The Schnellaster was introduced by DKW in 1949. It was one of the first post-war commercial vans, considered innovative for its front-wheel drive, practical design and two-stroke engine. With a 3 or 4-speed manual transmission, this vehicle could have a 700cc or 792cc inline 2 engine, although the last ones produced had a bigger 896cc inline 3. The DKW Schnellaster which was produced until 1962 was a key vehicle in Germany's economic recovery and is considered a precursor to modern commercial vans.