VW Transporter celebrates 75th birthday

Volkswagen has drawn up some conclusions as its legendary Transporter van is closing in on its 75th anniversary.

The world’s first Transporter left the factory premises on March 8, 1950. It is currently recognized as Europe’s longest-lived commercial vehicle in history, having gone through seven generations and still being around.

The current, seventh generation shares the underpinnings with the Ford Transit Custom (see video) and is no longer made in Germany. Ford produces it for Volkswagen at its Otosan factory in Turkey.

The company proudly points out that it sold more than 12,500,000 Transporters over these 75 years. This number includes all special editions and modifications.