Volkswagen do Brasil Ltda. is a subsidiary arm of Volkswagen Group, established in 1953 with local assembly of the Volkswagen Type 1 from parts imported from Germany. It produced over 20 million vehicles in Brazil, having been market leader for the majority of their more than sixty years in existence. Beginning in 1958, the Type 1 ("Fuscas") had a 24-year run as the number one in sales in Brazil. From 1987 until 2012, the Gol has been in first place in sales for 26 years straight.[1]
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2017)
The Volkswagen assembly plant in Brazil was established after the Brazilian government prohibited the import of fully built-up vehicles in 1953.[2] Its first president was Friedrich Schultz-Wenk, who had emigrated to Brazil in 1950 after a brief stint as a prisoner of war followed by some time in Wolfsburg.[3] Their first plant was in Ipiranga, São Paulo and was a strict knock-down kit operation. In two years 2268 Fuscas and 552 Kombis were assembled there by hand.[3] After Juscelino Kubitschek's import substitution programs began taking effect, Volkswagen was compelled to open a proper factory in São Bernardo do Campo. Work on the factory began in mid-1957.[4] Originally only the Kombi was built locally from September 1957, but from January 1959 the 1200 cc "Fusca" also entered local production, with ever-growing local parts content.[3] In 1959, VW started production at the plant near São Paulo.[5]
Workers have been accusing Volkswagen do Brasil of spying on them starting in the 1970s, which was during Brazil's military dictatorship from 1964-1985. VW's security personnel informed the political police on eventual oppositional activities. In 1976, mass arrests occurred and some VW employees were tortured. In 1979, Brazilian VW workers traveled to Wolfsburg to inform the CEO in person.[6]
In 2014, the "truth commission" convened by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff found documents that "dozens of companies, including Volkswagen and other foreign automakers, helped the military identify union activists", including Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.[7] In subsequent meetings before the São Paulo state commission, VW legal counsel have denied accusations and contested there was no document proving VW had violated human rights.[8]
In 2015, activists and former VW employees in Brazil spoke out in public accusing the company's silence about the persecution of its workers.[9]
In November 2016, VW commissioned a second expert review of the situation by historian Christopher Kopper of Bielefeld University, which is due end of 2017.[9] after its "chief historian Manfred Grieger quit around the same time as Kopper was appointed."[6] Grieger had recommended to donate a memorial for those whose human rights were violated.[5] In the July 2017 ARD interview, former VW CEO Carl Hahn denied ever having known of security police activities.[5] The Brazilian attorney general has been investigating.[5] The further investigations concentrated on assumed slavery work at a so called "Fazenda Volkswagen", a Volkswagen owned cattle farm in rural Amazonia.[10]
By 1961, Volkswagen had surpassed Willys-Overland to become the biggest producer of vehicles in Brazil.[4] Many models were designed especially for Brazil:
From 1971 to 1975 approximately 250 Brazil "kombi" buses were produced with Special Editions, these buses had +8 sky windows, mouldings, timer clock. These buses are called "de luxe," the German name is "Samba."
After 1997 Volkswagen has been the only manufacturer to continue manufacturing ethanol powered vehicles after others withdrew.[11]
In 2012, Volkswagen built 852,086 units (including CKD kits), making them the biggest producer in the country and second in sales.[1] Volkswagen operates four plants, in São Bernardo do Campo, Taubaté, São José dos Pinhais, and São Carlos. The São Carlos plant only makes engines.[1]
From 1979 until 1999, Volkswagen do Brasil created and developed Volkswagen Caminhões Ltda, (the Volkswagen Trucks and Buses division), after which the operation was taken over by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. In December 2008, it was announced that Volkswagen Trucks and Buses was to be sold to MAN.[12]
In 1986, Volkswagen entered a deal with Paccar to sell their trucks with Peterbilt or Kenworth badging in the United States. This would allow Paccar's dealers to offer Class 7 trucks without having to go the competition.[13] Volkswagen's Latin American trucks had always been built much heavier than elsewhere in the world, where this sector has mainly been the responsibility of MAN.[14] The Peterbilt-Volkswagen 200 was affectionately known as "Peter Rabbit."[citation needed]
^ abcCalmon, Fernando (2013-04-02). Just-Auto Global News. Aroq Limited. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
^Shapiro, Helen (Winter 1991). "Determinants of Firm Entry into the Brazilian Automobile Manufacturing Industry, 1956-1968". The Business History Review. 65 (4, The Automobile Industry): 884. doi:10.2307/3117267. JSTOR 3117267. S2CID 153363903.
^ abcd"VW-Tochter: Erfolg mit Fusca" [VW-daughter: Fusca success]. Der Spiegel (in German). Rudolf Augstein (39): 134, 136. 1966-09-19.
