Volkswagen announced today that production of the Transporter (Micro Bus) has exceeded 10 million units since the first rear-engined Transporter with the “split-screen” windshield entered the European market. In the Marking the milestone, Robert Hazelwood, Director, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles commented: ‘This is an incredible achievement and we’re proud of the success and popularity the Transporter has achieved.’
Facts from the history of the Volkswagen Transporter:
- 1947: first design sketch of the rear-engined Transporter produced
- 1950: Production of the first generation, ‘split-screen’ Transporter started in
- 1955: Volkswagen imported the first Transporter to the
- 1956: Transporter production moved to a new Volkswagen factory in
- 1967: The second generation, ‘bay window’ Transporter was introduced. Over three million were made during 12 years of production. It’s still produced to this day in
- 1979: The third generation Transporter was introduced
- 1982: After 32 years and with production totalling over five million vehicles, the Transporter switched from air-cooled to water-cooled engines – still rear-mounted
- 1990: The fourth generation Transporter was introduced and became the first to have the engine at the front to leave a completely flat load area
- 2003: The current, fifth generation Transporter made its debut
- 2007: Rock legends, The Who, performed live at an official event to celebrate 60 years of Volkswagen vans held in
