Volkswagen Group

Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
Public (AG)
Traded as FWB: VOW, VOW3
ISIN DE0007664005
Industry Automotive
Founded Berlin, Germany
(28 May 1937 (1937-05-28))
Headquarters Wolfsburg, Germany
Number of locations
 100 production facilities across 27 countries
Area served
 Worldwide
Key people
 Hans Dieter Pötsch (Chairman of the Supervisory Board)
Herbert Diess (Chairman of the Board of Management)[1]
Products Automobiles, commercial vehicles, internal combustion engines, motorcycles, turbomachinery
Production output
 Increase 10,875,000 (2017)[2]
Services Banking, financing, fleet management, insurance, leasing[3]
Revenue Increase €230.682 billion (US$269 billion) (2017)[2]
Increase €13.818 billion (2017)[2]
Increase €11.638 billion (2017)[2]
Total assets Increase €422.193 billion (2017)[2]
Total equity Increase €109.077 billion (2017)[2]
Owner Porsche Automobil Holding SE[4][5] (52.2%)
State of Lower Saxony[4][5] (20.0%)
Qatar Investment Authority[4][5] (17.0%)
Number of employees
 642,292 (31 December 2017)[6]
Divisions
  • Automotive
  • Financial Services[3]
Subsidiaries
Website volkswagenag.com

Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft (German: [ˈfɔlksˌvaːgn̩]), known internationally as the Volkswagen Group, is a German multinational automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany and indirectly majority owned by the Austrian Porsche-Piech family.[8][9] It designs, manufactures and distributes passenger and commercial vehicles, motorcycles, engines, and turbomachinery and offers related services including financing, leasing and fleet management. In 2016, it was the world's largest automaker by sales, overtaking Toyota and keeping this title in 2017, selling 10.7 million vehicles.[10] It has maintained the largest market share in Europe for over two decades.[11] It ranked sixth in the 2017 Fortune Global 500 list of the world's largest companies. Volkswagen Group sells passenger cars under the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, SEAT, Škoda and Volkswagen marques; motorcycles under the Ducati brand; and TRATON AG (commercial vehicles, trucks, and buses) under the marques MAN, Scania, and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. It is divided into two primary divisions, the Automotive Division and the Financial Services Division, and as of 2008 had approximately 342 subsidiary companies.[12] Volkswagen also has two major joint-ventures in China (FAW-Volkswagen and SAIC Volkswagen). The company has operations in approximately 150 countries and operates 100 production facilities across 27 countries.

Volkswagen was founded in 1937, to manufacture the car which would become known as the Beetle. The company's production grew rapidly in the 1950s and 1960s, and in 1965 it acquired Auto Union, which subsequently produced the first post-war Audi models. Volkswagen launched a new generation of front-wheel drive vehicles in the 1970s, including the Passat, Polo and Golf; the latter became its bestseller. Volkswagen acquired a controlling stake in SEAT in 1986, making it the first non-German marque of the company, and acquired control of Škoda in 1994, of Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti in 1998, Scania in 2008 and of Ducati, MAN and Porsche in 2012. The company's operations in China have grown rapidly in the past decade with the country becoming its largest market. In June 2018, Volkswagen Trucks and Buses which comprises the MAN, Scania, and RIO truck brands are renamed to TRATON AG but the marques will not change, said by Andreas Renschler.

Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft is a public company and has a primary listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, where it is a constituent of the Euro Stoxx 50 stock market index, and secondary listings on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, SIX Swiss Exchange. It has been traded in the United States via American depositary receipts since 1988, currently on the OTC Marketplace. Volkswagen delisted from the London Stock Exchange in 2013.[13][14] The state of Lower Saxony holds 12.7% of the company's shares, granting it 20% of the voting rights.[15]

History

May 26, 1938: Laying the foundation stone of the first Volkswagen plant by Adolf Hitler. In the front right is Ferdinand Porsche.

1937 to 1945

A 1951 Volkswagen Beetle

Volkswagen ("People's car" in German) was founded on 28 May 1937 in Berlin as the Gesellschaft zur Vorbereitung des Deutschen Volkswagens mbH ("Limited Liability Company for the preparation of the German People's Car", abbreviated to Gezuvor) by the National Socialist Deutsche Arbeitsfront (German Labour Front).[16][17][18] The purpose of the company was to manufacture the Volkswagen car, originally referred to as the Porsche Type 60, then the Volkswagen Type 1, and commonly called the Volkswagen Beetle.[19] This vehicle was designed by Ferdinand Porsche's consulting firm, and the company was backed by the support of Adolf Hitler.[20] On 16 September 1938, Gezuvor was renamed Volkswagenwerk GmbH ("Volkswagen Factory limited liability company").[16]

Shortly after the factory near Fallersleben was completed, World War II started and the plant primarily manufactured the military Kübelwagen (Porsche Type 82) and the related amphibious Schwimmwagen (Type 166), both of which were derived from the Volkswagen. Only a small number of Type 60 Volkswagens were made during this time. The Fallersleben plant also manufactured the V-1 flying bomb, making the plant a major bombing target for the Allied forces.

