Partnerships

Team Volkswagen kicks off Drive Bigger program to get charities back on the field

As the world works toward a new normal in the COVID-19 era, sports like soccer have had to adapt and try new approaches. With teams and players slowly returning to the field, the demands on soccer-related charities remain high, with programs delayed or cancelled and needs greater than ever. To help address those challenges, Volkswagen of America has worked with U.S. Soccer Men’s and Women’s National Team players who serve as brand ambassadors on Team Volkswagen. These ten ambassadors have cho

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Philanthropy

Volkswagen dealers across the nation participate in Community-Driven Atlas Initiative

Volkswagen and its network of dealerships are supporting local communities during COVID-19 through the Community-Driven Atlas Initiative, a program that allows dealerships the ability to re-purpose their service loaner vehicles for community service endeavors like delivering food, masks and other essential goods to individuals in need. “We have been involved with a number of organizations in our communities for years now,” said Kristen Walker, marketing director for Coastal Volkswagen. “But w

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A Florida father-son mechanic duo restores vintage Volkswagens

Gregg Ammerman has loved vintage Volkswagens ever since he purchased his very first car, a watermelon green Super Beetle, in 1982. His passion for the brand has grown over time, and now the former Army mechanic shares his love for car restoration with his youngest son, Dalton Ammerman. The father-and-son duo began restoring cars over five years ago, starting with a yellow 1978 Karmann Convertible Super Beetle in 2015. Together, the Ammermans worked on the car for months, with Gregg le

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Community

Let Tanner Foust share some proper donut-making technique on National Donut Day

Tanner Foust knows how to cook up a proper donut – at least of the automotive kind. The Volkswagen R brand ambassador has twice won championships for drifting, where cars go in precise circles while turning tires into smoke, and demonstrated his handling skills at the wheel of the Volkswagen 560-hp rallycross Volkswagen Beetles. (You may have also seen his skills in a few movies along the way.) For this year’s National Donut Day, Tanner took some time to demonstrate some of his donut-making t

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Community

Drive-in theaters experience a revival nationwide amid COVID

Drive-in movie theaters are one of the few businesses experiencing a renaissance amid the coronavirus pandemic. As one of the few entertainment destinations you can still visit outside of the home, they’ve experienced a boom in popularity and demand over the past couple months. “We’ve seen a resurgence in interest across the country. Our shows are selling out every night. It’s the best market I have ever seen in all my years in business,” says Jim Kopp, owner of The Family Drive-in Theatre i

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Company

#TBT: Learn about the past, present, and future of mobility with virtual Autostadt tours

With public attractions like museums and theme parks largely closed around the world, many are turning to virtual tours. Autostadt, the automotive theme park next to the Volkswagen production factory in Wolfsburg, Germany, has recently reopened, but developed several virtual experiences. A coloring project lets people virtually race through the park in a personalized ID. BUZZ concept vehicle, and a series of “sofa tours” allow a closer look at the past, present, and future of mobility. Bring

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Vehicles

On National Road Trip Day, where do you want to go next?

Due to COVID-19, Americans have stayed off the road, but it doesn’t mean the desire to see the world has faded. It’s not too early to dream about where your first road trip might be and Volkswagen wants to hear about your dream trips today on National Road Trip Day. Volkswagen enthusiasts across the country are invited to join the conversation on social media by sharing the destinations and people they’ll visit once we can all hit the open road again. When the green light is given by your loc

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Lifestyle

#TBT: Ten movies co-starring Volkswagen classics

While many movie theaters remain closed, even as some states start to re-open this month, you can still get your film fix from home. Whether you want to watch something new or revisit an old favorite, these ten movies featuring Volkswagen models are perfect for any mood. The films are available for rent on most streaming services, so make some popcorn, dim the lights and see if you can spot these beloved cars. ‘The Love Bug’ (1968): A down-on-his-luck racecar driver and his mechanic discove

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Vehicles

How the latest 4Motion® with Active Control all-wheel drive system helps keep the Atlas on track

