On June 3rd (local time), Volkswagen held a commemorative event at its Wolfsburg plant in Germany to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the iconic hatchback, the Golf.
The event featured Thomas Schäfer, CEO of the Volkswagen brand, alongside members of the Volkswagen brand and Volkswagen Group boards, Daniela Cavallo, Chair of the Volkswagen Group Works Council, and Stephan Weil, Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, who all came together to honor the Golf’s significant contribution to the Volkswagen brand and the local industry over the past half-century.
Production of the Volkswagen Golf began in the spring of 1974 at the Wolfsburg plant, located near the Volkswagen headquarters. Of the approximately 37 million Golfs sold worldwide across more than 70 countries, over 20 million were produced at the Wolfsburg plant.
The celebratory event, enhanced by performances from the Volkswagen Big Band, included sharing stories from employees who have been a part of Golf’s history at the Wolfsburg plant for many years. Employees such as Nicola Benenati, who has participated in Golf production for 45 years, Roland Walter, who witnessed the start of the second generation Golf’s production 40 years ago, and Victoria Schoke, who currently oversees Golf production training, talked about their experiences and the evolution of Golf’s production over the past 50 years.
Additionally, a special 8th generation Golf featuring a collage image of Wolfsburg plant employees was unveiled. This model commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Golf will be displayed within the plant.
Stephan Weil, Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, remarked, “The Golf is more than just a car; it is a culture, and it is loved by many citizens of Lower Saxony, including myself, as a point of pride in our hometown. Just like the Beetle, which was once an icon of Volkswagen, the Golf has significantly contributed to the growth of Lower Saxony since its birth in 1974 and has also become a symbol of mobility and freedom.”
Thomas Schäfer, CEO of the Volkswagen brand, emphasized, “The Golf is the heart of the Volkswagen brand, representing reasonable mobility realized with outstanding technology over the past 50 years. The Golf, being the most beloved model among Germans, has set new standards for cars across all generations and has secured its place as a global bestseller. Moreover, the intrinsic values of the Golf, such as design, innovation, outstanding practicality, and quality, will be passed on in the era of electrification.”
Meanwhile, the Golf, which first entered the Korean market in 2005, continues its legacy with the 8th generation model. With a sleek yet dynamic design reflecting Volkswagen’s design heritage, top class safety and convenience features, along with powerful performance and fuel efficiency forged through German engineering, it is causing a stir in the domestic hatchback market. In April of this year, it reached a cumulative sales record of 50,000 units, becoming the first imported compact hatchback to achieve this milestone.
Volkswagen Korea is also conducting various marketing activities to highlight the heritage and value of the Golf, including launching a digital advertising campaign to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Golf.
Contact: Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr