Volkswagen FAQ & Corporate Links

[phaeton]

Who are the major shareholders of Volkswagen AG?

Shareholder Structure based on Annual Report 2008

In percent of subscribed capital:
37,4% Porsche Automobil Holding SE
14.7% State of Lower Saxony
5,9% German institutional investors
17,7% Foreign institutional investors
24,2% Private shareholders / others


Current voting rights distribution

50.76% Porsche Automobil Holding SE *
20.01% State of Lower Saxony **
29.23% Others

* As at January 5, 2009 in accordance with a notification dated January 8, 2009.
** In accordance with a notification dated December 31, 2008.

(This information is based on a variety of sources and is to the best of our knowledge accurate.)

Did Hitler create Volkswagen ?
No, the concept of a "peoples car" was not Hitlers idea, Hitler did however speed the process of its development & financed the 1st prototypes in 1934.

The Volkswagen Company was financed by the "Reichsverband der Deutschen Automobilindustrie" RDA (Reich Association of German Auto Industry) a division of the DAF (German Labour Front) [whose money was from German workers] who wanted to manufacture a "people's car" for Germans.

Ferdinand Porsche was commisioned to develop the Type 1 (Beetle) in 1934.
Hitler did have this following criteria:
-the car had to have a top speed of 100 KPH / 62MPH.
-be able to climb hills and average 7 litres per 100km / 40 miles to the gallon.
-an aircooled engine for reliability in all climates and be cheap to repair.
-have to carry 2 adults and 3 children and their luggage.
-platform sharing aka Kubelwagen & Schwimmwagen etc.
-could only cost 990 Reichmarks.

Why didn't Volkswagen fall after WW2 ?
The British Government took control of the factory until a firm German Goverment was in place.

Under the stewardship of Colonel Charles Radclyffe, Colonel Michael McEvoy and Major Ivan Hirst Volkswagenwerk GmbH secured a 20,000 unit order that made the company viable to produce again.

What Automotive Companies does Volkswagen AG Own ?

Volkswagen - Europes biggest auto manufacturer maker of all vehicle varieties. Active

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles - formed in 1995 as a separate entity from Volkswagen, VWCV build vans & light trucks, its Truck & Bus subsidary builds trucks ranging from 5-44 tonnes & bus chassis' ranging from 5 -18 tonnes.Active

Audi - Auto Union an old German Auto Empire which comprises of Audi,DKW,Horch and Wanderer was bought in 1965, the only company still active is Audi.Active

NSU an old German Auto manufacturer was bought in 1969, its engineering highlight being the Rotary engine.Inactive

SEAT a Spanish Auto manufacturer was bought in 1986, it use to clone FIAT models for the Spanish market.Active

Skoda Auto a Czech Republic manufacturer was bought in 1990 it is one of the oldest carmakers in the world.Active

Bentley a British Auto manufacturer which built Luxury cars for Europes royals in the Early 20th Century it was bought in 1998 its signature is the Craftsmanship and Power.Active

Bugatti an old French Auto manufacturer which built luxury car for Europes royals in the Early 20th Century it was bought in 1998.Active

Lamborghini is a Italian Manufacturer which builds high performance supercars it was bought in 1998.Active

VW has Shares in following Truck Companies
29.9% in MAN AG a German Truck & Bus manufacturer.

20.3% share & 35.31% voting rights in Scania a Swedish Truck & Bus manufacturer.

Does Volkswagen AG own any other Companies ?
VWAG have there own Finance and Bank, and a Marine company called Volkswagen Marine which builds engines for Marine vehicles.

Who designed Volkswagens Logo ?
The actual inventor of the VW emblem should however be viewed as Franz Xaver Reimspiess, whose original design had already been submitted in a trademark application from 1938. A more developed emblem which showed the letters in a so-called Strahlenkranz (radiant garland) was, according to Walter, displayed on wheel caps at the Berlin Auto Show in April 1939.

excerpt taken from http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=151895

What is Volkswagens Strategy towards the Enviroment & Sustainability ?
This site has all the answers on VW's aims towards the future
www.mobility-and-sustainability.com

Links of Interest

Official Site

http://www.volkswagen.com/vwcms_publ...portal/en.html

VW History

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen

Volkswagen AutoMuseum

http://www.volkswagen-automuseum.de/ (in German)