1945 to 1970

After the war in Europe, in June 1945, Major Ivan Hirst[19] of the British Army Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) took control of the bomb-shattered factory, and restarted production, pending the expected disposal of the plant as war reparations. However, no British car manufacturer was interested; "the vehicle does not meet the fundamental technical requirement of a motor-car ... it is quite unattractive to the average buyer ... To build the car commercially would be a completely uneconomic enterprise".[21] In 1948, the Ford Motor Company of USA was offered Volkswagen, but Ernest Breech, a Ford executive vice president said he didn't think either the plant or the car was "worth a damn."[22] Breech later said that he would have considered merging Ford of Germany and Volkswagen, but after the war, ownership of the company was in such dispute that nobody could possibly hope to be able to take it over. As part of the Industrial plans for Germany, large parts of German industry, including Volkswagen, were to be dismantled. Total German car production was set at a maximum of 10% of the 1936 car production numbers.[23] The company survived by producing cars for the British Army, and in 1948 the British Government handed the company back over to the German state, and it was managed by former Opel chief Heinrich Nordhoff.

The Audi F103, in production from 1965 to 1972

Production of the Type 60 Volkswagen (re-designated Type 1) started slowly after the war due to the need to rebuild the plant and because of the lack of raw materials, but production grew rapidly in the 1950s and 1960s. The company began introducing new models based on the Type 1, all with the same basic air-cooled, rear-engine, rear-drive platform. These included the Volkswagen Type 2 in 1950, the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia in 1955, the Volkswagen Type 3 in 1961, the Volkswagen Type 4 in 1968, and the Volkswagen Type 181 in 1969.

In 1960, upon the flotation of part of the German federal government's stake in the company on the German stock market, its name became Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft (usually abbreviated to Volkswagenwerk AG).

On 1 January 1965, Volkswagenwerk acquired Auto Union GmbH from its parent company Daimler-Benz. The new subsidiary went on to produce the first post-war Audi models, the Audi F103 series, shortly afterwards.[24]

Another German manufacturer, NSU Motorenwerke AG, was merged into Auto Union on 26 August 1969, creating a new company, Audi NSU Auto Union AG (later renamed AUDI AG in 1985).[24]

1970 to 2000

A Volkswagen Golf Mk1; the Golf is the third best-selling car of all-time, selling over 30 million up to 2013

From the late 1970s to 1992, the acronym V.A.G was used by Volkswagen AG as a brand for group-wide activities, such as distribution and leasing. Contrary to popular belief, "V.A.G" had no official meaning, and was never the name of the Volkswagen Group.[25]

On 30 September 1982, Volkswagenwerk made its first step expanding outside Germany by signing a co-operation agreement with the Spanish car manufacturer SEAT, S.A.[24]

In order to reflect the company's increasing global diversification from its headquarters and main plant (the Volkswagenwerk in Wolfsburg), on 4 July 1985, the company name was changed again – to Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft (Volkswagen AG).

On 18 June 1986, Volkswagen AG acquired a 51% controlling stake in SEAT, making it the first non-German subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group. On 23 December the same year, it became the Spanish company's major shareholder by increasing its share up to 75%.[24]

In 1990 – after purchasing its entire equity – Volkswagen AG took over the full ownership of SEAT, making the company a wholly owned subsidiary, and on 28 March 1991 another step to the expansion of the group's activities was made through the signing of a joint venture partnership agreement with Škoda automobilová a.s. of Czechoslovakia, accompanied with the acquisition of a 30% stake in the Czech car manufacturer,[24] raised later on 19 December 1994 to 60.3% and the year after, on 11 December 1995, to 70% of its shares.[26]

Three prestige automotive marques were added to the Volkswagen portfolio in 1998: Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti.[24]

2000 to present

The Škoda Superb B6, in production from 2008-2015

On 30 May 2000, Volkswagen AG, after having gradually raised its equity share, turned Škoda Auto into a wholly owned subsidiary.[24]

From 2002 up to 2007, the Volkswagen Group's automotive division was restructured so that two major Brand Groups with different profile would be formed,[27] the Audi Brand Group focused on more sporty values – consisted of Audi, SEAT and Lamborghini – and the Volkswagen Brand Group on the field of classic values – consisted of Volkswagen, Skoda, Bentley and Bugatti[28][29] – with each Brand Group's product vehicles and performance being respectively under the higher responsibility of Audi and Volkswagen brands.

