Company.

The fact that the Transporter continued to achieve excellent sales figures (although it had numerous competitors as it was “often copied, never equalled”) was due to an astute management decision: the successor to the successful model was launched on the market at the right moment – in the middle of the "trough" in the Federal German economy. It was a much more up-to-date, more attractive and also much safer vehicle which all at once made its predecessor – sold 1,800,000 times over – look outdated. Much more light reaches the interior through the now more rounded, undivided windscreen and through the windows which have been enlarged overall. There is therefore naturally better visibility for the driver and passengers.

However, the most lasting change is beneath the metal. The rear axle is designed as a double jointed semi-trailing arm axle and dramatically improves the driving characteristics of the Type 2. The front axle now has even better springing and dual circuit brakes underline the claim of offering passenger car safety. There is also more comfort: better seats, better ventilation and a wealth of improved details. A more powerful engine with 35 kW results in a speed of 110 kph for the Delivery van. The only drop of bitterness: Volkswagen no longer dances the "Samba" – the additional row of windows in the curve of the roof is a thing of the past after the change of model. This version of the Type 2 at least is a collector’s item from now on. A unique record on the South American subcontinent: the 500,000th Brazilian Volkswagen leaves the final assembly line at Volkswagen do Brasil. Special attention is focused on safety. All vehicles are delivered with a new safety steering column.

1969
Volkswagen AG acquires land to build the Salzgitter factory. As of 1970, the K70 car developed by NSU is built here – for the first time with front-wheel drive and water cooling. Production is discontinued in February 1975. The Salzgitter factory is today the main supplier of all water-cooled engines for the new generation of Volkswagens.

1970
Volkswagen do Brasil builds the 1,000,000th Volkswagen.

1971
New 1.7 litre flat engine, cubic capacity of 1679 ccm, output of 49 kW (66 bhp) at 4800 rpm. The 3,000,000th Transporter is built.

1972
Together with the Volkswagen General Importer UNIS, Volkswagenwerk AG founds the TAS Tvornica Automobila Sarajevo in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia as an assembly company for Volkswagen vehicles.

1973
Foundation of Volkswagen of Nigeria Ltd., Lagos/Nigeria.

1974
After a production history of nearly 30 years, an era comes to an end in Wolfsburg – an era in which, like never before in the history of the automobile, the product was synonymous with the factory and history. Wolfsburg was the town of the "Beetle". Production of this model ended with completion of the 11,916,519th Beetle produced at the parent plant in Wolfsburg. The Beetle is still produced in Emden, Brussels, and overseas. The daily production figure is approx. 3,300 worldwide.

There is a smooth transition from the Beetle to its successor – the Golf, with its new technical concept. The Golf is a success right from the start and takes the lead in the registration statistics in the Federal Republic of Germany. With the Golf, presented to the Press in May, a new vehicle category is established. Making a complete departure from traditional construction methods, Volkswagen launches a vehicle on the market which is just as unusual and advanced at the time of its appearance as the Beetle was in its time. Once again, Volkswagen succeeds in designing a best-selling vehicle.

The Taubaté factory is set up in Brazil. It is planned to start production in mid-1975. Once the new factory is completed, the daily capacity of Volkswagen do Brasil will be some 2,500 units.