Volkswagen Kombi celebrates 70th anniversary

MANILA: Happy anniversary, Volkswagen Kombi (known as the Transporter, Bulli, VW microbus in other parts of the world)!

After first rolling off the production line in March 8, 1950, the Volkswagen Kombi has sold a total of 13 million units through six generations and holds the distinction of having the world’s longest production run of any commercial vehicle.

The prototype was hand-built in 1949 before it was formally introduced as a panel van with a Beetle-sourced rear-engine and an eight-seater capacity.

A “Samba” model was introduced in 1951 before production moved from Wolfsburg, Germany to Hannover in 1956 and Brazil began manufacturing its own Kombi units as well.

By 1967, some 1.9 million people around the world had purchased the Kombi, which led to its second-generation unit becoming the cultural icon of the “flower power” era. That model introduced the sliding door.

The Kombi was one of the first vehicles to ever go electric when it offered a zero-emissions trim in 1972.

In 1979, it saw the third-generation model with the wider body for more passengers and cargo space. It came with a new chassis for enhanced comfort and offered the option of the flat diesel engine for increased roominess.

Catalytic converters were introduced in 1985, along with turbochargers and an all-wheel drive. It was followed by a new model with a front-engine and front-wheel drive platform that had a longer front end, new suspension, and more engine options. For the first time ever, it was also offered in two wheelbases.

The fifth-generation model debuted in 2003, focusing more on cabin configuration and the driver’s workplace concept. It was available with a variety of gasoline and diesel engines, plus an all-wheel drive system.

Its latest iteration is called the T6 and T6.1 respectively. It was revealed in 2015 and came with new engines, intelligent driver assistance systems, new infotainment system, and a front-end redesign.

Last year, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles unveiled a more high-tech version of the Kombi with a new dashboard design, a raft of technology and connectivity updates, as well as a new power steering system and additional efficient, clean turbodiesels.

Also read: Retro yet high-tech VW minibus might cost P3.5 million