EU and Germany clash over VW, as Winterkorn threatens to quit
Author: Robin Brown
Published: 06 June 2008
As the European Union and German government clash again over the so-called VW law that limits voting rights of any Porsche investor, Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn has reportedly threatened to quit if Porsche attempt to interfere with he running of any VW-family marques.
Winterkorn has threatened to resign over any Porsche interference when the sports-car manufacturer increases its stake in VW to over 50 per cent.
Industry speculation has fingered Audi as the marque most likely to suffer, with cars such as the R8 under threat should Porsche flex its muscles.
Despite assurances from Porsche boss Wendelin Wiedeking that Volkswagen would remain independent, various VW-family bosses have voiced concern over the potential for Porsche to affect other marques.
Volkswagen owns Skoda, Seat, Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti.
The German government passed a law last week that would allow 20 per cent shareholders to veto any legislation. The law would effectively allow the government of Lower Saxony - which holds a 20 per cent stake in VW - to veto any plans by Porsche it did not agree with, regardless of what proportion the sports-car manufacturer owns.
But the European Union has signalled that it may challenge the ruling, after last year ruling that a previous version of the Volkswagen Law was illegal.
The German manufacturer melodrama continues
Prices start from £21,065 for the new Volkswagen Passat CC - the new large coupe from VW that delivers style, practicality and good engines though a mediocre drive lets the side down somewhat.
Just as Audi has its S and quattro models, BMW has its M versions and Mercedes its AMG variants, VW has RS derivatives, but the Passat R36 estate and saloon will be of limited interest in the performance market.
The new Volkswagen Scirocco coupe goes on sale from 1 September, with prices starting from £20,940 and cheaper models available from January 2009.
The new Volkswagen Scirocco two-door coupe offers good value for money, striking styling, strong engines an great driveability. Even in a depressed car market, the VW coupe will sell like hotcakes.
Top Ten Supercars of Last Decade has already seen Bugatti Veyron, Lamborghini Reventon, TVR Sagaris, Ferrari 360 Modena and others come and go. So don’t – whatever you do – not click on Porsche 996 GT3 chapter and verse. You'll regret it.
advertisement
Cow pats, coffee beans, deceased cats and dirty nappies might not sound the sort of stuff you want to fill your car with, but all have been posited as potential alternative fuels to oil. | 05/09/2008
As more drivers turn to all-road estate cars to fill the gap left by a gargantuan 4X4, MT scouts Volvo, Audi and Subaru to see how the leading lights shape up against one another. | 05/09/2008
Gas guzzling manufacturers suffer as high taxes and petrol prices bite, but bad news for manufacturers could be good news for buyers. | 05/09/2008
Toyota has revealed new images of the new ultra-small iQ city car, which will go on sale in the UK in January from around £10,000. | 05/09/2008
England spinner Monty Panesar becomes brand ambassador for Jaguar and collects a brand new XKR sports car from the Big Cat. | 05/09/2008
|05/09/2008
Toyota has revealed new images of the new ultra-small iQ city car, which will go on sale in the UK in January from around £10,000.
|05/09/2008
New-car and van registrations in August drop 20 per cent over the month, used car values are worst since early-90s recession. The recession hits the UK car market.
|04/09/2008
Volkswagen’s new Scirocco coupe arrives in UK showrooms this week, priced from a shade under £21K, yet can be yours for £259 per month courtesy of VW’s personal contract plan.
|05/09/2008
Cow pats, coffee beans, deceased cats and dirty nappies might not sound the sort of stuff you want to fill your car with, but all have been posited as potential alternative fuels to oil.
|04/09/2008
Hyundai rolling up to Paris Motor Show brimming with new models and concepts. Like the world debut-making Hyundai i20 supermini, and all-new Santa Fe petrol-electric hybrid SUV crossover and ix55 SUV.
|20/11/2007
Around 400 people a day risk damaging their car by misfuelling, and filling up with gas is a mistake that could cost thousands. So what do you do if you´ve filled up your diesel car with unleaded petrol?
|06/12/2007
Fuel protests similar to those that brought the UK to a halt in 2000 are being planned by a breakaway group of disaffected hauliers, according to press reports.
|14/03/2008
Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond will take the multi award-winning BBC TV Top Gear show on the road, as the live event goes worldwide.
|28/03/2008
Volkswagen has been forced to issue a statement on the Polo singing dog advert after complaints that the dog was mistreated. VW says the animal was not harmed.
|05/01/2007
Using new ´dust-to-dust´ scales that measure a vehicle´s environmental impact from construction to scarpping the Jeep Wrangler 4x4 surprisingly emerged as the greenest car on the market
Search Motortorque:
No readers comments
Be the first to write a comment on this article