When shoppers visit our Peoria Volkswagen dealership to check out our selection and head out on a test drive or two, there are a few things about the brand they usually already know. Shoppers tend to be familiar with the automaker’s reputation for affordability, reliability, comfort, and style.
One thing that a lot of drivers don’t know, though, is exactly how to pronounce the name of the automaker! We can’t blame them; Volkswagen does has a lot of consonants crammed in there, after all. While we’ll certainly be happy to say it for you a few times if you drop by, we think it’s also easier to grasp the pronunciation if you have a grasp on where the name comes from and what it means.
From Germany to Peoria: The History of Volkswagen
The automaker was founded in Germany during the 1930s, long before we opened our Volkswagen dealer here in Peoria! In the 1930s, much like today, many German automakers were renowned for crafting luxury vehicles. Unfortunately, this meant that most average families couldn’t afford a car of their own. Thus, the People’s Car movement was born.
Many automakers began working on their own affordable designs, but ultimately a design by Ferdinand Porsche was chosen and, with government backing, was made accessible to families across the country. That vehicle, as you might have guessed, was the predecessor of the Volkswagen Beetle we know and love today!
So, how does this help you pronounce Volkswagen? The secret is in the word’s meaning: People’s Car! “Volks” means people; you pronounce is similarly to how you would say “folks,” but with a V. “Wagen” means car; in America, we pronounce is the same way we say “wagon.” So when you think of the People’s Car, just think of the folks’ wagon!
If you’d still like to hear it out loud a few times, or if you’re ready to slide into one of these attainable vehicles for a test drive, be sure to contact us online or to call the Lunde’s Peoria Volkswagen team directly at (602) 714-3968 today.
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