Page 1 of 1

Audi, VW, Porcshe trinity/monopoly.

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 10:43 am
by zaxrex
Well in the past the Germans have effectively put into place a ban on any foreign company from owning a majority stake in Volks Wagon. Defending national integrity and such, I guess.

Porsche had a ~30% stake in VW and the next closest holder was the state of Lower Saxony (auto machinist unions vote much?). Now Porsche has taken the first steps to become the major shareholder for VW.

There are no stated plans to merge the companies, but methinks that the future Porsche cars will get to choose first from the cool parts bin, and Audi will get what is left over. Can't have a better performing car that costs less than the major owner company, now can we?

Thoughts

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:17 am
by Sabre
I'd hate to see Audi loose out on some coolness, but it could be the way this goes. Let's hope not as I love me some Audi.

Re: Audi, VW, Porcshe trinity/monopoly.

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:22 am
by GaToR
zaxrex wrote:Well in the past the Germans have effectively put into place a ban on any foreign company from owning a majority stake in Volks Wagon. Defending national integrity and such, I guess.

Porsche had a ~30% stake in VW and the next closest holder was the state of Lower Saxony (auto machinist unions vote much?). Now Porsche has taken the first steps to become the major shareholder for VW.

There are no stated plans to merge the companies, but methinks that the future Porsche cars will get to choose first from the cool parts bin, and Audi will get what is left over. Can't have a better performing car that costs less than the major owner company, now can we?

Thoughts
I have more fear for Lambo than I do for Audi. If Porsche does respectfully request Audi leave the supercar market for the forseeable future, Lambo will become very costly to keep for Audi. They've been sharing a lot of performance parts between R-8 and Gallardo.

On the other side of the coin, Porsche and Audi both have ground to cover on their performance cars, and making improvements accross the board is good for the empire. Hopefully they see that.

Porsche will already need to invest heavily in their AWD system to have a Turbo that can beat Nissan. And Audi's S-cars might make use of Porsche's variable turbocharging to be as good bang/buck current BMWs. The 135i makes me not want to look at the S5 with any longing.

Re: Audi, VW, Porcshe trinity/monopoly.

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:32 am
by zaxrex
legasleeper wrote: The 135i makes me not want to look at the S5 with any longing.
I think you and Gabe share common desires.

I forgot about the Lambo/Audi synergy. The reports say that there wil be at least a half year to a year of anti-trist and business practices review before this gets approved, so they may limit the amount of mucking that is allowable. It would really be neat if this could be a good outcome in a Captain Planet/Voltron sort of way.

Re: Audi, VW, Porcshe trinity/monopoly.

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:11 pm
by Mr Kleen
legasleeper wrote:The 135i makes me not want to look at the S5 with any longing.
:drive: :D

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:44 pm
by complacent
Wagons, what we need are better wagons. That's a good reason to keep the five rings of doom alive.

Won't happen (or at least I hope not) in a Porsche.

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:45 pm
by sirwilliam
complacent wrote:Wagons, what we need are better wagons. That's a good reason to keep the five rings of doom alive.

Won't happen (or at least I hope not) in a Porsche.
ditto w/ concurrences.

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 2:20 pm
by Sabre
complacent wrote:Won't happen (or at least I hope not) in a Porsche.
lol, that's what everyone said about SUVs, but look at the Cayenne...

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 4:30 pm
by GaToR
Sabre wrote:
complacent wrote:Won't happen (or at least I hope not) in a Porsche.
lol, that's what everyone said about SUVs, but look at the Cayenne...
I wouldn't be shocked if there becomest a Panamera Avant, at least on the opposing beach.