Volkswagen Auto Pavilion
www.vw.co.za/about/autopavilion/

Autostadt
www.autostadt.com

Volkswagen Investor Relations

http://www.volkswagen-ir.de/English_version.337.0.html

Volkswagen Books

www.vwbooks.co.uk

Volkswagen Magazines

Aircooled Magazines

www.volksworld.com/
www.ultravw.com/
www.hotvws.com/
www.vwtrendsweb.com/
www.performancevwmag.com


Watercooled Magazines

www.vwmonline.co.uk/
www.volkswagendriver.co.uk/
www.performancevwmag.com
www.thegolf.co.uk/


Regional Magazines

www.vwma.net.au/ Australia
www.vwmagazine.co.uk UK
www.vwmagazine.com US
www.supervwmag.com/vwus/supervw

Camper & Commercial Vehicle Magazines

www.volkswagencamper.co.uk

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles

www.vw-nutzfahrzeuge.de (in German)

www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswa...rcial_Vehicles

Volkswagen Truck & Bus

www.vwcaminhoeseonibus.com.br/index.asp (in Portugese)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswa...rcial_Vehicles

Volkswagen Motorsport

www.volkswagen-motorsport.com/

www.volkswagen.co.uk/vwracing/home

www.vw-cup.co.uk/

www.vw.co.za/about/racing/

www.vwracing.pl/indexENG.html

www.volkswagenendurancecup.nl/index.php (in Dutch)

www.vwmotorsport.com/forum/default.asp

Volkswagen AG

http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwc.../homepage.html

Volkswagen AG Brand Homepages

www.audi.com/

www.bugatti-cars.de/

www.bentleymotors.com/

www.lamborghini.com/ (in Italian)

www.seat.com/ (in Spanish)

www.skoda-auto.com/

[phaeton]

Whats the difference between Clean TDI, BlueTDI & BlueMotion ?

Clean TDI http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/publi...cle_1906.shtml

This clean diesel Jetta meets the lowest emissions standards without the use of urea injection. Instead, a nitrogen oxide storage catalyst reduces NOx emissions by up to 90 percent. The engine management system in the Jetta changes operating modes periodically to treat the NOx that has been stored in the catalytic converter. A particulate filter in the exhaust system further reduces emissions.

BlueTDI http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/publi...cle_1947.shtml

SCR is the usual international acronym for "Selective Catalytic Reduction". "Selective" refers to the fact that this catalytic converter has a very special task. Its purpose is to selectively convert the nitrogen oxide (NOx) exhaust components to nitrogen and water without generating any undesirable side products.

BlueMotion http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/publi...cle_1697.shtml

Engine This new engine generally distinguishes itself through modifications in the areas charge changing (turbo charger with variable turbine geometry) and optimized exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) with an improved EGR cooler and electrically powered EGR valve.

The diesel particle filter (DPF) comes standard with the Polo BlueMotion and despite being considerably economic is very agile.

Transmission The second technical column for saving fuel is through the power train. For its use in the Polo BlueMotion, the five gear transmission received longer translations with cruising gear characteristic that lower the rotation level. Especially the gears three to five have twelve and 24 percent longer translations. Effect: From now on, the three-cylinder TDI works in its most efficient rotation area more often and longer. These modifications in the drive train area are supported by 14” alloy wheels, especially created for the Polo BlueMotion. The wheels come standard with optimized roll resistant tires.

Aerodynamics As a third supporting column an optimized aerodynamic helps lower the consumption. Especially the front part underwent a strong overhaul. A fluidic optimized front spoiler as well as new, except for a cross gap nearly closed radiator grille, make their way through the air stream with low air resistance (cw = 0,30, cw x A = 0,62). The aerodynamic was also improved in the rear. Here a modified heck spoiler and a roof ledge spoiler are used. All aerodynamic measures were conceptualized via calculations and test series in the wind tunnel and then transferred from the design into the components accordingly.

Where are Australian spec Volkswagens Built ?

