Ferdinand Porsche 1875-2025

Mensch, Visionär, Familienunternehmer

On 3 September 2025, Ferdinand Porsche would have celebrated his 150th birthday. His contributions to the German and international automotive industry cannot be overstated. Even though the Porsche name is primarily associated with sports cars from Stuttgart today, the patriarch laid the foundation for this success early on with his groundbreaking inventions. He built the first hybrid vehicle in 1902 and went down in history as the ‘father of the Volkswagen’. This book recounts his technical masterpieces, as well as his achievements as a company founder, team player and head of the family

- Comprehensive tribute to Porsche's influence on the automotive industry
- Technical highlights of early automotive history and the prehistory of the VW Beetle
- Exclusive archive photographs and historical anecdotes

The fact that Ferdinand Porsche's life's work is more relevant than ever is proven not only by the invention of the hybrid car. As early as 1899, he was already working on electric cars, designing wheel hub engines and building the ‘Lohner-Porsche’, the first car with four-wheel drive. He went down in history for his role in the construction of the Volkswagen, the ‘Beetle’, of which more than 20 million were built and which contributed significantly to mass motorisation in Germany and worldwide. His design principles – a boxer engine in the rear and rear-wheel drive – can still be found today in Porsche's most famous sports car, the 911. Conversations with contemporary witnesses, family members and historians paint a multifaceted picture of the man, who is not without controversy due to his connections to the Third Reich.