOVEMBER 1979 – ANCHIETA, BRAZIL – Volkswagen Production Record – 5,000,000.
1980s to 2010s
1980
Last German-spec Karmann or highest VIN. Ex-Karmann Collection.
10 JANUARY 1980 – OSNABRÜCK – Last off production line. Karmann Beetle – 331,847 (Triple White).
12 SEPTEMBER 1980 – PUEBLA – Production record Volkswagen – 1,000,000
1981
15 MAY 1981 – SAO PAULO, BRAZIL – Production record.Beetle – 19,999,999
20,000,001
15 MAY 1981 – PUEBLA – Production record. Beetle – 20,000,000 (Silver Bug)
The 20,000,001 Beetle was taken on 15 May 1981, later donated to the Red Cross. The 20 millionth was celebrated the same day in Mexico and the 19,999,999th in Brazil. Image courtesy Beetling Magazine.
15 MAY, 1981 – LAGOS, NIGERIA – Production record Beetle 20,000,001
1981 – PUEBLA – Production record to Italy Beetle – 250,000
31 MARCH 1981 – MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Last off production line – Beetle (Brazilian CKD)
1984
10 July 1984 German Chancellor Helmut Kohl visits VW Mexico in honour of production of Beetle number 100,000 for export to Emden.
10 JULY 1984 – PUEBLA, MEXICO – Production record export to Europe, Beetle – 100,000 (Velvet Red)
1985
25 JULY 1985 – PUEBLA, MEXICO – Last export to Europe, Beetle
1986
Courtesy Alexander Gromow.
31 OCTOBER 1986 – SAO PAULO, BRASIL – Last off production line. Fusca – 3,324,506 (Ultima Serie)
1988
1988 – NIGERIA – Last off production line.153,519 (Golden Beetle).
1990
OCTOBER 1990 – PUEBLA – Production record.Beetle – 1,000,000
OCTOBER 1990 – PUEBLA – Production record Volkswagen – 2,000,000 (same vehicle)
1992
1993
24 AUGUST 1993 – SAO PAULO, BRAZIL – First off production line – Fusca Itamar
1996
The total Brazilian Fusca production had reached more than 3 million.
25 JUNE 1996 – SAO PAULO, BRAZIL – Production record, end of production – Fusca – more than 3,000,000
28 JUNE 1996 – SAO PAULO, BRAZIL – Last off production line.
Last chassis off of the production line (# 9BWZZZ113TP00 6619) was completed and eventually delivered to Dealer Sabrico on August 30, 1996. Photo and information courtesy André Chun.
11 JULY 1996 – SAO PAULO, BRAZIL – Last chassis from the production line – Fusca Itamar – 47,764 (Ouro).
2003
2013
AUGUST 2013 – PUEBLA – 2012 Beetle – 10,000,000
2019
With thanks to Pete Frost for certain information, images and Volkswagen Media Services.