Volkswagen May Sell Light Commercial Vehicles in India, Spokesman Says
Volkswagen AG is considering selling light commercial vehicles in India, Kurt Rippholz, a spokesman for the automaker’s Indian unit, said in New Delhi today.
Read more on Bloomberg
Volkswagen to expand portfolio of imports
German automaker Volkswagen Group will expand its import portfolio to meet the increasingly diverse demands of Chinese consumers, said a senior manager in its China operations recently.
Read more on People’s Daily
In Germany: For the past couple of months, the German public has witnessed the power struggle between two of the biggest shareholders of Europe’s largest automaker, Volkswagen— Porsche and the State of Lower Saxony.
The European Union court has repealed the very controversial Volkswagen law which was designed to protect Volkswagen from any possible form of takeover. The State of Lower Saxony has made use of the Volkswagen law to limit Porsche’s control over the supervisory board of the company despite the fact that it holds the largest amount of stakes at Volkswagen. The Volkswagen law limits the voting rights of shareholders to 20% regardless of the number of stakes they own in Volkswagen.
After all efforts to stop Porsche from gaining control over Volkswagen—maker of the popular Volkswagen radiator fan and owner of Audi, Bentley, SEAT and Skoda—the Premier of Lower Saxony Christian Wulff has finally put down the red flag and said that he will no longer interfere with Porsche’s desire to takeover both the chairmanship and the third seat on the company’s supervisory board for the next couple of weeks. Such political move by the Lower Saxony marks the signal for Porsche to take full control of Europe’s largest automaker.
It should be noted that Porsche has been slowly increasing its holdings in Volkswagen from the time it has become a shareholder of the automaker in September 2005. And at present Porsche already owns 27.4% stakes and will be increasing after gaining the votes of other shareholders for it to purchase additional shares bringing its total holdings to 29.9%. However, Porsche said that it will only pursue such if the Volkswagen law is repealed since according to Wendelin Wiedeking, they want to be given enough right to take part over the day-to-day operations of the automaker plus a seat at the chairmanship.
In order to repeal the Volkswagen law, the European Union has illustrated the law as unnecessary and obsolete further saying that it hinders the flow of free capital. If in case a ruling would finally come out soon it would finally give the right to Ferdinand Piech to hold multiple positions—as a controlling shareholder of Porsche and as upcoming Volkswagen’s chairman of the board and at the same time holding the third supervisory board seat at VW for Porsche.
There are rumors circulating in the European investment circles which say that Wulff is not yet through with Porsche. According to a report from Inside Line sources, the “Big Bad” Wulff is currently having private meetings with the other investors in an attempt to oust Piech once his term on Volkswagen’s supervisory board comes up for renewal in April.
The victory of Porsche over its stern rival the Lower Saxony came at the time when Volkswagen announced its 2006 profit earnings had doubled as compared to what it has gained for 2005. The automaker has also announced that its vehicle sales across the group has increased by a sturdy 9.4% or 5.7 million contributed mainly by Audi, Bentley and Skoda.
Growing up with three brothers, Natalie Anderson became exposed early to the world of automobiles. This 29-year-old account manager now dreams of having her very own top-of-the-line vintage car.
Parts that you need to restore your old Volkswagen might not be as difficult to find as you may think. If you are into restoring Volkswagens, the cars that are so classic and now so rare are extremely difficult to find Volkswagen parts for. The Beetle, The Bus, and The Thing are just a few examples of cars that youd need replacement Volkswagen parts for.
One of the things that Volkswagen parts are needed for is to help deal with rust. Rust is a nightmare on an old car. Of course, once you have decided to restore a Volkswagen, one of your first thoughts probably will be Where am I going to get Volkswagen parts?. The way to find Volkswagen parts has been to just buy parts off of another VW, and try to fabricate something out of the metal that you bought, probably at some junk yard or scrap shop.
People just like you who are looking for Volkswagen parts to repair their beloved cars can now rejoice. There are now companies in existence that make Volkswagen parts exclusively for the purpose of restorers to have access to. Many of these specialized companies have almost any Volkswagen part that you might need, and if they dont have it, they would more than likely know how to get it or even how to make it.
These Volkswagen parts companies offer customers both barndoor and post barndoor reproduction parts. Even better, some companies make their parts using NOS, original masters and patterns, or have actual original Volkswagen parts. A lot of replacement parts for these Volkswagens have been shotty at best. People had no choice but to buy these parts, because they were the only Volkswagen parts out there on the market. Recently, companies today have taken on the challenge of making quality replacement parts, and are doing quite well with the challenge.
