As a huge company, the Volkswagen Group does not only own the car brand Volkswagen, it owns an entire portfolio of businesses. In addition to these companies, they own a number of others as well.
Among all the automobile companies in the world, Volkswagen is considered to be one of the best. The company is not only known for producing its own cars but also for owning some well-known brands around the world. There are many brands under the Volkswagen umbrella, which is good to be aware of if you are a Volkswagen owner, or if you are interested in becoming one.
However, what should you know about the ownership of Volkswagen’s companies and how many of them does the company own? Volkswagen owns the following brands as part of its portfolio:
Table of Contents
A list of Volkswagen’s 12 brands
Among the world’s largest companies, the Volkswagen Group is undoubtedly one of the biggest. As a matter of fact, not just in the automotive sector, but in every segment of the economy. Volkswagen Group belongs to the top 10 global companies by revenue, controls 12 brands, has over 50 subsidiaries and is mostly owned by the Porsche-Piech family (yes, that Porsche!).
As a matter of fact, the Volkswagen Group is one of the top 10 global companies by revenue as well. With consistent out-sales of its competitors, Volkswagen has cemented itself as a leader in the automotive industry. The reason why this is the case is not a mystery at all. It is no secret that the Volkswagen Group owns some of the world’s most recognized vehicle brands, including some of the most famous brands in the world. So, let us take a closer look at all the companies that are driven by the corporation and find out what they are doing.
Volkswagen-owned car companies
The Volkswagen Group is a holding company that owns 12 automobile brands, including Volkswagen, Seat, Audi, Skoda, Bugatti, Ducati, Bentley, Lamborghini, Ducati, Porsche, Scania, MAN, as well as Volkswagen commercial vehicles.
1. Audi
Volkswagen acquired Audi in 1965 and Audi became part of Volkswagen’s group of companies. Since the end of WWII, the car brand has been under the control of Daimler’s Auto Union GmbH, an arm of Daimler. With a history dating back to 1909, Audi has set the standard for offering premium vehicles to the public. There are over 65 models of cars sold by car manufacturers in the UK.
2. Bugatti
As a part of the Volkswagen group, Bugatti was formed in 1909 and became a member in 1998. It is well known that this manufacturer produces some of the fastest cars in the world. The full ownership of Ettore Bugatti guesthouse was acquired by Volkswagen in 2000, and it was converted into Volkswagen’s headquarters after Volkswagen took over the guesthouse.
3. Bentley
The Bentley company has been producing luxury cars since 1919. A partnership was formed between the company and Volkswagen in 1998. When Bentley put up for sale its Rolls Royce model for sale in 1997, BMW bid for it, and the deal went through. With the exception of the Rolls Royce name and logo, Volkswagen outbid BMW and received the majority of the rights to the brand. It was in 2003 that Volkswagen acquired full ownership of Bentley, and it became the sole supplier of cars under the Bentley name from that date forward.
4. Lamborghini
A company known as Lamborghini was founded by Ferruccio Lamborghini in 1963. Basically, he started the company so that he could compete with Ferrari. It was produced for the first time in its first year of production. With the success of its rear-wheel-drive Miura sports coupe, the company grew rapidly, mainly due to the popularity of its cars. The company started experiencing problems in 1973 and even filed for bankruptcy in 1978 as a result of the worldwide financial shutdown.
There had been several ownership changes by 1987 before Chrysler took over the company. It was later taken over by Volkswagen in 1998, and the company was placed under Audi management a short time later. There has been a powerful V12 sports car being produced that has been produced by this unit since then.
5. Porsche
The Porsche company was founded in 1931 by Ferdinand Porsche. There was no car factory at first, and the first production car debuted in 1939, a year after the company had begun manufacturing cars. It was based on the VW beetle and used many components from that car. It should be noted that Porsche was actively involved in manufactured military tanks during WWII. A Porsche 911 is one of the most popular cars in the world, and was released in 1989 and was the first car with a four-wheel-drive system with a Tiptronic transmission.
Porsche and Volkswagen have had a long-standing relationship, with the founder of Porsche having influenced the design of the popular Volkswagen Beetle in the early 20th century. There was a release of the Cayenne in 2002 in the new production center located in Leipzig, Saxony, where the new car is made. It was decided in August 2009 that the two entities would be merged by their respective management teams. Volkswagen had acquired a majority stake in Porsche by the end of 2015, resulting in a majority ownership of the company.
6. SEAT
Volkswagen has been involved in various management partnerships over the past few decades in its effort to gain control of SEAT since the 1980s. In 1986, Volkswagen had increased its stake in SEAT from 35 percent to more than 51 percent, which made it the majority shareholder in the company. By 1990, Volkswagen had acquired the entire equity stake of SEAT, and as a result, its stake had increased to 75% of the company. In the UK, over 24 models were manufactured by this Spanish manufacturer since it was founded in 1950. There are more than 15 thousand employees working for the company.