^ abWolfe, Joel (2010), Autos and Progress: The Brazilian search for Modernity, New York City: Oxford UP, p. 121, ISBN978-0-19-517456-4
^ abcdKomplizen? - VW und die brasilianische Militärdiktatur. 2017-07-26 at the Wayback Machine Das Erste, ARD, documentary, 24.07.2017
^ abAgence France Presse Volkswagen aided Brazil dictatorship’s repression: historian Business Recorder REPORT, 25 July 2017
^Brian Winter spied on Lula, other Brazilian workers in 1980s[dead link] 5 September 2014 Reuters
^Brian Winter Brazil probe of dictatorship period not satisfied by Volkswagen testimony Reuters, February 28, 2015
^ abVW worked hand in hand with Brazil's military dictatorship 24.07.2017 Deutsche Welle
^LTO. "Untersuchung zu 'Fazenda VW' geht weiter". Legal Tribune Online (in German). Retrieved 2022-06-15.
^Feltrin, Ariverson (1998-02-18). "Manufacturers want alcohol program". Gazeta Mercantil Online. São Paulo, Brazil: Gazeta Mercantil.
^MAN acquires Brazil based VW Truck and Bus MAN 15 December 2015
^Barden, Paul (December 1986). "Foden: A Family Affair". TRUCK. London, UK: FF Publishing Ltd: 45.
Illustrated research paper by a UC Berkeley graduate student, lithic.org
Volkswagen Brazil's Homepage (in Portuguese)
Volkswagen Brazil's Leading Enthusiasts Site (in Portuguese)
January 12, 2023
volkswagen, brasil, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, septemb. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Volkswagen do Brasil news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message Volkswagen do Brasil Ltda is a subsidiary arm of Volkswagen Group established in 1953 with local assembly of the Volkswagen Type 1 from parts imported from Germany It produced over 20 million vehicles in Brazil having been market leader for the majority of their more than sixty years in existence Beginning in 1958 the Type 1 Fuscas had a 24 year run as the number one in sales in Brazil From 1987 until 2012 the Gol has been in first place in sales for 26 years straight 1 Volkswagen do Brasil Ltda TypeSubsidiaryIndustryAutomotive industryFounded1953HeadquartersSao Bernardo do Campo BrazilArea servedSouth AmericaProductsautomobilesOwnerVolkswagen GroupNumber of employees22 500 2013 Contents 1 History 2 Models 2 1 Current models 3 Brazilian developed Volkswagens 3 1 Trucks and buses 4 Facilities 5 CEOs 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksHistory EditThis section needs expansion You can help by adding to it July 2017 The Volkswagen assembly plant in Brazil was established after the Brazilian government prohibited the import of fully built up vehicles in 1953 2 Its first president was Friedrich Schultz Wenk who had emigrated to Brazil in 1950 after a brief stint as a prisoner of war followed by some time in Wolfsburg 3 Their first plant was in Ipiranga Sao Paulo and was a strict knock down kit operation In two years 2268 Fuscas and 552 Kombis were assembled there by hand 3 After Juscelino Kubitschek s import substitution programs began taking effect Volkswagen was compelled to open a proper factory in Sao Bernardo do Campo Work on the factory began in mid 1957 4 Originally only the Kombi was built locally from September 1957 but from January 1959 the 1200 cc Fusca also entered local production with ever growing local parts content 3 In 1959 VW started production at the plant near Sao Paulo 5 Workers have been accusing Volkswagen do Brasil of spying on them starting in the 1970s which was during Brazil s military dictatorship from 1964 1985 VW s security personnel informed the political police on eventual oppositional activities In 1976 mass arrests occurred and some VW employees were tortured In 1979 Brazilian VW workers traveled to Wolfsburg to inform the CEO in person 6 In 2014 the truth commission convened by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff found documents that dozens of companies including Volkswagen and other foreign automakers helped the military identify union activists including Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva 7 In subsequent meetings before the Sao Paulo state commission VW legal counsel have denied accusations and contested there was no document proving VW had violated human rights 8 In 2015 activists and former VW employees in Brazil spoke out in public accusing the company s silence about the persecution of its workers 9 In November 2016 VW commissioned a second expert review of the situation by historian Christopher Kopper of Bielefeld University which is due end of 2017 9 after its chief historian Manfred Grieger quit around the same time as Kopper was appointed 6 Grieger had recommended to donate a memorial for those whose human rights were violated 5 In the July 2017 ARD interview former VW CEO Carl Hahn denied ever having known of security police activities 5 The Brazilian attorney general has been investigating 5 The further investigations concentrated on assumed slavery work at a so called Fazenda Volkswagen a Volkswagen owned cattle farm in rural Amazonia 10 Models EditCurrent models Edit Volkswagen Gol Volkswagen