Just over a week ago, Volkswagen called on Porsche to make it clear that it wouldn't interfere with VW's daily operations once it becomes the auto giant's largest shareholder, and VW chairman Ferdinand Piëch broke ranks with his Porsche-family cousins to side with VW. Now the latest reports claim that a coup is brewing in Stuttgart, and Piëch is the target.
The power struggles between the two companies have been underway and tensions have been building for nearly two years, ever since speculation about Porsche's intent to acquire a majority interest in VW began to mount. VW's CEO Martin Winterkorn has even threatened to resign if the Porsche takeover moves forward.
German news source Focus is now reporting that Porsche executives are working on a plan to get Piech out of his position on VW's board and Wolfgang Porsche himself may be spearheading the plan. His reaction to Piech's decision to side with VW certainly provoked a negative reaction in Porsche. "I am horrified by the behavior of the chairman," he said.
A number of scandals including a spy incident involving a baby monitor have stepped up the level of concern in both camps over the past year, and to date the two companies have reached no formal agreement on how power will be shared or which directors and executives will have final control. This latest development, if it proves to be true, could spell the end of niceties between the two companies. That would be unfortunate, however, as there is much good that could come of a Porsche-VW partnership, not the least of which is the revival of the 914.
Synergies between the two companies already exist, with VW facilities producing chassis, bodies and other components for the current Cayenne and future 2010 Panamera. Porsche isn't entirely happy with the arrangement, however, due to what it perceives as substandard quality in early Panamera bodies. VW is quick to counter with the defense that the current run is still 'practice' and that the final production examples will be top-notch, reports Automotive News Europe.
Tensions aren't building solely at the executive level, either. Union workers are nervous that Porsche's takeover could mean lower wages and massive job cuts. IG Metall, a German union that represents about 90% of VW's workers, is already in the midst of a dispute with Porcshe CEO Wendelin Wiedeking over the luxury sports car maker's desire to have an equal number of staff representatives to VW in the holding company that will be used to purchase the VW shares - despite the fact that VW employs about 20 times more workers than Porsche.
The German state of Lower Saxony has made clear its intent to hang onto a 20% minority stake to defend the interests of its workers and the VW factories within its borders. Thanks to a law known as 'the VW law' that 20% interest allows the state to block action by a simple majority shareholder in certain circumstances.
Reader Comments
Tue Sep 9 2008 10:07 AM
CarFan says
IMO, the areas where Porsche could contribute are;
- cost reduction
- improving production efficiency
- improving concept-to-market development time
- shared research costs
- sharing of assembly lines
- limited component sharing
- refocusing VW as a mass market leader, not a luxury brand
- contribute to development of Bugatti as the world's ultimate sport luxury machine
Areas where Porsche should stay away from,
- Bentley product strategy - VW has brought sales and growth success
- Lamborghini product strategy - VW has brought sales and growth success
- Audi product strategy - VW has brought sales, growth and image success
VW/Porsche Group Portfolio:
Ultra Luxury Sports Cars - Bugatti
Ultra Luxury Coupes, Sedans and Convertibles - Bentley
Super Sports Cars - Lamborghini, Porsche
Sport Luxury Cars - Audi
Upper Tier Mass Market Cars - VW
Economy Cars - Skoda
The only competing brands would seem to be Lamborghini and Porsche but they have radically different styling (edgy vs traditional) and serve different segments.
Thu Sep 11 2008 11:49 AM
guruz says
Hey CarFan, you forgot Scania and Seat ;)
Mon Sep 15 2008 12:49 PM
brad says
man if porsche screws with the R8 which has been speculated, im gonna be pissed, this also means the end of the would be r4 or the boxster killer.
Mon Sep 15 2008 1:33 PM
www.mywheelsonwalls.com says
Let me know when they have thrown all of their toys out of the pram!
Ultimately this is going no where and can only do more harm than good. Its a no win either way as it stands.
Mon Sep 15 2008 3:46 PM
NoNameDenton says
Not shocking in the least
Tue Sep 16 2008 8:29 AM
dcars says
The guy brings VW back from the scrap heap and they want to can him? Sounds like a dumb idea. Family issues should never enter the business world.
Tue Sep 16 2008 5:47 PM
NoNameDenton says
Tell that to the Ford Motor Company
Tue Sep 16 2008 6:22 PM
CK says
Right at the moment Mr. Piech is just chairman of the board of directors. And you can't really say that he brought VW back from the scrap heap either. He even pressed ahead development of cars like the Pheaton which have nothing to do with focus on the mass market. All in all maybe it isn't such a bad idea if he retires because he is not an unproblematic person.
There are many problems within VW and if were Porsche and would buy stake in this company I would kick everybodies ass who questions my power. My money my decisions. And I think everybody else who would invest his money will see things in the same way.
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