7. SKODA
Founded by Laurin and Klement in 1985, SKODA is a Czech automotive manufacturer specializing in the production of luxury cars. As a state-owned enterprise, it operated briefly from 1925 until 1991, when it was privatized. It is estimated that over 100 countries sell the automaker’s cars. With the purchase of a 30 percent stake in the company, Volkswagen showed its interest in the company as early as 1991.
In 1994, this percentage was increased to 58.3%, and in 1995, it was raised to 70.3%. Towards the end of the century, Volkswagen decided to purchase all equity shares of SKODA and make the company a wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen. This has resulted in the car manufacturer’s market share gradually increasing in the years since.
8. Ducati
The company Ducati manufactures motorcycles in Bologna, Italy, which is the company’s headquarters. In 1926, Antonio Cavalieri, with the help of his three sons, founded the company. Condensers, vacuum tubes, and radio components were the first products they produced when they were first established.
As a result of the effects of World War 2, the company was able to survive. During the month of April 2012, Volkswagen announced that its Audi subsidiary would buy the company for 1.2 billion dollars, which was a clear indication that it was interested in taking over the company. Among the company’s many products are its high-performance four-stroke motorcycles that are well known for their great performance. It has been decades since they were able to dominate the motorcycle industry.
9. MAN
Founded in 1758 by St. Antony, the automobile manufacturer has its roots in the ironworks that were produced by St. Antony. The company later merged with New Forges, as well as Good Hope, to form Oberhausen as a result of this merger. The GHH was able to grow and even survive WWII, but the allies decided that they wanted to split up the group. There was a period of time during which the company stopped mining iron and steel. The company was able to focus on commercial vehicles as a result of the acquisition of Bussing. As a result of the 1982 oil crisis, the company was pushed into a financial crisis.
A transfer of MAN’s headquarters from Oberhausen to Munich took place in 1986. It was established a 50-50 partnership between Force Motors and the company, which helped the company introduce their trucks to the Indian market. In 2011, Volkswagen purchased a 55.9% stake in the company, which was increased to 73% in 2012 when it acquired an additional 55.9% stake.
10. SCANIA
SCANIA is a company specialized in the manufacturing of commercial vehicles, including trucks and buses. In 1911, the company was formed in Scania, a province in the Swedish province of Gothenburg. More than ten African countries as well as many countries in Europe and Asia have production bases under the company’s control. In addition to being listed on the NASDAQ in the USA, the company is also listed in the UK. In order to create a logo for the company, a griffin is incorporated into the coat of arms of Scania. It was in 1995 when Saab-Scania AB was created following the merger of SCANIA and Saab AB. Later in the year, Saab-Scania AB was split into truck and bus divisions.
The European Union blocked Volvo’s attempt to take over the company in 1999, which resulted in the company being unable to expand. As a result of the rejection of Volvo’s shares in 2000, Volkswagen acquired 36,4% of the rejected shares, and in 2008 Volkswagen increased its stake to 70.93%. With a shareholding of 100% in Scania, Volkswagen had taken complete control of the company by the end of 2015.
11. Volkswagen
There is probably no need to be surprised by the fact that Volkswagen Group is the company that owns the Volkswagen brand of cars. Founded in 1937, Volkswagen Group is a German multinational corporation headquartered in Berlin. Wolfsburg is the headquarters and factory of Volkswagen, which is located in the German city of Wolfsburg. In the past few years, Volkswagen has become one of the most popular car brands in the European market.
12. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
The truth is that Volkswagen actually manufactures a number of commercial vehicles, such as small busses and other types of vehicles, depending on the country in which you live. Founded in 1995, this company is located in the city of Hanover, Germany. There are currently over 20.000 employees working for them and they are growing rapidly as a company.
Volkswagen Frequently Asked Questions
If you are looking for a reliable vehicle, then Volkswagen would be a good choice for you to buy. With their superior quality and durability, Volkswagen cars are one of the most popular brands on the market. Most models come with a wide variety of features and accessories that let you customize the way your car looks and performs.
It is important to do your research before buying a Volkswagen and compare the prices of the different models you are considering. A Volkswagen car can also be rather expensive to maintain, which means you need to take into account the cost of repairs and maintenance before purchasing one.
Most countries are able to buy the Volkswagen Jetta at a lower price than any other Volkswagen model. Before you make a purchase, you should do your research and have a professional mechanic take a look at it.
There are more than 50 different models of Volkswagen vehicles available on the market all over the world. Among the range of vehicles included in this group are small hatchbacks and sedans, as well as SUVs and vans. The availability of all of these models may not be the same in every country, of course. Overall, the Volkswagen brand offers a great variety of vehicles to choose from, so there is something for everyone. There shouldn’t be a problem finding a VW that meets all your needs, no matter what your budget is or what your needs are.
The Volkswagen Arteon is the top of the line model in the Volkswagen line up. In addition to its stunning appearance, it also features a ton of features, which will satisfy even the most discerning drivers. This is without a doubt one of the most luxurious cars on the market, and if that’s what you’re looking for, then your consideration of the Arteon could not be more justified.