Volkswagen is arguably the car company most associated with Germany. Audi, BMW, and Mercedes might also spring to mind.
Most vehicles in these brands are known for meticulous engineering and elegant styling. These things are typical of most European cars, of course (depending on your point of view).
But Volkswagen automobiles aren’t just those with a VW symbol. Well, not literally.
On this page, I will illustrate how many brands the Volkswagen Group owns.
I apologize for the confusion, but you haven’t provided any actual text for me to alter. The message you sent is my own standard response when waiting for text to revise. If you have a specific passage you’d like me to change adjectives in, please provide that text, and I’ll be happy to make the requested modifications.
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How Many Companies Does Volkswagen Own?
Volkswagen AG owns eight vehicular brands as of the end of 2022.
The Volkswagen Group (Volkswagen AG in Germany) is divided into two divisions: Automotive and Financial Services. Combined, it has multiple subsidiary companies.
For the purposes of this guide, let’s stick to the Automotive Division.
Volkswagen AG‘s biggest shareholder is Porsche SE (31.4%). Qatar Holding LLC (10.5%) also holds a significant stake. The rest of the company is owned by foreign investors (27.0%), German investors (3.3%), private shareholders (16.0%), and the State of Lower Saxony (11.8%).
(This information is correct as of 31 December 2021.)
Note: Volkswagen no longer owns Bugatti. Bugatti is now owned by Bugatti Rimac (as of November 2021). However, Porsche AG (part of the Volkswagen Group) holds a 45% stake in Bugatti Rimac. Watch this space!
Car Companies Owned By Volkswagen
Volkswagen AG has a dominant interest in eight car brands. These are all listed below, in chronological order of the takeover of controlling interest.
Thus, when you notice any of these cars on the road, they’re likely made by Volkswagen (depending on the age).
VW shares platforms between brands. For example, the Passat, the Audi A4, and the Škoda Superb (and more) all use the same B-Series platform.
Volkswagen
Well, no surprises here! Volkswagen Group’s most easily identifiable brand is Volkswagen itself.
Volkswagen’s origins can be traced back to Germany in 1937 and the creation of the ‘people’s car’ (which is what Volkswagen literally translates to).
The VW Type 1 was used as propaganda to propel the economy. However, it only saw use as officer-staff cars in the conflict. After WWII, the Allies began the vehicle for themselves, renaming it the ‘Bug’ in North America and the ‘Beetle’ everywhere else.
Since then, Volkswagen has flourished, leaving its past far behind. It’s now one of the biggest automotive companies in the world.
Despite the pollution scandal that happened in 2015, they have rebounded remarkably. It appears that they are ready to guide other substantial producers in transitioning to electricity.
Audi – Audi AG
‘Audi’ means ‘listen’ in Latin. It comes from the interpretation of the creator’s surname (Horch). Vorsprung durch Technik means ‘Being Ahead through Technology’ and is Audi’s famous motto.
The four rings stem from the four brands that, in 1932, made up Auto Union AG: DKW, Wanderer, Horch, and Audi.
Volkswagen acquired a 50% stake in Auto Union in 1964, taking control of the Audi brand. At the start of 1969, the formation of Audi NSU Auto Union AG made Audi a standalone entity (owned by VW) once again.
In 1985, the company name was shortened to Audi AG. The Auto Union and NSU brands were, by then, virtually worthless. The name persists through to today.
SEAT – SEAT S.A.
SEAT (pronounced ‘say-at’) is a Spanish car manufacturer. The term stands for Sociedad Española de Automóviles de Turismo, which translates to Spanish Touring Automobiles Company.
In 1950, it was established as a brand controlled by the government and subsequently, banks and FIAT acquired the remaining shares.
In June 1986, the Volkswagen Group acquired a 51% share in SEAT. December of the identical year saw it increase this to 75%. Four years later, in 1990, it obtained the remaining 25%.
Cupra – Cupra Racing
Cupra is a subdivision of SEAT, which is owned by Volkswagen AG. It manufactures athletic versions of the regular models.
Cupra is an amalgamation of the words ‘cup’ and ‘racing’. It’s a reference to SEAT’s very successful motorsport history.
The SEAT Special Vehicles department was formed in 1971 and proved highly efficient. In 1985, SEAT Sport was made into a subsidiary company.
This company was renamed Cupra in 2018, along with the launch of the first independent model (the Ateca).
Škoda – Škoda Auto a.s.
Škoda Works was an industrial behemoth that, in 1924, absorbed Laurin & Klement, a Czech vehicle producer based in Bohemia. It was then divided up and split off into a subsidiary company, Škoda Works.
Volkswagen AG acquired 30% of Škoda in 1991, after the downfall of communism.
In 1994, it took a controlling stake (60%), gradually buying up more shares until, by 2000, it wholly owned (100%) the company as a subsidiary.
Bentley – Bentley Motors Limited
Bentley Motors Limited was founded in 1919 in London. It was most famous for Le Mans victories from the mid to late 1920s.
Rolls-Royce took over Bentley in 1931, with Vickers then acquiring Rolls-Royce (and Bentley) in 1980.
After passing through several separate hands, the end of 1997 saw Volkswagen outbid BMW to buy Bentley from Vickers. By 2003, VW AG was the company’s sole owner, with BMW taking control of Rolls-Royce.
Lamborghini – Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A
Lamborghini started out as Lamborghini Trattori – a tractor manufacturer. Nowadays, this is an entirely separate entity.
Lamborghini’s supercar production company was founded in 1961 to compete against Ferrari. Initially, it did well but struggled in the 1970s fiscal slumps.
Eventually, it was sold to the Volkswagen Group in 1998. It’s now an associated company of Audi AG.
Porsche – Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG (Porsche AG)
Porsche traces its roots back to Ferdinand Porsche. The business was initially entirely advisory-based, playing a crucial role in developing the original Volkswagen.
The legal framework is complex here because Porsche and Volkswagen are historically intertwined.
2007 saw Porsche AG renamed Porsche SE. At the same time, another entity was created, also dubbed Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. This became accountable for Porsche’s automobile manufacturing.
Porsche SE became a holding company for Porsche Zwischenholding GmbH. This owned 100% of Porsche AG and 50.1% of Volkswagen AG.
In 2009, Volkswagen AG bought a 49.9% stake in Porsche AG (the car production company). Then, in 2012, it acquired prevailing interest from Porsche SE.
Thus, Volkswagen owns the Porsche brand name (AG) and develops the vehicles… but the parent Porsche company (SE) remains the largest Volkswagen AG shareholder. So, Porsche owns VW, which owns Porsche.
How perplexing.
Other Automotive Companies Owned By Volkswagen
Aside from other car brands, the Volkswagen Group also owns the following:
- Ducati (motorcycles)
- Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (LGV – Light Goods Vehicles)
It also owns several HGV brands under its subsidiary Traton SE, including:
- MAN
- Scania
- Navistar
- Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus
Volkswagen Has A Significant Stake In The Automotive Industry!
So, what does all this suggest?
In short, Volkswagen has a significant stake in the automotive business.
In fact, in 2021, the Volkswagen Group was still (just) the world’s largest automaker (by revenue). Toyota wasn’t far behind in income, selling over 1.5 million more vehicles (taking the top spot).
In general, this is advantageous for the average customer. Parts are relatively easy to come by due to the popularity of the Volkswagen AG brands.
Over the coming years, expect many of the Volkswagen brands (especially Volkswagen itself) to turn away from gasoline and towards electrical power.
It will be fascinating to see whether VW AG, Toyota, or someone else comes out on top in the race to go electric!