Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles or Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge started originally as part of Volkswagen itself.

In 1995, Dr Bernd Wiedemann, former chairman of the management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, announced Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles as a separate marque to Volkswagen Passenger cars.[1]

Truck & Bus Highlights

January 1981

Volkswagen AG acquires 100% of the Chrysler Motors of Brazil Ltda.

February 1981

VW Caminhoes releases 1st trucks 11.130, 13.130 & an Ethanol powered truck.

March 1981

Changing of name from Chrysler Motors of Brazil Ltda to Volkswagen Caminhoes (Trucks) Ltda

September 1982

Launching of 6 tonne Truck range.

July 1984

Integration of VW Caminhões Ltda. into VW do Brasil.

August 1984

VW 140 the 1st methane gas/biogas powered truck in Brazil

July 1985

VW 11.130 exported to China.

July 1987

Truck division integrates with Ford Trucks with the formation of Autolatina.

July 1990

Truck plant moves to Industrial Complex of the Ipiranga.

April 1993

Launching of the 1st Volksbus chassis 16.180 CO.

April 1994

VW Truck & Bus celebrate 100,000th VW Truck produced.

June 1995

Beginning of the L80 exports to Germany

VW Caminhões Ltda. announces Resende, Brazil as site for the construction of the future Truck & Bus plant.

November 1996

VW Caminhoes Ltda moves to new Resende plant.

September 1997

Commemoration of the 5000th vehicle made in the Resende plant.

June 1998

Launching of the trucks for the Argentine market

Exportation of Completely Knocked Down kits of Volksbus microbus chassis' to Colombia.

January 2000

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWN) of Germany, with headquarters in Hannover, assumes the responsibility for the Truck and Bus operation.

March 2000

Launching of Series 2000

April 2001

For the first time in its 20 years, the VW Caminhoes becomes leader in the Brazilian market for trucks.

August 2002

VW Truck & Bus has 30% market share of Brazilian market, Brazil is the Number 1 in the world, buyer of Buses and Number 2 for Trucks.

December 2002

Production of 100,000th truck in Resende.

July 2003

Volkswagen Truck & Bus participates in the International Rally of the Sertões, with 3 8.150 trucks.

October 2003

Announcement of the creation of VW Truck & Bus Operation in Mexico, construction of an assembly line starts in the City of Puebla, Mexico.

November 2003

In pioneering research in Brazil, VW tests a Volksbus powered by biodiesel with the support of the Government of the State of Rio De Janeiro and the UFRJ, in the Riobiodiesel project.

April 2003

VW 18.310 Successful for the first time in the Super European Truck Championship.

July 2003

VW Truck & Bus add 3 more vehicles in the RioBiodiesel program.

August 2003

First truck production tests are conducted in the plant of Puebla, Mexico.

September 2003

VW announces construction of plant for VW Truck and Bus range in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

October 2003

The Puebla, Mexican plant officially opens. VW Titan 18.310 is champion in the Super European Truck Championships in the first year it competes.

October 2005

Beginning of the Volkswagen Truck and Bus operation in South Africa with the production of 3 Volksbus models.

November 2005

VW Truck & Bus release Delivery (5 to 8 tonnes) & Constellation (33 to 45 tonnes) lines.

June 2006

The BMB Mode Centre is opened for specialized modification of Truck & Bus range.

The Constellation Daycab is released.

September 2006

The top of the line 18.320 VIP Volksbus is released.

February 2007

Release of the 31.320 6x4 Constellation and 15.190, 17.230 Volksbus line.

August 8 2007

Volkswagen Truck & Bus released the most powerful engine the VW NGD 370 in the Constellation lineup.

August 22 2007

VW South Africa produce the first RHD truck in the companies history with the release of the Constellation range.

Truck & Bus products

Current

E models = Electronic versions

OD = front engine versions OT = rear engine versions

Delivery 5 to 8 Tonne Range

5.140

8.150

Worker 8 to 33 Tonne Range

8.120 Euro III

8.150 E

8.150 CE

13.180 E

13.180 Euro III

15.180 E

15.180 Euro III

17.180 Euro III

17.220 Euro III

17.220 Euro III Tractor

17.250 E

24.220 Euro III

24.250 E

26.220 Euro III

26.260 E (6x4)

Constellation 33 to 45 Tonne Range

13.180

15.180

17.250

24.250

19.320