GAZ-53 GAZ-3307 GAZ-66

What is VAG? Volkswagen aktiengesellschaft. Car brands - who owns whom Who owns Porsche and Audi

Type Joint-Stock Company , Exchange listing Base Founders German labor front Location Germany: Wolfsburg, Switzerland: Lausanne Key figures Matthias Müller (Chairman of the Board), Herbert Diess
(CEO),
Kfaus Kennberg (CEO) Industry Automotive industry Products Passenger cars and commercial vehicles Turnover ▲ €235.849 billion (2018) Operating profit ▲ €13.920 billion (2018) Net profit ▲ €11.844 billion (2018) Assets €458.156 billion (2018) Capitalization ▲ €117.11 billion (2018) Number of employees 655,722 people (2018) Affiliated companies Audi AG,
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. (subsidiary of Audi AG) ,
Bentley Motors Ltd.
Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. (subsidiary of Volkswagen France), Scania AB
SEAT S.A.
Skoda Auto a.s.
Volkswagen Marine
Porsche
Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. (subsidiary of Audi AG)
ItalDesign Giugiaro
Website volkswagenag.com (German) (English) Media files on Wikimedia Commons

The Volkswagen Group consists of 342 companies engaged in the production of automobiles and related services. As of September 2011, Porsche Automobil Holding SE (also known as Porsche SE) owns 50.73% of the voting shares of Volkswagen AG. In turn, Volkswagen AG owns 49.9% of the ordinary shares of the intermediate holding Porsche Zwischenholding GmbH (the remaining 50.1% is owned directly by Porsche SE), and Porsche Zwischenholding GmbH owns 100% of the shares of the luxury car manufacturer Porsche AG. Negotiations are underway to merge into a single VW-Porsche structure. Until September 2015, Martin Winterkorn was simultaneously Chairman of the Board of Management of Porsche SE and Volkswagen AG.

Based on the results of 9 months of 2009, it was the world's largest automobile manufacturer. Ranked 14th on the Fortune Global 500 in 2009. Leader of the European car market (more than 25%).

Story

The concern traces its origins to the company created by Ferdinand Porsche in 1937 in Berlin. In early 1938, construction began on the first Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg; On September 16 of the same year, the company was renamed Volkswagen GmbH. After World War II, the factories came under the control of the British military administration.

On August 22, 1960, the limited liability company "Volkswagen Plants" was founded, which after the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany became owned by the state of Lower Saxony. By decision of the annual general meeting in 1985, the company name was changed to Volkswagen AG. In addition to the automobile and motorcycle industries, the concern provided financial and logistics services and had a small food business.

In the early 1990s, the concern experienced great difficulties. Appointed chairman of the concern's board in 1993, Ferdinand Piëch turned out to be an excellent crisis manager. He practically saved the concern by transferring it to a four-day work week. Until 2015, Piech played one of the key roles in the concern. It was he who achieved outstanding success, choosing an offensive policy and acquiring a whole galaxy of popular car brands.

Corporate structure

The Volkswagen concern is known all over the world. This is truly the largest group of companies producing cars. The parent company (or, as they say, the parent company) is located in Wolfsburg and is called, as everyone knows, Volkswagen AG. Well, this concern has a very rich and long history and mass interesting facts. So it’s worth talking about it in more detail.

Porsche and Volkswagen

So, the headquarters of this concern is located in Germany, in Wolfsburg. The company was named “Volkswagen”, which translated from German means “ people's car" Today, about half of the shares belong to a holding company such as Porsche SE. But nevertheless, the Volkswagen concern owns all one hundred percent of the ordinary shares of the intermediate holding, which is called Porsche Zwischenholding GmbH. In general, in essence, “Porsche” is the car that Volkswagen produces. Today, company managers are negotiating to unite the companies into a single structure, which could be called VW-Porsche. It is also interesting that Martin Winterkorn (a fairly well-known personality in the automotive world) until September 2015 served as chairman of the board of both Volkswagen and Porsche.

