What does Volkswagen Group own?

Volkswagen Group is a German automobile manufacturer founded in 1937 by the German Labour Front. The company was created to produce cheap and simple cars that could be mass-produced and thus more affordable for everyday Germans.

Volkswagen Group is perhaps most commonly associated with the Beetle and the Kombi, with both models becoming early pioneers in their respective market segments. 

Today, the company sells a range of passenger vehicles, trucks, motorcycles, and turbomachinery across various brands.

Let’s take a look at some of them in the following paragraphs.

Volkswagen

Volkswagen is the flagship brand of Volkswagen Group and was the largest carmaker by worldwide sales in 2016 and 2017.

Some of the best-selling Volkswagen models include the Tiguan, Polo, Golf, Jetta, and Passat.

Bentley

Bentley is a British luxury car and SUV manufacturer that became a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group in 1998.

Models include the Bentley Continental, Flying Spur, Bentayga, and Mulsanne.

Audi

Audi is a Bavarian automobile manufacturer founded in 1910 by August Horch.  

Audi became part of the Volkswagen Group in 1964 with the company taking a 50% stake. On July 17, 2020, Volkswagen Group increased this stake to 99.64% with a $267 million purchase.

Audi is known for its luxury vehicles and revolutionary technology, which includes piloted driving, electromobility, and the use of artificial intelligence.

Porsche

Porsche is yet another German manufacturer specializing in high-performance sports vehicles, SUVs, and sedans. Popular models include the Porsche 911, Cayenne, Macan, Boxster, and 718.

Porsche is the most recent brand to become part of Volkswagen Group, with the company completing the acquisition in 2012. 

Skoda

Skoda is a Czech automobile manufacturer founded in 1895 by Vaclav Laurin and Vaclav Klement. 

The manufacturer was state-owned for many years, but gradually became privatized by Volkswagen Group. By the year 2000, Skoda became a wholly-owned subsidiary.

Skoda is one of Volkswagen Group’s most successful brands, with profits for the 2020 financial year topping €756 million.

Scania

Scania is a Swedish vehicle manufacturer with a focus on commercial trucks, buses, and diesel engines for marine and industrial purposes. 

The company is a subsidiary of Traton, itself a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group consisting of similar manufacturers such as MAN and Navistar.

Ducati

Ducati is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer headquartered in Bologna, Italy. The company is owned by Lamborghini through the German parent company Audi.

Volkswagen Group acquired Ducati for €860 million in 2012, with the acquisition largely driven by Volkswagen chairman and motorcycle enthusiast Ferdinand Piëch.

Ducati motorcycle models include the Monster, Multistrada, Diavel, Panigale, and Streetfighter.

Key takeaways:

• Volkswagen Group is a German automobile manufacturer founded in 1937 by the German Labour Front. The company was created to make car ownership more accessible to German citizens, with models such as the Beetle and Kombi paving the way for future automobile innovation.
• Volkswagen Group owns many successful automotive brands, including luxury manufacturers Bentley, Audi, and Porsche. Czech producer Skoda is one of the company’s most profitable subsidiaries. 
• Volkswagen Group also owns truck manufacturer Scania and Italian motorcycle producer Ducati.

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