Voyage Volkswagen Polo Volkswagen Virtus Volkswagen Nivus Volkswagen T Cross Volkswagen Taos Volkswagen Jetta GLI Volkswagen Saveiro Volkswagen AmarokBrazilian developed Volkswagens Edit The 2003 VW Gol 1 6 Total Flex was the first full flexible fuel vehicle launched in Brazil capable of running on any blend of gasoline and ethanol E100 VW Type 2 TotalFlex Known as Kombi VW Polo 2 TotalFlex By 1961 Volkswagen had surpassed Willys Overland to become the biggest producer of vehicles in Brazil 4 Many models were designed especially for Brazil Brasilia SP1 amp SP2 1500 Variant Variant II Karmann Ghia TC Gol Voyage a Gol sedan sold as the Volkswagen Fox in North America Parati a Voyage Fox station wagon derivative Saveiro a Gol pickup truck Fox CrossFox SpaceFoxFrom 1971 to 1975 approximately 250 Brazil kombi buses were produced with Special Editions these buses had 8 sky windows mouldings timer clock These buses are called de luxe the German name is Samba After 1997 Volkswagen has been the only manufacturer to continue manufacturing ethanol powered vehicles after others withdrew 11 In 2012 Volkswagen built 852 086 units including CKD kits making them the biggest producer in the country and second in sales 1 Volkswagen operates four plants in Sao Bernardo do Campo Taubate Sao Jose dos Pinhais and Sao Carlos The Sao Carlos plant only makes engines 1 From 1987 to 1995 Volkswagen do Brasil s history was affected by the AutoLatina arrangement between Ford Motor Company and Volkswagen Group Trucks and buses Edit From 1979 until 1999 Volkswagen do Brasil created and developed Volkswagen Caminhoes Ltda the Volkswagen Trucks and Buses division after which the operation was taken over by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles In December 2008 it was announced that Volkswagen Trucks and Buses was to be sold to MAN 12 In 1986 Volkswagen entered a deal with Paccar to sell their trucks with Peterbilt or Kenworth badging in the United States This would allow Paccar s dealers to offer Class 7 trucks without having to go the competition 13 Volkswagen s Latin American trucks had always been built much heavier than elsewhere in the world where this sector has mainly been the responsibility of MAN 14 The Peterbilt Volkswagen 200 was affectionately known as Peter Rabbit citation needed Facilities EditVolkswagen do Brasil operates four factories 15 Location Opened ProductsSao Bernardo do Campo November 18 1959 63 years ago 1959 11 18 Nivus Polo Virtus SaveiroSao Carlos October 12 1996 26 years ago 1996 10 12 EnginesTaubate January 14 1976 46 years ago 1976 01 14 Gol VoyageSao Jose dos Pinhais January 18 1999 23 years ago 1999 01 18 T CrossCEOs EditFriedrich Schulz Wenk 1953 1969 3 16 Rudolf Leiding 1969 1973 Wolfgang Sauer 1973 1993 Herbert Demel 1997 2002 Paul S Fleming 2002 2003 Hans Christian Maergner 2004 2007 Thomas Schmall 2007 2015 David Powels 2015 See also Edit Companies portalList of German cars Volkswagen Group of America Volkswagen Group ChinaReferences Edit a b c Calmon Fernando 2013 04 02 Just Auto Global News Aroq Limited a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Missing or empty title help Shapiro Helen Winter 1991 Determinants of Firm Entry into the Brazilian Automobile Manufacturing Industry 1956 1968 The Business History Review 65 4 The Automobile Industry 884 doi 10 2307 3117267 JSTOR 3117267 S2CID 153363903 a b c d VW Tochter Erfolg mit Fusca VW daughter Fusca success Der Spiegel in German Rudolf Augstein 39 134 136 1966 09 19 a b Wolfe Joel 2010 Autos and Progress The Brazilian search for Modernity New York City Oxford UP p 121 ISBN 978 0 19 517456 4 a b c d Komplizen VW und die brasilianische Militardiktatur Archived 2017 07 26 at the Wayback Machine Das Erste ARD documentary 24 07 2017 a b Agence France Presse Volkswagen aided Brazil dictatorship s repression historian Business Recorder REPORT 25 July 2017 Brian Winter spied on Lula other Brazilian workers in 1980s dead link 5 September 2014 Reuters Brian Winter Brazil probe of dictatorship period not satisfied by Volkswagen testimony Reuters February 28 2015 a b VW worked hand in hand with Brazil s military dictatorship 24 07 2017 Deutsche Welle LTO Untersuchung zu Fazenda VW geht weiter Legal Tribune Online in German Retrieved 2022 06 15 Feltrin Ariverson 1998 02 18 Manufacturers want alcohol program Gazeta Mercantil Online Sao Paulo Brazil Gazeta Mercantil MAN acquires Brazil based VW Truck and Bus MAN 15 December 2015 Barden Paul December 1986 Foden A Family Affair TRUCK London UK FF Publishing Ltd 45 Queiroz Roberto December 1986 Barden Paul ed View Brazil TRUCK London UK FF Publishing Ltd 37 Volkswagen do Brasil www vw com br in Portuguese Retrieved 2021 11 08 Wolfe p 129External links EditIllustrated research paper by aUC Berkeley graduate student lithic org Volkswagen Brazil s Homepage in Portuguese Volkswagen Brazil s Leading Enthusiasts Site in Portuguese Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Volkswagen do Brasil amp oldid 1121206143, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