But that is not all. Currently, the Volkswagen concern consists of 342 companies that produce cars and provide services related to this area. It is the largest car manufacturer in the world. And of course, the undisputed leader of the European car market. 25% of the cars that drive on the continent's roads are made by Volkswagen.

About history

The Volkswagen concern begins its history in 1937. The founder of the company is Ferinand Porsche. It was he who created the so-called Society for the Preparation of Volkswagen MBH. And in 1938 they began to build the first Volkswagen plant. Of course, it was in Wolfsburg. In addition to automobile manufacturing, the plant was engaged in another type of activity. Volkswagen AG then provided logistics and financial services. And besides this, he had a small food business.

In the 90s, the company began to experience major difficulties. Quite serious financial problems arose. But thanks to the enterprise of Ferdinand Piëch, everything worked out. Essentially, this man saved Volkswagen. The concern switched to a 4-day work week, began to follow an offensive policy and began to develop at an even faster pace. In the end, the company managed to acquire simply a huge number of popular brands.

Rolls-Royce and Suzuki

From 1998 to 2002, the Volkswagen automobile concern was engaged in the production of cars such as Rolls-Royce. All people know about these luxury models, even those who are not familiar with the auto world. This topic is quite interesting. A division of the Volkswagen Bentley group was engaged in the production of these cars under an agreement with another company - BMW. Why? But because the Munich company bought the rights to this brand from a concern like Vickers. And since 2003, only BMW has the right to produce and produce cars with the famous Rolls-Royce emblem.

In 2009, the Volkswagen Group stepped even further - it entered into an alliance with a company such as Suzuki. The companies exchanged stakes (German manufacturers got 20% of Suzuki shares) and announced the joint development of so-called environmental cars. But in 2011, the alliance collapsed, which was announced to the world.

Scandal 2015

In September of this year, 2015, a worldwide scandal broke out around Volkswagen. The concern was accused of the fact that the program that the developers used in on-board computers, which they release, determined one important point. Namely, in what mode the machine operates - in normal or test mode. This program was introduced in cars with diesel power units. Including VW Jetta, Audi A3, Golf, Passat, Beetle. When testing began, the car automatically switched to an environmentally friendly operating mode. A very smart and well-thought-out system, I must say. However, this turned out to be a huge disaster and financial costs for the concern.

The Environmental Protection Agency said that for absolutely every car that does not meet US standards, the company will have to pay a fine of $37,500. It turns out to be a fabulous amount. After all, since 2008, the concern has sold 482,000 cars. And the total amount of fines could reach 18 billion! To date, half a million of its vehicles have been recalled from the United States. This is also a loss. Company Chairman Martin Winterkorn made a public apology after the incident and said that he would definitely support the investigation. By the way, the ministry is involved in this. After this, Martin resigned after more than a dozen years of working at Volkswagen.

Acquired companies before 2000

So, it’s worth talking in more detail about what is included in the Volkswagen concern. Naturally, its main part is the Volkswagen company, which produces passenger cars. The company is not registered as a “daughter” of the parent concern, but is a division directly subordinate to the management of VW AG.

In 1964, the Audi company was merged into this structure. It was purchased from Daimler-Benz. The next company after Audi was NSU Motorenwerke. It was bought in 1969. This brand has not been used as an independent brand for a long time - since 1977. Before that, the company produced motorcycles and Cars.

They joined the Spanish brand Seat, which has existed since 1950. Volkswagen owns 99.99% of the company's shares. The most interesting models began to appear after Seat joined the German structure. For example, SEAT Bocanegra with a 180-horsepower engine, the design of which was worked on by Lamborghini specialists.

In 1991, the company acquired the Czech Škoda, and then regained Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. This company was once part of VW AG, but in 1995 it became an independent brand. Or rather, a division. “Bentley”, “Bugatti”, “Lamborghini” - these brands are known today all over the world. And these are concerns owned by Volkswagen since 1998. That year was a shock year for the company. After all, these cars are considered one of the most popular, well-known and actively purchased by people.

