Volkswagen is a German carmaker founded in 1937. The cars themselves are another matter: across 18 VIN prefixes on record they came off lines in 4 countries — Mexico 45.2%, Germany 32.7%, the United States 19.4%. 34 models are tracked here (1981–2026). Reliable? yes, on balance — 4.2 out of 5 across 34 rated models, though the spread between model years is far wider than the badge suggests (every model ranked →).
Who makes Volkswagen
Volkswagen AG (VW) is a German automaker headquartered in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, and the eponymous mass-market brand of Volkswagen Group, the world's second-largest automaker by production. Founded in 1937 by the German Labour Front under Nazi Germany, the company's purpose was to build an affordable Volkswagen — literally people's car — designed by Ferdinand Porsche. The original Type 1, marketed as the Beetle in the United States, became the longest-running and most-produced car of a single platform in automotive history, with 21.5 million units built between 1938 and 2003. The Golf, introduced in 1974, has been continuously produced for eight generations, and the Tiguan, Atlas and ID. EV family represent the modern lineup. Volkswagen Group also owns Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bentley, Bugatti, Skoda, SEAT and Ducati. Volkswagen Group trades on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under VOW3. Recall data for every Volkswagen VIN is reported to NHTSA, including the 2.0L TDI diesel emissions recall first announced in 2015. EPA fuel-economy ratings, IIHS crash-test scores and J.D. Power studies provide third-party benchmarks. ForCar.org decodes any Volkswagen VIN against NHTSA's dataset to reveal trim, factory options, open recalls and original window-sticker MSRP.
The Volkswagen project was initiated in 1934 by the German government, which contracted Ferdinand Porsche to design an affordable family car. The Volkswagenwerk GmbH was incorporated in 1937. After World War II the British Army took over the bombed-out factory, restarted Beetle production, and turned the company over to German management in 1949. The 1974 Golf, designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, transitioned VW from the air-cooled rear-engine Beetle to the modern front-wheel-drive hatchback formula now dominant globally.
| Volkswagen | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1937 |
| Founded by | German Labour Front (Deutsche Arbeitsfront) |
| Headquarters | Wolfsburg, Germany |
| Slogan | «Das Auto» |
| Models tracked here | 33 (1981–2026) |
| Assembled in | 4 countries |
Technology it is known for: MQB modular transverse platform, TSI direct-injection turbo engines, DSG dual-clutch transmission, ID. Software EV operating system, IQ.DRIVE driver assistance.
This page covers the Volkswagen brand within Volkswagen AG — not the parent Volkswagen Group as a whole, and not the German word Volkswagen meaning people's car.
Where Volkswagen cars are actually built
A badge says where a company is registered, not where its cars were bolted together. The first three characters of any VIN — the world manufacturer identifier — say the second thing, and that is what we counted: 25,772 vehicles on record, 18 distinct manufacturer codes.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 3VW, 3VV, 9BW, 3BW | 1985–2026 | |
| Germany | WVW, WVG, WV2, WV3 | 1984–2026 | |
| the United States | 1V2, 1VW | 1981–2026 | |
| Canada | 2V4, 2V8, 2C4 | 2009–2014 |
Read your own: the first character is the region, the first three together identify the plant's manufacturer. A Volkswagen beginning 3VW was assembled in Mexico.
All Volkswagen models 34
Every Volkswagen model we track, grouped by body type. Click any model for its VIN decoder, recalls, MPG, safety and ForCar Reliability Score — broken down by year.
Volkswagen SUVs & crossovers 12
Volkswagen Cars & sedans 18
Volkswagen Minivans & vans 3
Volkswagen More models 1
Volkswagen by the numbers
What the federal records say about the marque. Each line links to the full breakdown by model and year.
| Topic | Volkswagen | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 1,248 campaigns | Most recalled: Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module |
| Owner complaints | 29,865+ filed | Most reported: Jetta |
| Fuel economy | 119 mpg best | Leader: e-Golf |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ top rated | 8 models tested by NHTSA |
| Insurance | $1,416/yr typical | Cheapest: Golf Alltrack |
Compare model years like a dealer does.
- Full research report on any model year
- Market chart: how this model holds value
- Exact values with mileage adjustment
- Price-drop alerts on the trims you're watching
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Volkswagen hybrids & electric models
Volkswagen's electrified lineup — 2 hybrids and 3 electric / plug-in. Click any model for its full powertrain, MPG and range by year.
Volkswagen hybrids 2
Volkswagen electric & plug-in 3
Electrified variants from EPA fueleconomy.gov powertrain data. A model may offer gas, hybrid and electric versions across years.
Get a Volkswagen window sticker by VIN
Recreate any Volkswagen's original Monroney label — MSRP, factory options, EPA MPG and safety — free from the VIN.
Volkswagen window stickers →How to read a Volkswagen VIN
Every Volkswagen built since 1981 carries a unique 17-character VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). It encodes where and when the vehicle was made, its engine and body — here's what each part means:
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Volkswagen and the country it was built in (real Volkswagen codes below).
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled it.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
- GermanyWV1 · WV2 · WVG · WVW
- USA1V1 · 1V2 · 1VW
- Mexico3VV · 3VW · 9BW
The remaining digits — engine (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard. Our VIN lookup reads every position for you — engine code, model year, assembly plant and country of build.
Who owns Volkswagen, and what you get
Volkswagen is independent, German-owned. Volkswagen positions itself as the European mainstream alternative to Toyota and Honda, with strong dealer presence in Europe, China, Mexico and South America and a smaller US footprint. The Golf and Jetta anchor compact-car sales, the Tiguan and Atlas serve the SUV segment, and the ID. family represents Volkswagen's commitment to dedicated EV platforms (MEB) rather than retrofitted gasoline architectures. Volkswagen Group umbrellas premium and luxury brands across most price points up to Bugatti.
| Volkswagen | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Germany |
| Ownership | Independent |
| Basic warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 years / 60,000 miles |
| Assembly countries | Mexico, Germany, United States, Canada |
⚠ Worth knowing before you rely on it: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, while basic cover here runs 3 years / 36,000 miles. See when Volkswagen models actually start to break →
Volkswagen — frequently asked
Is Volkswagen german?
Volkswagen is a German company, headquartered in Wolfsburg and founded in 1937. The cars are a separate question: 45.2% of the Volkswagen vehicles in our records were assembled in Mexico.
Where are Volkswagen cars made?
Across 18 manufacturer codes on record, assembly splits as: Mexico (45.2%), Germany (32.7%), the United States (19.4%), Canada (2.6%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the manufacturer and plant country — that is where these shares come from.
Who owns Volkswagen?
Volkswagen is independent.
How many Volkswagen models are there?
We track 34 Volkswagen models spanning 1981–2026. The full list is above, ordered by how often each is searched.
What is the Volkswagen warranty?
New vehicles come with 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Terms vary by model year and market — confirm with a dealer.
Is Volkswagen reliable?
It depends far more on the model and year than on the badge. Every Volkswagen model is ranked by complaint rate here, along with the age at which each starts to fail.