Volkswagen Group revealed on 24 October 2009 that it had made an offer to acquire long-time partner and German niche automotive manufacturer Wilhelm Karmann GmbH out of bankruptcy protection.[30] In November 2009, the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG approved the acquisition of assets of Karmann, and planned to restart vehicle production at their Osnabrück plant in 2012.[31]

In December 2009, Volkswagen AG bought a 49.9% stake in Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG (more commonly known as Porsche AG) in a first step towards an 'integrated automotive group' with Porsche.[32][33][34] The merger of Volkswagen AG and Porsche SE was scheduled to take place during the course of 2011. On 8 September 2011, it was announced that the planned merger "cannot be implemented within the time frame provided for in the Comprehensive Agreement." As reasons, unquantifiable legal risks, including a criminal probe into the holding's former management team were given. Both parties "remain committed to the goal of creating an integrated automotive group with Porsche and are convinced that this will take place."[35][36] On 4 July 2012 Volkswagen group announced they would wrap up the remaining half of Porsche shares for 4.46 billion euros ($5.58 billion) on 1 August 2012 to avoid taxes of as much as 1.5 billion euros, which would have to be paid if the wrap up happened after 31 July 2014.[37] Volkswagen AG purchased the remaining stake in Porsche AG equaling 100% of the shares in Porsche Zwischenholding GmbH, effectively becoming its parent company as of 1 August 2012.[38]

Volkswagen AG completed the purchase of 19.9% of Suzuki Motor Corporation's issued shares on 15 January 2010.[39][40] Suzuki invested part of the amount received from Volkswagen into 1.49% percent of Volkswagen.[41] In 2011, Suzuki filed a lawsuit at an arbitration court in London requesting that Volkswagen return the 19.9% stake.[42]

On 25 May 2010, it was announced that Volkswagen Group, through it subsidiary Lamborghini Holding S.p.A., had acquired a 90.1% stake in the Italian automotive design house Italdesign Giugiaro.[43] In only less than three months, the transaction had been completed making the Italian firm a member of the Volkswagen Group.[44]

In 2015 research showed a security flaw in the keyless ignition of Volkswagen and other carmakers' vehicles. Volkswagen spent two years trying to keep the research from the public domain.[45]

On 3 August 2015, Nokia announced that it had reached a deal to sell its Here digital maps division to a consortium of three German automakers—BMW, Daimler AG, and Volkswagen Group, for €2.8 billion.[46] This was seen as an indication that the automakers were interested in automated cars.

Volkswagen held a 19.9% non-controlling shareholding in Suzuki between 2009 and 2015. An international arbitration court ordered Volkswagen to sell the stake back to Suzuki.[47] Suzuki paid $3.8bn to complete the stock buy-back just hours prior to a major scandal about emissions violations engulfing Volkswagen. Suzuki had wished to buy Fiat diesel engines.[48] On 17 September 2015, Suzuki paid $3.8bn to complete a stock buy-back just hours prior to news broke out regarding the Volkswagen common-rail TDI engine emissions scandal which engulfed Volkswagen.[48]

Emissions scandal

On 18 September 2015, The US EPA announced that Volkswagen had installed a "defeat device" software code in the diesel models sold in the US from 2009-15.[49] The code was intended to detect when an emissions test was being conducted, and altered emissions controls for better compliance. Off the test stand, the controls were relaxed, and emissions jumped 35 to 40 times regulatory levels according to investigators at West Virginia University and the California Air Resources Board. 482,000 vehicles are under the recall order, a potential $18 billion ($37,500 per violation) in fines are pending, and news accounts speculate a criminal indictment for the deception is certain.[50][51] The VW Group CEO, Martin Winterkorn, said he was "deeply sorry" and ordered an external investigation.[52] The software code was only revealed when the EPA refused to certify VW's 2016 models for sale in the US unless the corporation provided full disclosure.[53] On Sunday, 20 September 2015, VW Group announced it was halting the sale of its four-cylinder diesel models in the US.[54] The US EPA press release on its Notice of Violation,[49] and the California Air Resources Board letter[55] dated 18 September 2015 contain significant chronological detail of the agencies interaction with VW on the issue.

On 22 September 2015, VW AG admitted that 11 million cars worldwide had been fitted with software intended to deceive emissions testing. The company issued a profit warning, saying it had set aside 7.3 billion dollars to fix the fraud.[56] On 23 September 2015, Martin Winterkorn announced his resignation from the CEO position after a crisis meeting of the company board.[57] On 25 September 2015 Matthias Müller was named CEO.[58] Müller was the head of the Porsche marque within the VW corporate umbrella.[59]

On April 21, 2017, a US federal judge ordered Volkswagen "to pay a $2.8 billion criminal fine for rigging diesel-powered vehicles to cheat on government emissions tests." The "unprecedented" plea deal formalized a punishment that Volkswagen AG agreed to earlier in 2017.[60]

Audi CEO Rupert Stadler was taken into custody on the morning of Monday, 18 June 2018, in relation to the scandal.[61]

Electrification strategy 2025

VW Group has invested into a wide ranging electrification strategy in Europe, North America and China with its electric "MEB" platform

In 2016, Volkswagen Group announced a corporate "Strategy 2025" that focuses on electrification of its portfolio.[62] The VW Group developed the Volkswagen Group MEB platform chassis that will be utilized in a range various cars and light utility vehicles across several VW Group marques due to its flexibility and floor-mounted battery.[63]

