Porsche was commissioned by Adolf Hitler to design a robust, affordable, and mass-producible 'People's Car' (Volkswagen) for the German population. The project was politically motivated to promote motorization and national pride.

Porsche and his team developed several prototypes of the Volkswagen, known as the V1, V2, and V3. These prototypes underwent extensive testing to refine the design and ensure its reliability.

Construction began on a massive Volkswagen factory in Wolfsburg, Germany, to produce the Beetle on a large scale. The project was heavily subsidized by the Nazi regime.

During World War II, the Volkswagen factory was repurposed to produce military vehicles based on the Beetle's design, including the Kübelwagen and Schwimmwagen. Porsche played a role in adapting the vehicle for military use.