Many of the companies that sell Volkswagen parts are absolutely committed to their customers satisfaction, and have very reasonable prices, discounts and sales, and fair shipping prices. Some of the companies can be found online, selling their replacements in their online e stores. Some other companies can be found just like a real brick and mortar building, where they can not only make Volkswagen parts, but can install them for customers as well.
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The shocking details of Volkswagen’s sex-and-bribery scandal have shaken Germany Incorporated in the summer of 2005. Volkswagen’s former Chief of Personnel, Peter Hartz paid $2.5 million dollars in illegal bribes for over nine years to the company’s labor boss just to have the support of the management plans. The alleged illicit payments were used by Volkswagen’s Works’ Council Chief Klaus Volkert to finance his lavish foreign trips, parties, prostitutes, and luxury hotels in Brazils and Lisbon. And all of these are disguised as business expenses.
The big question is: who is behind this corrupt scheme? Did former Chief Executive and now Chairman Ferdinand Piech approve the operation? And what about the labor leaders in Frankfurt? What do they have to say about all this?
Volkswagen’s Rotten Apple
For now Germany will still have to wait for the answers though there are speculations that Piech is going to be dragged in the scandal. Inside the courtroom just last week , the 65-year-old Hartz has admitted making the illegal payments of $2.5 million between the year 1994 and 2005 to Volkert while an additional $518,000 goes to Volkert’s Brazilina lover, Adriana Barros. The sex junket that happens on January 25 was claimed by Hartz as his own doing and that he has no accomplice whatsoever.
Hartz is facing ten years of imprisonment but due to his confession he will be able to negotiate for a lighter sentence. He was able to receive a suspended jail term of two years and a fine of $750,000. Likewise the state prosecutor has also dropped charges pertaining to Hartz’s misused of funds by participating in the travels and the sex parties explaining that the said episode have minimal damage to Volkswagen.
The scandal that happens in Volkswagen has prompted the German public to doubt their country’s post war system of corporate governance. They have also questioned the system’s openness to serious abuse. Under the system called codetermination, labor representatives are granted by law to obtain half the seats on a company’s supervisory board. This in turn gives them significant control over management decisions. The only problem with this system is that it gives those in positions all the opportunities to abuse the power vested on them resulting to corruption. And that is not all; the chairman is given an extra vote which gives him the power to tip the scales in votes that usually ends with the splitting of the labor and management.
Such type of system normally gives the shareholder representatives the advantage in close boardroom battles. Unfortunately Piech has long ironed out everything and this includes weaving a close relationship with the labor at the Volkswagen empire. What is the significance of this? Piech with the labor at his side will be able to disgruntled shareholder representatives on his board.
At the recent Detroit Auto Show, Volkswagen’s new Works Council Chief Bernd Osterloh commented that their labor leaders would support Piech’s reelection as supervisory board chairman in May, if he desires to go on with it.
More Trials to Come
Peter Hartz is the first of the four Volkswagen’s managers that are to be put on trial. Similarly, Hans-Jürgen Uhl, a member of the German Parliament for the center-left Social Democrats was also charged with giving false statements and for being an accessory to breach of trust over his alleged participation in the sex junkets. The trial for Uhl case is due later this year.
Volkswagen’s History
Many would probably ask, was Volkswagen’s executives corrupt in the past? The German automaker’s history is one that pictures success amidst trials. And so a great part of its history mainly focuses on its wonderful creations and not so on its executives.
Volkswagen the largest German automaker and brand of high quality auto parts like Volkswagen brake booster, is considered to be an icon of the twentieth century. As a fact only a few car manufacturers can parallel the legendary cars created by the German automaker. Volkswagen’s The Beetle has become the automaker’s trademark. This “Bug” has also become one of the world’s best selling cars of all time.
Aside from The Beetle, the Volkswagen bus has also made a name for its own and today viewed by many as a symbol of a generation. The Golf is another Volkswagen’s masterpiece and similarly sells pretty well in the market.
Volkswagen does not only produce machines made of steel but creates masterpieces that become an indelible part of the cultural and personal lives of millions.
Volkswagen was born in an era that can be termed as “of the privilege few”. And during those times Volkswagen was conceived as an affordable and reliable means of transport for many of those whose average income is not enough to purchase other brands of cars. It was in the year 1934 when Ferdinand Porsche has created the concept of first peoples’ car for Europe. The first working prototype was launched in just a year.
By the end of 1942 Volkswagen was able to produced 70,000 vehicles and in 1945 in a shift recovery after the war the automaker was able to produce 2,000 vehicles but this time it was for the Allied Forces and the new German Post Office. By 1948, the German automaker has once again produced 25,000 vehicles plus two Beetles which are shipped to the USA. A year after, the German automaker was able to build 25,000 more vehicles including the Volkswagen Karmann convertible which became the best-selling convertible in the world.
