Porsche and VW uniting 10 brands under one roof
Automotive News Europe reports today that Porsche and Volkswagen have finally cleared the way for combining their brands under a single operation. The new carmaking group would have no less than 10 brands under one roof, though the "independence of all brands and explicitly also of Porsche shall be ensured." VW will be bring its nine brands to the table, while the Porsche brand itself would be contributed by Porsche Automobil Holding SE, the separate holding company owned by members of the Porsche and Piech families.
Today's news is yet another step in Porsche's long journey to take a true controlling interest in Volkswagen. The German sportscar maker has reportedly already amassed a 51% stake in Volkswagen to date, but that's not enough of a majority in Germany to run the tables. Porsche still intends to raise its stake to 75% when economic conditions allow, but then there's Lower Saxony, Volkswagen's home state that reserves the right to veto any sweeping changes, to deal with. But at least they appear to have gotten this one thing done.
[Source: Automotive News Europe, sub. req'd | Photo by NIGEL TREBLIN/AFP/Getty]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Farmboy 7:38PM (5/06/2009)
cool.
Reply
jamie 4:44PM (5/06/2009)
GM's head honchos must be scratching their heads right about now. They were planning to emulate VW's market penetration to the tee. Well, this sort of puts a wringer in the old washing machine, doesn't it? And just when GM is trying to shed most of its brands as well!
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zamafir 5:12PM (5/06/2009)
Wringer? Nope, this writing has been on the wall for half a decade. I'm not sure what part of VAG you're insinuating they'd emulate but i doubt they'll match the success, especially of this new company, the most well placed auto conglomerate in the market. Heck, we read articles here on autoblog about revolutionary new ideas of platform sharing with toyota’s next van, vw’s been on that boat for decades.
I’ll keep beating the dead horse, platform sharing, not GM styles of brand overlap, is the biggest key to any automakers survival right now.
fizzandpop 8:57PM (5/06/2009)
I presume the Porsche executives have already started pounding the Volkswagen Audi Group Integrated Network Alliance.
Stumpy 4:45PM (5/06/2009)
Cool Picture.
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dea911 6:21PM (5/06/2009)
indeed, a VERY cool picture
refugee7 6:40PM (5/06/2009)
Not so much, could do without the orange peel...
the_MVP_X 4:45PM (5/06/2009)
Ladies and gentleman here we have the new euro GM, guarantee to go down like the real GM. The new company will include features like badge engineering and going down quality.
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zamafir 5:14PM (5/06/2009)
psst, genius, VAG's successfully managed the majority of the brands mentioned for decades, they're also the wealthiest car maker on earth and now the most profitable, might want to read some news from the last 20 or so years pertaining to the rise of the VW Automotive Groupe before projecting GM's failures out of country.
mk3 6:10PM (5/06/2009)
That is so not true. It just states again that GM had poor management of its brands too loose the most of them. Just think what was Pontiac and what it became in the hand of GM.
Even if there are 10 brands under VAG management they still have kept their personality, something that GM ruined for its brand by transforming them in financial companies.
I am sorry but there is a wide difference between US management style and European one. The first is focused on financial aspects while loosing passion and history, and the later one is focused on history, feel and passion while always thinking about finance
Metar 7:19PM (5/06/2009)
GM's bailout detractors should note the veto by Lower Saxony. "OH NOES GOVERNMENT MOTORS CAN'T BE COMPETITIVE" seems quite wrong when you have one of the new top automakers of the world partially-owned by it's home state.
EU_reader 4:47PM (5/06/2009)
VAG-Porsche: multiple brands done right
GM/Chrysler: multiple brands done wrong
Enough said
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Jim 4:53PM (5/06/2009)
"VAG-Porsche: multiple brands done right
GM/Chrysler: multiple brands done wrong
Enough said"
Ah yes, you say it is so, so it must be. Try this:
VAG-Porsche: GM Circa 1950
GM gained most of its brands via acquisitions. Just like this. What remains to be seen is if VAG-Porshce can stave off the inevitable "big company disease" that has crumbled GM and is starting to eat away at Toyota...
EU_reader 5:07PM (5/06/2009)
Not even close, because the extra brands don't cost them a thing, yet still they all have their own loyal costumer base.
Audi's are refined and high tech VW's
Seat and skoda are lower market VW's, either on the same generation or the previous one. (ideal way to keep making a profit on some older platforms and spread the R&D a little)
Do you really think that lamborghini fishes in the VW pond? Or that audi and seat are stealing customers from each other? Audi buyers will always be audi buyers. No way that VW can be set against bmw, but Audi can. Etc, etc...
Seats will sell well in southern europe where they are made (spain, france). Yes, it is a golf or polo with another badge and some different body panels, but they still reach their own audience. You could say they're all golfs, it doesn't matter, it's the same car anyway. So whether they sell a seat or a golf, VW couldn't care less, they make a profit on the same R&D. There's no R&D overhead.
Even Bentley and Audi or Bentley and lamborghini and Porsche don't compete directly against each other.
Lambo 4:49PM (5/06/2009)
Lamborghini and Porsche under one roof? Never thought that would happen
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Ernst 4:50PM (5/06/2009)
Interesting commentary on VW-Porsche having too many brands (and the potential problems therein) here:
http://autouniversum.wordpress.com/
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Jim 4:54PM (5/06/2009)
couldn't you make your points here instead of just spamming for your blog?
catchmyshadow 5:07PM (5/06/2009)
thank god, good news for my beloved AUDI cause Porsche and Wiedeking would have surely limited Audi`s sportscar potential in the future.
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alfaBAT9 5:31PM (5/06/2009)
Well, I knew it was VW, Audi and Porsche.. but I didn't know there were 10!
Anybody care to fill me in on the other 7? ;)
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EU_reader 5:38PM (5/06/2009)
VW group:
-Volkswagen-Pkw
-Škoda
-Bugatti
-Bentley
Audi:
-Audi
-Seat
-Lamborghini
Scania (trucks)
Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge (commercial vans)
20% in MAN AG. (trucks)
And now Porsche