Volkswagen celebrated the 50th anniversary of the production of its iconic hatchback Golf at its Wolfsburg plant in Germany today.
Thomas Schäfer, CEO of Volkswagen Brand, the Board of Management of Volkswagen Brand and the Volkswagen Group, Daniela Cavallo, Chairwoman of the Works Council of the Volkswagen Group, and Stephan Weil, Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, were among those present to celebrate 50 years of production of the Golf, which has made a significant contribution to the Volkswagen brand and local industry over the past half century.
Production of the Volkswagen Golf began in the spring of 1974 at the Wolfsburg plant near Volkswagen's headquarters. Of the approximately 37 million Golfs sold in more than 70 countries around the world, more than 20 million were produced at the Wolfsburg plant.
The celebration, which was accompanied by a musical performance by the Volkswagen Big Band, featured stories from employees who have been part of the Golf's history at the Wolfsburg plant for many years. Nicola Benenati, who has been working on Golf production for 45 years, Roland Walter, who saw the second generation Golf start production 40 years ago, and Viktoria Schoke, who is currently responsible for Golf production training, spoke about their experiences over the past 50 years and the changes in Golf production.
In addition, a special eighth-generation Golf was presented, featuring a collage of images of Wolfsburg plant employees. The model, which celebrates the Golf's 50th anniversary, will be on display inside the factory.
"The Golf is more than just a car, it's a culture, and for me and many other citizens of Lower Saxony, it's a pride of place," said Stefan Weil, Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, who attended the event. "Like the Beetle, Volkswagen's iconic predecessor, the Golf has not only contributed significantly to the growth of the state of Lower Saxony since its birth in 1974, but has also become a symbol of mobility and freedom."
"As the heart of the Volkswagen brand, the Golf has come to represent the most technologically advanced and affordable mobility of the last 50 years," said Thomas Schaefer, CEO of the Volkswagen brand. "As Germany's best-loved model, the Golf has set new standards for cars in every generation and has been a global best-seller. Even in the age of electrification, the Golf's unique values - design, innovation, outstanding practicality and quality - will live on."
Meanwhile, the Golf, which first arrived in Korea in 2005, continues to make a name for itself in its eighth generation. With its streamlined yet dynamic exterior that reflects Volkswagen's design heritage, class-leading safety and comfort features, and German-engineered performance and fuel efficiency, the Golf is making waves in the domestic hatchback market. In April this year, it became the first imported compact hatchback to surpass 50,000 units in cumulative sales.
Volkswagen Korea has been running a number of marketing activities to promote the heritage and value of the Golf, including a digital advertising campaign to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Golf.
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Photo Volkswagen Korea