Acquired companies after 2000

The Volkswagen Group continued to acquire shares further. In 2009, he bought almost 71% of Scania AB shares. This production is engaged in the development and production of dump trucks, buses, trucks, truck tractors And diesel engines. Another company, MAN AG, purchased in 2011, produces all of the above, as well as hybrid power units in addition. VW AG has a 55.9% stake in the company.

Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A and ItalDesign Giugiaro are two more manufacturers purchased by Volkswagen. The first of these companies is one of the leading manufacturers of premium motorcycles. And the second is a car design studio. It is interesting that 90% of the shares of this company were bought by the Lamborghini holding in 2010. So Volkswagen was already the owner of the studio, but after the paperwork was completed, it also became the official owner.

And one more interesting information. In 2013, VW AG acquired the Russian Aleko (it was under this TM that the famous cheap “Muscovites” were sold for some time). The right to use this brand and any emblems belongs to the German concern until 2021.

Financial questions

In March 1991, in order to optimize the organizational structure, the German concern decided to form an internal division that would deal with financial issues. It was called Volkswagen Finanz. In 1994 it became a closed joint stock company. This banking and financial structure receives full access to international financial markets, as well as the opportunity to provide financing on very favorable terms. This unit deals with important issues. For example, financing the development, production and purchase of machines for corporate and individual clients. It also provides banking, leasing and insurance services to these individuals. In general, it is a useful activity and, most importantly for the company, profitable.

About profit

And a couple more interesting facts at the end. In 2010, VW AG made a huge amount of money, amounting to 57.243 billion euros! But from all this, the net profit turned out to be only 1.55 billion. It seems small compared to the revenue. However, in reality it is a lot of money. After all, all expenses that go to almost 350 companies are taken into account. Therefore, the profit is really solid. Therefore, it is not surprising that Volkswagen is by far the largest, richest and most famous company.

The Volkswagen concern is by far the largest in the world. The VW Group owns many popular automobile companies and produces amazing cars that are in demand in all developed countries. Well, we should tell you more about this largest concern.

The Volkswagen concern, or rather its headquarters, is located in Germany, in Wolfsburg. This name is translated as “people's car”. It’s very symbolic, because these cars are really in great demand.

It is interesting that as of September 2011, the voting shares of the concern in the amount of 50.73% belong to an equally well-known German holding. Which, as you might guess, is the Porsche SE. However, it should be noted that the Volkswagen concern owns 100% of the ordinary shares of this holding. For a long time, negotiations were held to combine VW and Porsche into a single structure. It was planned that it would be called that - VW-Porsche. But this did not happen (we will talk about this a little later).

It is interesting that Martin Winterkorn was of both one and the second concern. But last September, 2015, it ceased to be so.

The Volkswagen concern consists of as many as 342 companies that produce cars and provide other services related to cars. This is truly impressive.

The beginning of the story

So, before talking about the composition of the Volkswagen concern, it is worth briefly telling about its history. Its creator is Ferdinand Porsche. In 1938, the first VW plant was built. Naturally, it was in Wolfsburg.

In 1960, on August 22, an LLC called “Volkswagen Plants” appeared. After the Federal Republic of Germany was founded, this company became owned and the name was changed. To the traditional, which remains unchanged to this day. After this, Volkswagen AG began to engage not only in the production of cars and motorcycles, but also in the provision of logistics and financial services. Moreover, this concern even had a small enterprise producing food products.

Further activities

The nineties turned out to be difficult for many countries. Germany was no exception, and the concern even more so. Volkswagen cars continued to be popular, but the company still experienced certain difficulties. But Ferdinand Piëch, hired as a crisis manager, literally saved the company. Until 2015, he managed financial processes. And it was this man who decided to expand the Volkswagen concern. The composition that we know today might not have existed if Piëch had not been so enterprising and far-sighted.

In the late nineties, the company became even more famous, since then the Volkswagen Bentley division appeared, which produced Rolls-Royce cars. True, together with the Munich BMW, which then owned the rights to this brand. Since 2003, Volkswagen no longer does this - the BMW concern finally bought out the Rolls-Royce brand.