Polo - South Africa

Polo GTI - Spain

Mk5 Golf & Golf GTI 5dr - South Africa

Mk5 Golf GTI 3dr & R32 - Germany

Mk6 Golf - Germany

Mk6 Golf GTI - Germany

Mk6 Golf Wagon - Mexico

New Beetle & New Beetle Cabrio - Mexico

Jetta - (Mexico Feb 2005 to May 2008) South Africa (May 2008 to Present)

Eos - Portugal

Passat - Germany

Passat CC - Germany

Tiguan - Germany

Touareg - Slovakia

Caddy/Caddy Life/Caddy Maxi - Poland

(T5) Tranporter/Multivan/Caravelle/Kombi Beach - Germany

(T5) Tranporter Chassis Cab - Poland

Crafter - Germany

Volkswagen Engine Codes
http://home.planet.nl/~koni1691/ecodes.html
http://www.autoshoppingcenter.com/VW...inechange.html

Thanks to all who have supplied info & links
and
www.vwwatercooled.org.au for graciously letting me post this info here

[phaeton]

Whats the difference between Clean TDI, BlueTDI & BlueMotion ?

Clean TDI http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/publi...cle_1906.shtml

This clean diesel Jetta meets the lowest emissions standards without the use of urea injection. Instead, a nitrogen oxide storage catalyst reduces NOx emissions by up to 90 percent. The engine management system in the Jetta changes operating modes periodically to treat the NOx that has been stored in the catalytic converter. A particulate filter in the exhaust system further reduces emissions.

BlueTDI http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/publi...cle_1947.shtml

SCR is the usual international acronym for "Selective Catalytic Reduction". "Selective" refers to the fact that this catalytic converter has a very special task. Its purpose is to selectively convert the nitrogen oxide (NOx) exhaust components to nitrogen and water without generating any undesirable side products.

BlueMotion http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/publi...cle_1697.shtml

Engine This new engine generally distinguishes itself through modifications in the areas charge changing (turbo charger with variable turbine geometry) and optimized exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) with an improved EGR cooler and electrically powered EGR valve.

The diesel particle filter (DPF) comes standard with the Polo BlueMotion and despite being considerably economic is very agile.

Transmission The second technical column for saving fuel is through the power train. For its use in the Polo BlueMotion, the five gear transmission received longer translations with cruising gear characteristic that lower the rotation level. Especially the gears three to five have twelve and 24 percent longer translations. Effect: From now on, the three-cylinder TDI works in its most efficient rotation area more often and longer. These modifications in the drive train area are supported by 14” alloy wheels, especially created for the Polo BlueMotion. The wheels come standard with optimized roll resistant tires.

Aerodynamics As a third supporting column an optimized aerodynamic helps lower the consumption. Especially the front part underwent a strong overhaul. A fluidic optimized front spoiler as well as new, except for a cross gap nearly closed radiator grille, make their way through the air stream with low air resistance (cw = 0,30, cw x A = 0,62). The aerodynamic was also improved in the rear. Here a modified heck spoiler and a roof ledge spoiler are used. All aerodynamic measures were conceptualized via calculations and test series in the wind tunnel and then transferred from the design into the components accordingly.

Which Volkswagen has Diesel Particulate Filter Fitted ?

Mk5 Golf GT Sport 2.0 TDI
Mk6 Golf = 2.0 TDI
Jetta = 2.0 TDI (MY09 onwards)
Passat = 2.0 TDI (MY09 onwards)
Eos = 2.0 TDI
Tiguan = 2.0 TDI
Touareg = 2.5 TDI, V6 TDI & V10 TDI
Multivan = 2.5 TDI
Caddy (optional) = 1.9 TDI
Caddy Life (optional) = 1.9 TDI
Crafter = 2.5 TDI

Is BlueMotion or Clean TDI coming to Australia ?
Unknown at this stage.

Is there any Common Rail Technology in todays Volkswagen Australian Lineup ?
The Mk6 Golf, Jetta (MY09 onwards), Passat (MY09 onwards), Tiguan, Touareg V6 TDI and Crafter 2.5 TDI engines have Common Rail Technology

Volkswagen Engine Codes
http://home.planet.nl/~koni1691/ecodes.html
http://www.autoshoppingcenter.com/VW...inechange.html

OEM Turbo (TDI) List
http://turbomaster.info/eng/applicat...ogo=volkswagen

Thanks to all who have supplied info & links
and
www.vwwatercooled.org.au for graciously letting me post this info here

[mulga1]

Does anyone know how to find out what factory options were installed using the VIN?
Regards Mulga1

[Aussie Volks Guy]

Not using the VIN,

But by using the Data sticker its pretty easy to work out!