Report: Volkswagen to acquire majority stake in Proton, Lotus

German automaker Volkswagen -- which already owns Audi, Bentley, Seat, Skoda, Lamborghini, and Bugatti -- has agreed to buy a majority stake in Malaysia's Proton, according to a report by XFN-Asia.





Perhaps most important to car enthusiasts is the involvement of Lotus, which is owned by Proton, and therefore would come under control of Volkswagen.

Today's report indicates VW would buy a 51 percent stake in the company, which it could conceivably expand in the future. An official announcement is expected on February 8th, the news agency said.

Earlier this month, it was reported General Motors might be considering a majority stake in the company. However, it appears VW may have managed to close a deal first.