Agreement with Suzuki

The brands of the Volkswagen concern are diverse, but many were surprised by the fact that in December 2009 the German company decided to create an alliance with the Japanese company Suzuki. But nothing special happened. The concerns simply exchanged shares (the German company received 1/5 of all shares of the Japanese company). And then they made an announcement about the joint development of special cars that can safely be classified as environmentally friendly. But the alliance did not last long. Not even two years had passed before the press officially announced that the companies had decided to sever business relations. This happened in 2011, in September.

Divisions created in the 20th century

The Volkswagen concern in Germany is the largest. Its main division is considered to be Volkswagen itself, which produces high-quality passenger cars. This group is not registered as a subsidiary joint stock company. This company reports directly to the management of the concern itself.

One of the most popular brands is also “Audi”. The Wolfsburg concern bought it from Daimler-Benz a very long time ago - in 1964, to be more precise. Then, another company entered the Audi Division, purchased five years later, in 1969. And it was NSU Motorenwerke. True, it did not exist independently for very long - only until 1977.

In 1986 a new acquisition was made. The concern bought out Seat (53 percent). Today, the Wolfsburg corporation owns 99.99% of all these shares. That is, in essence, the Spanish company became the property of a German concern. Then, in 1991, VW bought Skoda.

Divisions that emerged in the late 90s

Separately, I would like to say about Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. This is an independent division whose activities are controlled by the VW Group. However, it became such only after 1995, thanks to the efforts of the previous chairman of the board of the group, who was Bernd Weideman. Before this, the current division was part of the VW Group. Today it produces tractors, buses and minibuses.

In 1998, the concern acquired a company that produces truly luxurious and rich cars. And this is a Bentley. The German concern acquired the British company along with Rolls-Royce, which was later sold to BMW (as described above).

Immediately after the Bentley, Bugatti and Lamborghini were purchased. The Italian company was bought not by the Volkswagen concern itself, but by its subsidiary Audi. The year 1998 will be remembered for truly significant and significant transactions.

Other divisions

Volkswagen cars are known all over the world. The tycoon produces really good, high-quality, reliable, comfortable and beautiful passenger cars. But the concern also sells dump trucks, buses, trucks, tractors and diesel engines. They are produced by Scania AB, which the VW Group bought in 2009. About 71 percent of the company's shares belong to the Wolfsburg concern.

Another equally well-known manufacturer of truck tractors, as well as other Vehicle- this is MAN AG. His controlling stake The shares also belong to a German company, and have been for five years now.

Now about Porsche. It was mentioned at the beginning, but it is worth returning to this topic. 49.9% of the shares of this company belonged to the VW Group in 2009. Then negotiations were held on the merger of these two powerful companies into a single whole. But this did not happen. VW Group bought Porsche after all. Thus, the popular manufacturer became the 12th brand in the group. The purchase cost Wolfsburg representatives almost 4.5 billion euros. I also had to “attach” one of my shares (ordinary) on top.

The company also owns the most popular manufacturer Motor Holding S.p.A.) and the ItalDesign Giugiaro studio. It was also bought not by the VW Group, but by Lamborghini. The remaining part of the shares (9.9%) continued to be the property of the relatives of Giorgetto Giugiaro (one of the founders of the atelier).

2015 case

Last September, the biggest scandal surrounding the Volkswagen concern occurred. Then it turned out that about 11 million cars running on diesel units had software, which was activated during testing. This software significantly reduced the amount of harmful gases released into the atmosphere. It turned out that the level of nitrogen oxides released is actually very high. This scandal around the Volkswagen concern flared up very quickly. The company, by the way, admitted its guilt.

This software was installed on models with TDI units (series 288, 189 and 188). The cars were produced for less than 7 years - from 2008 to 2015. Such “defective” models turned out to be the well-known “Golfs” of the sixth generation, “Passats” (seventh), as well as “Tiguan”, “Jetta”, Beetle and even “Audi A3”.

The violation was discovered when research group from West Virginia University studied the composition exhaust gases that entered the atmosphere while driving.