As of May 2018, the VW Group has committed $48 billion in car battery supplies[64] and plans to outfit 16 factories to build electric cars by the end of 2022.[65] According to VW Group CEO Herbert Diess, the company will offer 25 electric models and 20 plug-in hybrids by 2020.[64]

Operations

Part of the Volkswagen factory in Wolfsburg, Germany, its largest worldwide

Rooted in Europe, the Volkswagen Group operates in 153 countries.[66] Volkswagen Passenger Cars is the Group's original marque, and the other major subsidiaries include passenger car marques such as Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, SEAT, and Škoda. Volkswagen AG also has operations in commercial vehicles, owning Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, along with controlling stakes in truck, bus and diesel engine manufacturers Scania AB and MAN SE.[67]

Subsidiaries and marques

The Volkswagen Group comprises 12 principal vehicle manufacturers and their corresponding marques:[note 1]

Porsche headquarters in Stuttgart
  • Bentley Motors Ltd including the Bentley marque: 100% ownership by Volkswagen AG.[7] Volkswagen purchased Rolls-Royce & Bentley from Vickers on 28 July 1998,[68] however the purchase did not include the license to use the Rolls-Royce trademark on automobiles, which is controlled by Rolls-Royce Plc.[69] BMW outmaneuvered Volkswagen, succeeding in obtaining the rights to use the Rolls-Royce trademark on automobiles. From July 1998 until December 2002, BMW continued to supply engines for the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph and the Bentley division sold cars under both the Bentley and Rolls-Royce marques, under an agreement with BMW.
  • Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S., and the Bugatti marque: 100% ownership.[7] Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Groupe VOLKSWAGEN France s.a.[70] Volkswagen acquired Bugatti International S.A. Holding in July 1998.[68]
  • Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, and the Porsche marque: Volkswagen AG purchased 49.9% of the shares in Porsche Zwischenholding GmbH (the holding company of Porsche AG) in December 2009.[71] Volkswagen AG purchased the remaining stake in Porsche AG equaling 100% of the shares in Porsche Zwischenholding GmbH, effectively becoming its parent company as of 1 August 2012.[38]
  • Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. 100% ownership by Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.;[7] company was bought on 19 July 2012.
  • MAN SE, and the MAN marque (controlling shareholder)[7] Acquired a controlling stake in July 2011, making MAN the 10th marque of the Volkswagen Group. 75.03% ownership since as of 6 June 2012.
  • Scania AB and the Scania marque: Acquired controlling stake in July 2008, making Scania the 9th marque of the Volkswagen Group. 100% ownership since 15 January 2015.[72]
  • SEAT, S.A. and the SEAT marque: 100% ownership;[7] initially in 1982 a co-operation agreement with AUDI AG; 51% and 75% ownership in 1986, and full ownership in 1990. SEAT was the first non-German subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group.[24] Their high performance motorsport division SEAT Sport is renamed to CUPRA.
  • Škoda auto a.s., Škoda Auto, and the Škoda marque: 100% ownership.[7] initially in 1991 a co-operation agreement and 30% ownership;[24] 60.3% and 70% ownership on 1994 and 1995 respectively, 100% ownership since 2000[26]
  • TRATON AG (formerly Volkswagen Truck and Bus): 100% ownership. TRATON is the holding company for Volkswagen Group's heavy commercial vehicle operations.[73]
The Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles assembly plant in Hannover, Germany

The Group also owns five defunct marques which are managed through the companies Auto Union GmbH and NSU GmbH, both of which are 100% owned by AUDI AG:

  • Auto Union (the Auto Union company, together with NSU Motorenwerke AG (NSU), were merged into "Audi NSU Auto-Union AG" in 1969. The name was shortened to "AUDI AG" in 1985, and the interlocked four-ring badge from Auto Union is still used by AUDI AG).
  • Dampf-Kraft-Wagen (DKW)
  • Horch
  • NSU Motorenwerke AG (NSU) – bought in 1969 by Volkswagen AG, and merged into "Audi NSU Auto-Union AG"; the NSU brand has not been used since 1977, while the former NSU manufacturing plant at Neckarsulm is still used for Audi assembly. However, the current AUDI AG shares trade under the ticker symbol "NSU".
  • Wanderer

Other subsidiaries:

Audi

Bentley

Bugatti

CUPRA

Italdesign Giugiaro

Lamborghini

MAN AG

Porsche

Scania

SEAT

Škoda Auto

Volkswagen

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles

Corporate affairs

Ownership

Under the Volkswagen Law, no shareholder in Volkswagen AG could exercise more than 20 percent of the firm's voting rights, regardless of their level of stock holding.[75] This law was supposed to protect Volkswagen Group from takeovers.[76] In October 2005, Porsche acquired an 18.53 percent stake in the business, and in July 2006, Porsche increased that ownership to more than 25 percent. Analysts disagreed as to whether the investment was a good fit for Porsche's strategy.[77]

