Volkswagon, which began its operations in 1938, had to undergo serious damages after the Second World War. The factory was heavily bombed by Americans and later the factory was taken over by the British army. As no English manufacturer came out to take over Volkswagen, the British government decided to use it to produce military vehicles.

From 1948, Volkswagen became a very important element, symbolically and economically, of West German regeneration.

Heinrich Nordhoff, the former senior manager at Opel was recruited to run the factory in 1948. In 1949 trust was setup to run the company, controlled by the West German government, and the government of the State of Lower Saxony. Volkswagen Type 2, a  commercial vehicle was launched in the year along with the VW Karmann Ghia sports car. Volkswagens made its ntry into the US market in 1949. But the initial yerar was not a sweet experience. It could sell just two units in America that first year.

On its entry to the U.S. market, the VW was briefly sold as a “Victory Wagon”. Volkswagen of America was formed in April 1955 and slowly grabbed the yankee market.

Heavy advertising helped VW to take up the sales in US to new heights. Thanks to efforts by  New York advertising agency Doyle, Dane Bernbach. The Volkswagen ads became as popular for its usage of crisp layouts and witty copy to lure the younger, sophisticated consumers with whom the car became associated. The first reference to the name Beetle occurred in U.S. advertising in 1968, but not until 1998 and the Golf-based New Beetle would the name be adopted by Volkswagen.

VW easily and comfortably grabbed the American market, which resulted in expanding base over to other countries. The big succes over the European markets helped Volkswagen in emrging as the largest car maker in the next decades.

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Volkswagen brought out its Jetta in the year 1980. Jetta has captivated the car lovers since its launch 28 years ago. The German carmaker baptised its model as Jetta after the Jet Stream, the sedan version of Volkswagen’s innovative compact the Golf. The Jetta was developed for the North American market. It is an upscale model with nicer interior trim, a trunk, and a slightly higher price than the Golf. Since its debut in 1980, Jetta has undergone serious changes five times, each generation growing in size, power, and prestige. The Jetta is available in two, four, and five door variations.

The first-generation Jetta, known as the A1 was available in the market from 1980 to 1984. It was available as a two-door coupe and four-door sedan and was styled by ItalDesign. The marvellously boxy designed had a standard four-cylinder engine producing 78 horsepower powered the A1 Jetta. The Jetta’s power plant was updated to a higher torque producing 1.7-liter four-cylinder in 1981. The second generation, and longest running generation of the car, came out in1985 and were available until 1992. The A2 was offered as a coupe or a sedan and had a number of exterior, interior, engine, and safety upgrades. A 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine producing originally 100 horsepower and later 105 horsepower powered the base models of the A2.

The A3 Jetta made its debut for the North American market in 1993. This car from Volkswagen was only offered as a sedan. The A3 Jetta was produced through 1998. It was available in trim variations, 13, then any other generation of the car. The A3 Jetta had three power plants offered.  The fourth evolution of the Jetta, the A4, came out in 1998 and existed till 2005. This Jetta shares its styling with the rest of the Volkswagen marquee. It served as an outstanding example of the trademark. It was offered in a variety of trim variations and buyers had the choice of three different power plants. The A5 Jetta made its debut in 2005 and is still in production.

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