Fine and punishment

Naturally, a fine was imposed on the Volkswagen concern for this. In total, the amount was about 18 billion dollars. The calculation was made based on the number of cars. And the amount that needs to be paid for one “defective” car is approximately $37,500. Yes, a considerable fine was awarded to the Volkswagen concern.

Another consequence can be noted a significant decrease in the prices set for the concern’s shares. Many experts said that this incident could affect the engineering industry throughout the country. Allegedly, the trust of potential buyers may drop significantly in relation to cars produced in Germany, and the famous “ German quality” will no longer be such a standard.

However, so far such predictions have not come true. And they are unlikely to come true. After all, German companies produce really good cars in all respects. Volkswagen has so far failed. Some declines are still observed - sales due to the incident with this scandal decreased by 5.2 percent at the end of winter last year. This is in Germany. Global sales fell two percent. However, no one doubts that this is a temporary phenomenon.

In the automotive world, we are surrounded by just a bunch of car-related acronyms. But layoffs often affect companies and concerns. One of these abbreviations that has been around for quite some time is VAG! Some say that this is another name for VOLKSWAGEN, others call all German cars (including Mercedes and BMW) VAG. But what is the reality like? It turns out everything is simple...


Let's start, as usual, with a definition.

VAG is an abbreviation for Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft (the second word in the name means “joint stock company”), abbreviated to Volkswagen AG (because Aktiengesellschaft is a difficult word to pronounce and has been replaced by an abbreviation). In turn, the word Volkswagen is also abbreviated, hence the word VAG.

The “people” decipher VAG as Volkswagen – AUDI Group, but this is not at all correct. However, the manufacturer himself does not confirm such an abbreviation, but does not deny it either, that is, this is not an official name, but, let’s say, “folk”!

What is the official name?

For this period of time, there is an official name of the company, it’s simple - Volkswagen Konzern– German (translation – “Volkswagen Concern”). However, in English-language sources Volkswagen Group, sometimes VW Group. It is simply translated - the Volkswagen group of companies.

So how many brands are included?

If we take 2011, then approximately 50.73% of VAG shares belonged to the PORSCHE holding. BUT VAG owns 100% of the shares of the intermediate holding Porsche Zwischenholding GmbH, which in turn owns the right to produce prestigious PORSCHE cars A.G. It turns out that the company is, as it were, closed in on itself.

However, at this time, this concern includes many other brands, such as:

  • Volkswagen itself. Mainly engaged in the production of passenger cars.
  • AUDI. It was purchased from Daimler-Benz in 1964.
  • NSU Motorenwerke is engaged in the production of motorcycles. Purchased in 1969.
  • SEAT – production of passenger cars.
  • SKODA – purchased in 1991
  • Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles – Engaged in the production of minibuses, buses, and tractors.
  • BENTLEY – purchased in 1998
  • ROLLS-ROYCE.
  • BUGATTI – purchased in 1998
  • Lamborghini - purchased in 1998
  • Scania AB – owns a controlling stake (about 71%). The company produces tractors, dump trucks, trucks, buses, and diesel engines.
  • MAN AG – controlling stake (about 56%), purchased in 2011. They also produce special equipment - tractors, dump trucks, trucks, buses, diesel and hybrid power plants.
  • PORCHE
  • DUCATI Motor Holding S.p.A – purchased in 2012, produces premium motorcycles.
  • ItalDesign Giugiaro - 90.1% of shares, purchased in 2010, are engaged in the development of auto design for new models, as well as restyling old ones.
  • SUZUKI Motor Corporation - owns a large stake.
  • The trademark “ALEKO” - under which the well-known “MOSKVICH” was sold, the rights to the brand belong until 2021.

This is just the tip of the iceberg; the concern itself consists of 342 companies that produce cars, motorcycles, special equipment, engines, etc. In 2009, it was the world's largest corporation engaged in the production of vehicles. And of course, it holds the lead in the European market; for this period of time, cars of this brand account for 25 to 30% of all sales.

Actually, that’s all for today, I think the article is really useful to you. Sincerely yours, AUTOBLOGGER.