Comments on: Porsche increases direct stake in VW to more than 50 percent

By: Scarface03

Scarface03 — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:54:33 +0000

The two companies have been “synergistic” for so long, the share count is almost academic. Lest we forget that VW’s former CEO and current chairman of VW’ supervisory board, Ferdinand Piech, owns more shares in Porsche than everyone in the world who doesn’t have a Porsche name.

And don’t forget who Piech is named after? Another dude by the name of Ferdinand–his grandfather, Dr. Porsche himself. Porsche’s largest shareholder is Piech’s counsin, Wolfgang Porsche.

It’s all in the family.

I think JakeK66 is right–Audi will be affected the most. Audi’s been marketing the R8 as the 911 alternative, but Porsche is helped because there are still a wide variety of 911’s that’ll sticker for less than the R8 asking price. The R4, on the other hand, I predict will be axed. It will probably be too close in price to the Boxster.

By: JakeK66

JakeK66 — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:17:36 +0000

I believe it has as much the say in the Bentley division as it does VW, as well as some say in Lamborgini and Bugatti, but they all should be safe as none are directly competitive to Porsche. I still think something’s gonna change in Audi before anything else, at least with the smaller sports cars – upcoming R4 and the populat R8 are barking at the Porsche buyers.

By: f1racer24

f1racer24 — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:41:49 +0000

If porsche is going to be the main shareholder…does it have any say in the Bentley Division? Does VW still own it?

By: Borat

Borat — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:41:19 +0000

Nothing going to change. The state government of Lower Saxony which owes 20-25% of total shares still has controlling interest(just like Ford foundation owning 5% of value controls over 40% of company vote and board).

By: yarddog82abn

yarddog82abn — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:46:07 +0000

The Big Fish eat the little fish… and besides they shear most of the parts already, so what is going to change now???

By: howsmydriving

howsmydriving — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:38:48 +0000

There are some good synergies here: a company that thinks engines belong in the back is taking over a company that thinks transmissions belong in the front.