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Ferdinand Porsche
Designing influential cars, including the Volkswagen prototype.
Porsche engineering office · Auto Union racing cars
- Born
- 3 September 1875
- Birthplace
- Vratislavice nad Nisou, Czech Republic
- Died
- 30 January 1951
More people
Ferdinand Porsche
Ferdinand Porsche was an automotive engineer whose work ranged from early electric vehicles to racing and military machines. His achievements are inseparable from close collaboration with the Nazi regime and the use of forced labour.
Early life
Bohemian childhood
Born into a tinsmith’s family in what was then Austria-Hungary.
Electrical interests
Developed an interest in electricity and gained practical experience in Vienna.
Career
- 1890s–1900s
Early vehicle engineering
Worked on electric and hybrid vehicles at Lohner.
- 1906–1929
Motor manufacturers
Held engineering leadership positions at Austro-Daimler, Daimler and Steyr.
- 1931
Design consultancy
Opened his own engineering office in Stuttgart.
- 1930s–1940s
State and military projects
Worked on Volkswagen and armoured vehicles under the Nazi regime.
Companies & projects
Lohner-Porsche
An early electric vehicle used motors within its wheel hubs.
Auto Union racers
Developed rear-engined Grand Prix racing cars.
Volkswagen project
Designed prototypes leading to the postwar Beetle.
Beyond work
Nazi involvement
Joined the Nazi Party and SS, and his wartime enterprises used forced labour.
Family business
His son Ferry developed the Porsche sports-car business after the war.
Sources & photo credit
Biography ↗Life and work ↗Photo: Unknown author Unknown author. CC BY-SA 3.0 de · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