On 26 March 2007, after the European Union moved against the Volkswagen law, Porsche took its holding to 30.9 percent, triggering a takeover bid under German law. Porsche formally announced in a press statement that it did not intend to take over Volkswagen Group, setting its offer price at the lowest possible legal value, but intended the move to avoid a competitor taking a large stake, or to stop hedge funds dismantling Volkswagen Group, which is Porsche's most important partner.[78] On 16 September 2008, Porsche announced that the company had increased its stake in Volkswagen AG to 35 percent. By October 2008, Porsche held 42.6 percent of Volkswagen AG's ordinary shares, and held stock options on another 31.5 percent.[79] thus, effectively holding over 74 percent; 42.6 percent actual shares, and the rest as convertible options.[80] Volkswagen AG briefly became the world's most valuable company, as the stock price rose to over €1,000 per share as short sellers tried to cover their positions[81] The substantial investment in Volkswagen left Porsche with huge financial burden with its debts accumulating up to 13 billion euros by 2009.[82] Porsche would get emergency infusion of about a billion dollars from Volkswagen.[83] In July 2012, Volkswagen completed takeover of Porsche ending the 4 year saga and formed an integrated automotive group with Porsche. Porsche AG would become the 10th brand of Volkswagen. The holding company Porsche SE owns 31 percent shares of Volkswagen AG while maintaining its 50.7 percent of voting rights in the company.[84]

As of 31 December 2016, share ownership of Volkswagen AG is distributed as follows:[4]

Stock market listings

Volkswagen AG shares are primarily traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange,[85] and are listed under the 'VOW' and 'VOW3' stock ticker symbols. First listed in August 1961, the shares were issued at a price of DM 350 per DM 100 share,[85] Volkswagen AG shares are now separated into two different types or classes: 'ordinary shares' and 'preference shares'.[85] The ordinary shares are now traded under the WKN 766400 and ISIN DE0007664005 listings, and the preference shares under the WKN 766403 and ISIN DE0007664039 listings.[85]

Volkswagen AG shares are also listed and traded on other major domestic and worldwide stock exchanges. In Germany's domestic exchanges, since 1961 these include those in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich and Stuttgart. International exchanges include those in Basel (listed in 1967), Geneva (1967), Zürich (1967), Luxembourg (1979), London (1988), and New York (1988).[85]

Since the start of trading in 1961, Volkswagen AG shares have been subjected to two stock splits – the first was on 17 March 1969 when they were split at a ratio of 2:1, from a DM 100 share to a DM 50 share. The second split occurred on 6 July 1998, the DM 50 share being converted into a share of no overall nominal value, at a ratio of 1:10.[85]

From 23 December 2009, Volkswagen AG preferred shares replaced its ordinary shares in the DAX index.[86]

Leadership, sales and market share

Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn has resigned over the company's manipulation of diesel emissions tests
Volkswagen (mbH, GmbH, AG) leaders
TenureLeader(s)
1937 to 1946Bodo Lafferentz, Ferdinand Porsche, Jakob Werlin[87]
June 1945 to December 1947Ivan Hirst (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers)[19]
1 January 1948 to April 1967Heinrich Nordhoff[88]
1 May 1968 to September 1971Kurt Lotz[88]
1 October 1971 to February 1975Rudolf Leiding[88]
10 February 1975 to December 1980Toni Schmücker[88]
1 January 1982 to December 1992Carl Hahn[88]
1 January 1993 to 16 April 2002Ferdinand K. Piëch[88]
16 April 2002 to 31 December 2006Bernd Pischetsrieder[88]
1 January 2007 to 23 September 2015Martin Winterkorn[88][89][90]
25 September 2015 to 12 April 2018Matthias Müller[91]
since 12 April 2018Herbert Diess[1]
Top 3 Automakers Global, 2012[92]
Group Units
Toyota 10,104,424
GM 9,285,425
Volkswagen 9,254,742
Top 3 automakers 2012 by global volume, based on OICA data.

The worldwide ranking of automakers is compiled once per year by the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers OICA.[93]

In 2013, Volkswagen Group's largest single country market was China with 3.27 million units delivered, followed by Germany with 1.16 million units. Divided by regions, Western Europe was the largest market of the Volkswagen Group with 3.65 million units in 2013, followed by Asia-Pacific with 3.64 million, and South America with 908,000 units delivered in 2013.[94]

Top 3 Automakers EU27, 2013[95]
Group Units share
Volkswagen 2,957,653 25.0
PSA 1,311,406 11.1
RENAULT 1,076,367 10.4
Top 3 automakers 2013 by EU27 new passenger car volume, based on ACEA data

The European ranking of automakers is compiled monthly by the European Auto Manufacturers' Association ACEA.[95] Volkswagen has held the top spot in Europe uninterrupted for more than two decades.[96]

The company narrowly missed being the top global automaker in the first half of 2014, selling 5.07 million vehicles in the six months ending June 30, 2014, just behind Toyota which notched up 5.1 million vehicle sales.[97]

Sponsorships

Volkswagen is heavily involved in sports sponsorship, with investments having included the 2008 Summer Olympics, the 2014 Winter Olympics,[98][99] as well as the David Beckham Academy. Volkswagen AG wholly owns the Bundesliga football side VfL Wolfsburg;[100] the company is also the shirt sponsor of Major League Soccer club D.C. United, League of Ireland Premier Division Sligo Rovers and top level of the Mexican football league system Liga MX team Puebla F.C.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Volkswagen Trucks and Buses are renamed to TRATON AG.

