Ferdinand Porsche: a genius creator and entrepreneur
Ferdinand was a passionate construction, technical and automotive genius, having invented concepts that revolutionized the automotive world. He was indeed the inventor of the very first 4-wheel drive vehicle (4x4) that he presented at the Paris Motor Show in 1900 and whose construction principle was reused 70 years later by NASA to build their moon cars. He also created the world's first hybrid car. He then continued his technical prowess which earned him such great fame. He was notably the creator of the first sports car after World War II, the Sascha, with which he won the Targa Florio race in Italy.
In 1931, he decided to set up on his own by setting up his consulting firm. He was the inventor of the first 16-cylinder sports car, the Auto Union, which inspired Formula 1; but also the first Volkswagen. He also designed military vehicles as World War II approached.
Later in 1947, his children Ferry and Louise, protected his work by creating the Porsche Konstruktionen GesmbH brand. In 1948, the first car was born under the name Porsche 356. It was then the turn of the Boxer called "Cisitalia".
In 1949, the brand's headquarters were moved to Salzburg and production of the very first sports cars we know today began at that time.
The identity of the brand and the strength that still drives it today were born out of the constant search for a car that is powerful, intelligent and efficient at the same time. This dream, which started out as Ferry's, was transmitted contagiously and set the ideal for the automaker to achieve. Louise Piëch took over the company in 1952 after the death of her brother and her husband.
