Volkswagen celebrates 50 Years of the iconic Golf

04 September 2024

Volkswagen is marking a significant milestone this week by celebrating 50 years of the iconic Golf with a stunning hot-air balloon display in the skies of Cappadocia, Turkey.

The launch on Sunday, September 1st, featured the ‘50 Years of Golf’ balloon carrying 16 passengers, flanked by an original Golf Mk I and the newly revamped Golf Mk 8. As they took to the air just after sunrise, the balloon joined hundreds of others in an uplifting spectacle, creating a sky seemingly full of giant birthday balloons against the backdrop of Cappadocia's unique landscape.

Since its debut in 1974, the Golf has grown through eight generations and achieved over 37 million sales worldwide, making it Volkswagen’s best-selling vehicle. The Golf is more than just a car; it’s a cultural icon that has set the benchmark in its class for half a century.

Golf 50th Anniversary balloon with 8 generations of Golf lined up below

This celebration also highlights the Golf’s legacy in the electric and hybrid world. In 2014, long before many manufacturers had embraced electric vehicles, Volkswagen introduced the e-Golf, a fully electric model, and the Golf GTE, a pioneering plug-in hybrid. These early models showcased Volkswagen’s commitment to innovation and set the stage for today’s electric revolution.

VW Milestone Tweet - 1 Million Cars Built on MEB Platform (JUN '23)

Since then, Volkswagen has expanded its electric vehicle strategy with the introduction of the modular electric drive (MEB) platform in 2018. This platform has become the backbone of Volkswagen's EV strategy, supporting a range of vehicles across five brands, including Audi, Skoda, and Cupra. Last year, Volkswagen surpassed the production milestone of one million MEB-based vehicles, with cars being built at eight factories worldwide. The MEB platform now underpins 14 different models, from the Audi Q4 e-tron to the Volkswagen ID.7, underscoring Volkswagen’s rapid progress and leadership in the electric vehicle market. As the company continues to innovate, the upcoming MEB+ platform promises even greater advancements, with faster charging speeds and extended ranges, paving the way for the future of electric mobility.

At the Golf's 50th anniversary event, Thomas Schäfer, the CEO of the Volkswagen brand, revealed that the company plans to launch its next-generation electric cars on the Scalable Systems Platform (SSP) chassis in 2028. While details about the model that will debut the new platform remain under wraps, the anticipation is already building.

Throughout this week's celebrations, select media professionals have the unique opportunity to experience flights in the ‘50 Years of Golf’ balloon and test-drive every generation of the Golf. From the original Mk I, designed by the legendary Giorgetto Giugiaro, to the cutting-edge Mk 8, these drives highlight how the Golf has stayed true to its roots while continually embracing the future.

Mike Orford, Head of PR and Communications at Volkswagen UK, summed up the spirit of the celebration:

The Golf is celebrating a major milestone this year—a phenomenal 50 years of production. So what better way to celebrate such a significant moment than with a sky full of giant birthday balloons? Very few manufacturers can claim to have such an iconic model that has evolved and innovated over eight generations, so we thought it was definitely something worth celebrating in style.

Mike Orford / Head of PR and Communications, Volkswagen UK

Volkswagen has not only built a car that stands the test of time but also crafted a legacy that continues to inspire. The sight of the ‘50 Years of Golf’ balloon floating serenely over Cappadocia is a fitting tribute to a journey that, like the Golf itself, is destined to keep soaring.