Last year, nearly 8 million vehicles sold in America came with some form of all-wheel-drive. In northern states, all-wheel or four-wheel drive has long been considered essential for winter travel. Even in southern states, all-wheel drive has gained in popularity as a peace-of-mind feature for wild weather days. But as anyone who’s driven on snowy or muddy roads knows, there’s more to getting going than simply which wheel does the work. This is why the available 4Motion® with Active Control sy

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Community

Be inspired from home with help from MoMA

As a partner since 2011 and the lead sponsor of education since 2015, Volkswagen is proud to support the ongoing and expanded educational opportunities at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. While MoMA’s galleries are temporarily closed, the Museum has taken its programs and exhibitions online through #MuseumFromHome, a global initiative that allows the public the rare chance to view the Museum’s exhibitions and partake in an array of programs and activities from home. Wi

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Vehicles

The road to amazing sound, driven by Volkswagen, Fender and Panasonic

While stay-at-home orders are easing in some states, most are months away from re-opening concert venues. Many musicians are continuing to share their talents by holding virtual performances, giving fans a show while raising funds for those impacted by the pandemic. And the most advanced sound system available for listening to those events – or even finding a few minutes of solitude with your favorite tunes under lockdown – may be in your vehicle. On Thursday, May 14 at 8 pm ET, Volkswage

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Community

How Volkswagen owners are supporting COVID-19 relief efforts

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, Volkswagen drivers across the nation are pitching in to help their neighbors. Community service is nothing new to Marqese Singleton, and when the pandemic hit his community in early March, he had no plans of slowing down. A parent liaison for Hawthorne Avenue Elementary School in Newark, New Jersey, Singleton has distributed free, fresh vegetables to local families every week for the past three years. On Fridays, he picks up unused produce in his white 2013 Vo

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Company

Volkswagen drives bigger to fight the COVID-19 outbreak

Across America and around the world, Volkswagen has rolled out several new efforts to help customers and communities fight the coronavirus. Earlier this month, Volkswagen of America and fabrics supplier Faurecia announced a collaborative effort to manufacture Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) items, with the first batch shipped to New York City’s Javits Center and other area hospitals. Working with Volkswagen strategy and logistics, Faurecia was able to quickly convert one of its factor

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Vehicles

#TBT: The ARVW, the most aerodynamic Volkswagen ever built

Aerodynamics play a key role in every modern vehicle. The less drag a vehicle generates when moving through the air, the less energy it consumes and the more quietly it moves. Over the years, automakers have experimented with extreme vehicle shapes to demonstrate the innate relationship between drag and power. Few have been more radical than the Aerodynamic Research Volkswagen of 1980, a single-seat arrow that remains the most aerodynamic vehicle ever built with a VW badge. Sparked by the oi

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Vehicles

How the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas is built for families

It’s no secret that sport utility vehicles have become the family hauler of choice among Americans, far outpacing sedans, wagons and minivans. Last year, just under half of all vehicles sold in the United States were some form of SUV, a trend that has only grown in recent years. First introduced in 2017, the Atlas remains the largest Volkswagen ever sold in America, and, since its launch, also one of the best-selling. Here are the key ingredients for the success and improvements for the 20

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Community

#TBT: Three big brands that started small with a Volkswagen

Many successful companies trace their heritage to a small business that started as a passion project. Surprisingly, some of these now-famous companies credit a Volkswagen model as a key player in the early days of their business. Domino’s Delivery Beetle Brothers Tom and James Monaghan founded Domino’s Pizza in 1960 when they bought a small pizzeria in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The brothers purchased the store for only $900 and decided to keep the original name, DomiNick’s. They were given

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Community

Dealerships perform acts of kindness during COVID-19 crisis

From organizing senior meal deliveries to leading donation drives, Volkswagen dealerships across the country are doing their part to help find new and inventive ways to support their neighbors during these difficult times. Below are three examples of dealerships driving something bigger in their local communities. To show their appreciation to essential workers, Auburn Volkswagen in Washington decided to come up with multiple plans to help address the growing need in their community. “My