References

  1. 1 2 "Extensive revision of Volkswagen Group management structure decided - volkswagen-media-services.com". www.volkswagen-media-services.com. Retrieved 2018-04-12.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Shaping the transformation together. 2017 Annual Report". Volkswagen AG. 13 March 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  3. 1 2 Volkswagen AG 2012, p. 110.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Volkswagen Group – Shareholder Structure". Volkswagen AG. 31 December 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 http://www.4-traders.com/VOLKSWAGEN-AG-436737/company/
  6. ↑ "Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Annual Report 2017". Volkswagen AG. 13 March 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Volkswagen AG 2012, pp. U60-U73.
  8. ↑ https://industriemagazin.at/a/warten-auf-die-neuen-machtuebergabe-in-den-zwei-familien-hinter-vw
  9. ↑ https://www.industryleadersmagazine.com/powerful-business-dynasties-leading-family-owned-businesses/
  10. ↑ Bomey, Nathan (30 January 2017). "Volkswagen passes Toyota as world's largest automaker despite scandal". USA Today. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  11. ↑ "NEW PASSENGER CAR REGISTRATIONS BY MANUFACTURER EUROPEAN UNION (EU)". ACEA. 16 January 2013. Archived from the original (XLS) on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  12. ↑ Volkswagen AG 2009.
  13. ↑ "Volkswagen AG Factsheet". volkswagenag.com. Volkswagen AG. 14 February 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  14. ↑ "Volkswagen AG Investor Relations FAQ". volkswagenag.com. Volkswagen AG. 14 February 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  15. ↑ "Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Interim Report January – September 2011" (PDF). volkswagenag.com. Volkswagen AG. 27 October 2011. p. 39. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 May 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
  16. 1 2 Volkswagen AG 2008a, p. 1.
  17. ↑ "Seventy-Five Years Ago: Porsche Receives the Order to Construct the Volkswagen". porsche.com. Porsche AG. 16 June 2009. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  18. ↑ Sloniger, Jerry (1980). The VW Story. Patrick Stephens. ISBN 0-85059-441-3.
  19. 1 2 3 "Volkswagen Makes Automotive History". volkswagen.vn. Volkswagen AG. Archived from the original on 9 August 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  20. ↑ Nelson, Walter (1967). Small Wonder. Little, Brown & Company. p. 333.
  21. ↑ "Obituaries – Ivan Hirst". The Guardian. London. 18 March 2000. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  22. ↑ Ford: The Times, the Man, the Company by Allan Nevins and Frank Ernest Nevins 1954
  23. ↑ "Harry S. Truman – Library & Museum – Draft, The President's Economic Mission to Germany and Austria, Report 3, March, 1947; OF 950B: Economic Mission as to Food...; Truman Papers". Trumanlibrary.org. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Manfred Grieger; Ulrike Gutzmann; Dirk Schlinkert, eds. (2008). Volkswagen Chronicle (PDF). Historical Notes. 7. Volkswagen AG. ISBN 978-3-935112-11-6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  25. ↑ Schmitt, Bertel (16 May 2009). "VW/Porsche: Auto Union? What the NSFW?". TheTruthAboutCars.com. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  26. 1 2 "Skoda Auto ownership chronicle" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 December 2010.
  27. ↑ Volkswagen's branding plan takes shape
  28. ↑ "Volkswagen Group – Business lines and markets". Volkswagen AG. Archived from the original on 26 May 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  29. ↑ "Volkswagen Group – Brands and business fields". Volkswagen AG. Archived from the original on 26 May 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  30. ↑ "Volkswagen May Take Over Carmaker Karmann, Spiegel Reports", Bloomberg, 24 October 2009.
  31. ↑ "Volkswagen Supervisory Board lays foundation for car manufacture at Karmann site in Osnabrück". VolkswagenAG.com. Volkswagen AG. 20 November 2009. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
  32. ↑ "Volkswagen Supervisory Board approves Comprehensive Agreement for an Integrated Automotive Group with Porsche" (Press release). Volkswagen AG. 13 August 2009. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
  33. ↑ "Volkswagen takes 49.9 percent stake in Porsche AG". Autoblog.com.
  34. ↑ "Volkswagen takes 49.9 percent stake in Porsche AG". VolkswagenAG.com. Volkswagen AG. 7 December 2009. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  35. ↑ "Porsche loses investment appeal as VW merger skids AG". Reuters. Reuters. 9 September 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  36. ↑ "Merger of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft and Porsche Automobil Holding SE no longer expected within the time frame laid down in the Comprehensive Agreement". Volkswagen AG. 8 September 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  37. ↑ "Volkswagen aims to wrap up Porsche purchase on Aug 1". 4 July 2012.
  38. 1 2 Scott, Mark (July 5, 2012). "Volkswagen to Buy Remaining Stake in Porsche". The New York Times.
  39. ↑ "Volkswagen completes Suzuki tieup". The Japan Times. 15 January 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
  40. ↑ "Volkswagen and Suzuki agreed to establish a comprehensive partnership". VolkswagenAG.com. Volkswagen AG. 9 December 2009. Archived from the original on 5 June 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  41. ↑ Suzuki Seeks 'Divorce' From Volkswagen as Their 20-Month Alliance Crumbles. Bloomberg. Retrieved on 2013-07-16.
