The relationship between Volkswagen and Porsche stretches back to the beginnings of both companies, and it hasn’t always been an amiable one. After Porsche saw success with the 914, co-developed with Volkswagen, the brands pooled efforts to develop the 924, Porsche’s first water-cooled, front-engine production car. In the late stages of the project, Volkswagen withdrew, leaving Porsche to finish development and launch the car on its own.
That was decades ago, and in the years since Volkswagen has become the Borg (Star Trek reference, in case you missed it) of the automotive world. The Volkswagen Group’s portfolio now includes everything from motorcycles (Ducati) to heavy trucks (Man and Scania). On the automotive side, VW owns Audi, Seat, Skoda, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini and 49.9-percent of Porsche. That shre in Porsche is about to grow to 100-percent, as Volkswagen has received the green light from the German government to buy the 50.1-percent stake outstanding. The deal is expected to be finalized by August 1.
Talks of a joint brand have been ongoing for years, and in 2009 Porsche even attempted a semi-hostile takeover of Volkswagen. As The New York Times reports, lawsuits stemming from this unsuccessful takeover attempt prevented a merger of the brands in 2011. The timing seems to be right for both companies, and Volkswagen’s success with premium brands Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti clearly demonstrate that it knows how to be successful in a given niche. Don’t expect significant changes from Porsche following the acquisition, since the company continues to enjoy record sales and record growth.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
