Ferdinand Porsche

Ferdinand Porsche was born on 3 September 1875 in Maffersdorf, northern Bohemia which was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at that time, and today part of the Czech Republic. Ferdinand was best known as an automotive Engineer amongst other skills, showing a strong amptitide for engineering from an early age. He attended night classes at the Imperial Technical School in Reichenberg whilst helping his father in his mechanical shop by day. 

In his early career, aged 18 Ferdinand landed a job with the Béla Egger Electrical company in Vienna helping to develop the electric hub motor although his greatest achievements included creating the first gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle, the VW Beetle, the Mercedes-Benz SS/SSK and of course Porsche automobiles.

Ferdinand Porsche founded the company called "Dr. Ing. h. c. F. Porsche GmbH" in 1931, with the main headquarters being based in Stuttgart. At first Porsche offered motor vehicle development work and consulting, but did not build any cars under its own name. One of the first assignments the new company received was from the German government to design a car for the people. This resulted in the Volkswagen Beetle being engineered and manufactured and is one of the most successful cars of all time. The Porsche 64 was developed in 1939 using many components from the Beetle.

In 1964 the company launched its greatest model, the Porsche 911. This was another air-cooled, rear-engined sports car, this time with a six-cylinder "boxer" engine. The layout of the body shell design was led by Ferry Porsche's eldest son, Ferdinand Alexander Porsche. 

In 2010 Porsche launched the Cayenne S Hybrid and announced the Panamera Hybrid and launched the Porsche 918 hypercar in 2014, which also features a hybrid system.