  42. ↑ VW Expects Suzuki Decision Mid-2013 at Earliest - WSJ.com. Online.wsj.com (2013-03-14). Retrieved on 2013-07-16.
  43. ↑ "Volkswagen Group takes majority shareholding in Italdesign Giugiaro". volkswagenag.com. Volkswagen AG. 25 May 2010. Archived from the original on 11 January 2011.
  44. ↑ "Volkswagen Group completes acquisition of majority shareholding in Italdesign Giugiaro". Volkswagen AG. 9 August 2010. Archived from the original on 9 January 2011. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  45. ↑ Olivia Solon (14 August 2015). "VW Has Spent Two Years Trying to Hide a Big Security Flaw". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  46. ↑ "Nokia sells Here maps business to carmakers Audi, BMW and Daimler". CNET. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  47. ↑ "VW and Suzuki settle four-year dispute". BBC. 30 August 2015.
  48. 1 2 "Suzuki buys back Volkswagen's stake for $3.8bn". BBC. 17 September 2015. Archived from the original on 23 July 2016. The deal between the carmakers soured soon after it was formed in 2009. The companies had agreed to work together on fuel-efficient cars, but Suzuki accused Volkswagen of withholding information it had promised to share. Volkswagen, meanwhile, had objected to a deal Suzuki made to buy diesel engines from Italian carmaker Fiat.
  49. 1 2 "09/18/2015: EPA, California Notify Volkswagen of Clean Air Act Violations / Carmaker allegedly used software that circumvents emissions testing for certain air pollutants". epa.gov. Archived from the original on 2016-09-11. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  50. ↑ Bloomberg/Getty Images (19 September 2015). "The Justice Department Pledge To Prosecute White-Collar Criminals Is About To Face A Major Test". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  51. ↑ "EPA Accuses VW of Cheating Smog Testing on 482,000 Cars". WIRED. 18 September 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  52. ↑ "Volkswagen CEO apologizes, orders external probe on emissions allegations". USA TODAY. 20 September 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  53. ↑ VW's Emissions Cheating Found by Curious Clean-Air Group - Bloomberg Business
  54. ↑ "Volkswagen to halt U.S. sales of some 2015 diesel cars". Yahoo News. 20 September 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  55. ↑ "ARB LETTER TO VW". ca.gov. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  56. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/23/business/international/volkswagen-diesel-car-scandal.html?_r=0
  57. ↑ "Volkswagen CEO steps down, takes responsibility for scandal". Yahoo Finance. 24 September 2015. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  58. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/26/business/volkswagen-namesmuller-an-insider-as-chief-executive.html
  59. ↑ "Volkswagen's CEO is staying at the company - Business Insider". Business Insider. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  60. ↑ Rogers, Christina (April 21, 2017). "Judge Slaps VW With $2.8 Billion Criminal Fine in Emissions Fraud". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  61. ↑ "Audi CEO Taken into German Custody Over Diesel Probe, VW Says". Bloomberg News. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  62. ↑ William Boston. "Strategie 2025" VW CEO’s Strategy Overhaul Focuses on Electric Vehicles. The Wall Street Journal. Published on June 16, 2016.
  63. ↑ Christiaan Hetzner. VW weighs second EV platform. Automotive News. May 28, 2016.
  64. 1 2 VW doubles its electric vehicle battery contracts to $48 billion. Fortune. May 3, 2018.
  65. ↑ Darrell Etherington. Volkswagen has locked down $25B in battery supplies for its electric vehicle push TechCrunch. 13 March 2018.
  66. ↑ Taylor III, Alex (23 July 2012). "Das Auto Giant". Fortune. 166 (2): 150–155. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  67. ↑ Taylor, Edward (4 July 2011). "UPDATE 3-VW says secures majority stake in truckmaker MAN". REUTERS. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
  68. 1 2 3 Volkswagen AG 2012a, p. 68.
  69. ↑ "BMW 'Rolls' out ultimatum". 8 May 1998. Archived from the original on 11 August 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  70. ↑ Volkswagen AG 2012a, p. 19.
  71. ↑ "Porsche SE – Holding Structure". Porsche. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  72. ↑ "Volkswagen pays SEK 200 per share to noncontrolling interest shareholders of Scania". Volkswagen AG. Archived from the original on 4 September 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  73. ↑ "TRATON is a company for a new era of transportation. An Interview with Andreas Renschler".
  74. ↑ "MOIA – the Volkswagen Group's new mobility services company". www.volkswagenag.com. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
  75. ↑ "Top EU court finds against VW law". BBC News. BBC. 13 February 2007. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  76. ↑ "VW Law is a write-off". Management Today. 23 October 2007. Archived from the original on 15 January 2008. Retrieved 27 December 2009. State of Lower Saxony, VW's second biggest shareholder, whose premier Christian Wulff sits on the board
  77. ↑ Landler, Mark (7 November 2006). "Porsche cites need for changes at Volkswagen". International Herald Tribune / nytimes.com. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  78. ↑ "Porsche triggers a VW takeover bid". BBC News. BBC. 26 March 2007. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  79. ↑ "Porsche heads for domination agreement". 26 October 2008.