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Community

Twenty ways to celebrate Earth Day at home

The 50th anniversary of Earth Day this year on April 22 will resemble nothing like the previous 49, as many Americans remain at home for the foreseeable future because of the coronavirus pandemic. But time at home doesn’t have to be wasted. Whether a few minutes or a few hours, this year’s Earth Day offers a great opportunity to develop habits for a better tomorrow. To help, Volkswagen compiled these 20 ideas for those looking to celebrate without leaving their homes. Pick up your

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Community

Alleviate stress and boredom with Volkswagen’s new coloring book

Volkswagen has released a mini coloring book featuring six new and classic models to help children and their families alleviate boredom and flex their creative muscles. Wannabe artists of all ages can personalize their own Beetle or create a one-of-a-kind Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. Whether you have kids and are looking for a fun activity to do together as a family, or a Volkswagen enthusiast looking for ways to help pass the time, simply download and print out the pages, grab some pencils,

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Vehicles

Liven up your video conference calls with a Volkswagen-approved background

Click here to download this image. For many people, working from home has become the new normal as the nation combats the coronavirus outbreak. If you’re one of those who need to take part in video conference calling, suddenly putting your home on temporary display can be a challenge for any number of reasons. To help liven your next video chat up, Volkswagen went into its image archives and developed these backgrounds. All have been properly sized and edited to fit into those video-co

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Community

Second Chances Garage donates Volkswagen Passat to a deserving driver

For many Americans, having a job and helping their communities requires reliable transportation. That’s why Second Chances Garage in Frederick, Md., has been working for a decade to refurbish donated vehicles into wheels for those who need them most. “If you have your own car, it can be easy to take it for granted. But, if you’ve ever had to coordinate share rides or bus schedules, you understand how tough it is,” says John Grupenhoff, sales and service manager at Second Chances Garage.

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Community

#TBT: The Petersen Museum on The Thing

Welcome to #ThrowbackThursday, a new weekly series exploring the far reaches of Volkswagen history. Please enjoy this story on the Type 181 (a.k.a. "The Thing") courtesy of the Petersen Museum. The first thing one might ask about this car is “what is it?” The simple answer is “it’s a Thing.” This was only true in the United States and Europe, however. In Mexico and South America, the simply shaped vehicle was known as the Safari, and in the United Kingdom it was sold as the Trekker. It was

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Company

Women leaders at Volkswagen talk about the road ahead

March is Women’s History Month and offers an opportunity to look at the progress women have made in the automotive industry and the challenges that remain. We asked four leading women from Volkswagen of America to share their insights about breaking into a male-dominated industry, their role models, and where they want to take their careers in the future. How would you describe your role and responsibilities at Volkswagen? Shani Jayant, Principal UX designer, Innovation and Engineerin

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Community

Stars & cars: Your ideal Volkswagen match, according to the Zodiac

Discover your ideal VW based on your zodiac sign.

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Community

A son’s 38-year quest to find and restore his father’s Type 3 fastback

Lynn Pfenning spent 38 years chasing down his father’s beloved 1967 Volkswagen Type 3 fastback and four years restoring it to its original glory. The cousin of the Volkswagen Beetle was a major touchstone of Pfenning’s childhood. His father purchased the Brunswick Blue Type 3 fastback for $2,200 in 1967 after totaling his 1965 Volkswagen Beetle. The car was no match for a cow he hit while traveling home from their grandparents’ house in rural North Dakota. “Growing up, my job every Sat

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Golf GTI

One Rabbit GTI fan’s years-long build of his ultimate custom car

However much you’ve worked on a single vehicle, chances are you haven’t done as much as Derek Spratt did to his 1983 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI. Over the course of seven years, Spratt estimates he spent more than 12,000 hours modifying his GTI and documenting his labor of love in over 180 videos on social media. The videos range from Spratt’s descriptions of basic electrical wiring to installing a modern digital dashboard in a vintage vehicle. His own estimate of his costs: $140,000. And to

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