  80. ↑ "Porsche admits it's not invincible, posts 14% sales decline". Autoblog.com.
  81. ↑ "Hedge funds make £18bn loss on VW". BBC News. BBC. 29 October 2008. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  82. ↑ "Porsche Mired In Debt". Forbes. Forbes. 3 March 2009. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  83. ↑ "Annual Report 2009" (PDF). Volkswagen AG. 10 February 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  84. ↑ "Volkswagen swallows Porsche". The Guardian. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  85. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Volkswagen Group – Share Fact Sheet". VolkswagenAG.com. Volkswagen AG. Archived from the original on 11 January 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2009.
  86. ↑ "Volkswagen preferred shares replace ordinary shares in DAX". VolkswagenAG.com. Volkswagen AG. 18 December 2009. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
  87. ↑ Chronik/Rückblick mit scheinbaren Analogien und ohne Anspruch auf Vollständigkeit. Retrieved 22 October 2009.
  88. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Historical Notes 7: Volkswagen Chronicle – Becoming a Global Player". 2008. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  89. ↑ Moore, Thad (23 September 2015). "Volkswagen CEO quits amid emissions cheating scandal". The Washington Post. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  90. ↑ Woodyard, Chris (23 September 2015). "VW CEO resigns in cheating scandal". The Detroit Free Press. p. 1B.
  91. ↑ "Matthias Müller appointed CEO of the Volkswagen Group - volkswagen-media-services.com". volkswagen-media-services.com. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  92. ↑ "World Ranking of Manufacturers: Year 2012" (PDF). World Motor Vehicle Production: OICA Correspondents Survey. Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles. 2012.
  93. ↑ "WORLD RANKING OF MANUFACTURERS Year 2012" (PDF). OICA. 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  94. ↑ "Rekord: Volkswagen Konzern steigert Auslieferungen in 2013 um rund 5 Prozent auf über 9,7 (2012: 9,3) Millionen Fahrzeuge". Volkswagen AG. 11 January 2014. Archived from the original on 4 September 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2014. Not counting heavy commercial
  95. 1 2 "NEW PASSENGER CAR REGISTRATIONS BY MANUFACTURER EUROPEAN UNION (EU)". ACEA. 16 January 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  96. ↑ "Historical series: 1990–2010: New Passenger Car Registrations by manufacturer". ACEA. 2011. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
  97. ↑ "World biggest carmaker tag retained by Toyota". The Japan News.Net. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  98. ↑ "Ozone layer protection: Olympic sponsors in action" (Press release). Beijing 2008. 11 October 2008. Archived from the original on 24 September 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
  99. ↑ "VW to sponsor Sochi 2014 Olympics". BBC News. 18 September 2009. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
  100. ↑ van Loon, Jeremy (22 July 2005). "Wolfsburg, `Special' City, Reels as Volkswagen Flounders". Bloomberg. Retrieved 25 March 2010.

Corporate documents

  • "1937-1945 The Foundation of the Volkswagen Plant". Volkswagen Chronicle. Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  • "VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT Articles of Association As at August 2012" (PDF). volkswagenag.com. VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT. August 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 August 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  • "Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Annual Report 2007" (PDF). volkswagenag.com. Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft. 13 March 2007. ISSN 0944-9817. 858.809.505.20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  • "Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Annual Report 2008" (PDF). volkswagenag.com. Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft. 12 March 2009. ISSN 0944-9817. 958.809.512.20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  • "Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Annual Report 2009" (PDF). volkswagenag.com. Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft. 11 March 2010. ISSN 0944-9817. 058.809.522.20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  • "Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Annual Report 2010" (PDF). volkswagenag.com. Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft. 10 March 2011. ISSN 0944-9817. 158.809.527.20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  • "Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Annual Report 2011" (PDF). volkswagenag.com. Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft. 12 March 2012. ISSN 0944-9817. 258.809.536.00. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 August 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  • "Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Facts and Figures 2012" (PDF). volkswagenag.com. Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft. 11 June 2012. 272.802.497.20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 August 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  • "Volkswagen Group Production Plants". volkswagenag.com. Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 9 August 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.