1955 came and a million Volkswagens were built. This was the start of the company’s growth. From company it has grown into a world corporation, building factories and working communities in countries like United Sates, Brazil, Canada and in some major centres in Western Europe.
Growing up with three brothers, Natalie Anderson became exposed early to the world of automobiles. This 29-year-old account manager now dreams of having her very own top-of-the-line vintage car.
Volkswagen Mulls Smaller Car Than Polo For India
German auto major Volkswagen said it is mulling the introduction of a car smaller than the Polo in India to tap the fast-growing compact car segment in India.
Read more on OfficialWire
Volkswagen is world renowned for its design, safety features and innovative technology. And as proof of this, the largest German automaker has unveiled its cleanest diesel ever at the recent North American International Auto Show. The Jetta TDI which will be made available in the US market by spring of 2008 meets the emission standards set in all 50 states including the strictest “TIER 2/BIN 5” or “LEV II/LEV” requirement that limits nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions to 0.50g/mile.
And take note, the diesel Jetta meets the lowest emissions standards without the use of urea injection. Instead it makes use of a nitrogen oxide storage catalyst that reduces NOx emissions by up to 90%. This vehicle is also equipped with an engine management system that alters operating modes to treat the NOx that has been stored in the Volkswagen catalytic converter . A particulate filter is added in the exhaust system to further reduce emissions.
The Jetta TDI is just one of the products of the BLUETEC offensive that is jointly initiated by Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen. The main objective of this partnership is to establish the BLUETEC concept as a uniform label for clean and highly fuel effcicient diesel powered cars and SUVs with 50 compliant engines. BLUETEC symbolized diesel power plants that comply with the strictest emissions regulations of the US market. The technologies indiviaully developed by each manufacturer are designed to reduce specifically NOx which is an exhaust element that is more common in vehicles that make use of diesel engines.
Volkswagen will unveil its clean diesel concept compact SUV, the Tiguan at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. It will be made available in the US in the middle of 2008. The German automaker has a 30-year history when it comes to providing the US market with efficient and durable diesel vehicles—which accounts for almost 20% of Volkswagen’s sale in the US.
Blast from the Past
In other Volkswagen news, the automaker’s subsidiary in America has announced recently a national search for two significant vehicles from its diesel-powered past as part of its 30th anniversary celebration. The Volkswagen of America, Inc. has been selling diesel-powered passenger cars in the US for over thirty years now.
The announcement was made at the 2007 Washington Auto Show. Volkswagen of America said that there are two categories—the oldest running Volkswagen diesel vehicle and the Volkswagen diesel with the highest accumulated mileage.
According to Keith Price, public relations manager, Volkswagen of America, Inc., “Volkswagen has a long history of selling diesel-powered vehicles in the United States. These durable vehicles are capable of providing years and years of reliable service. We anticipate an enormous response from our owners.”
The search for the oldest Volkswagen diesel vehicle in the US is open to all registered, running vehicles. The requirements for the category “Volkswagen diesel with highest accumulated mileage”: The mileage must be documented and verifiable with an accurate odometer reading, and supporting historical service records and/or logbook. And the most important Volkswagen vehicles that are to join in the said search must be equipped with the original engines.
Contest begins on March 1. Interested owners may submit their information online at Volkswagen web site (www.vw.com). Applicants may fill up a form with contact and vehicle data plus upload the digital pictures of their diesel Volkswagen. Out from the participating owners a pool of finalists will be chosen. They will be requested to visit their authorized local Volkswagen dealer to have their vehicles and documentation validated.
Interested owners have a total of four months to file their applications. The two lucky owners will be given the chance to use a 2007 Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI for six months. The said contest is the automaker’s way of thanking the buying public for continuously patronizing diesel-powered Volkswagen vehicles for over thirty years. The company has sold over 813, 476 diesel powered Volkswagens in the US alone.
About Volkswagen of America
Volkswagen of America Inc. was founded in 1955 and made it’s headquarter in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is also one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. Some of its famous products include Rabbit, New Beetle Convertible, GTI, Jetta, GLI, Passat, Passat wagon, Eos, and Toureg which are offered through 600 independent US dealers.
Growing up with three brothers, Natalie Anderson became exposed early to the world of automobiles. This 29-year-old account manager now dreams of having her very own top-of-the-line vintage car.
Great news from Volkswagen!
The German automaker has recently announced that some of its products like the new Volkswagen Touran and Golf S, Match, Sport and GT models are now made even more affordable due to unique finance and incentive that are available for private buyers.
The new seven-seat Touran is given a restyled nose and tail plus some new trim finishes and uprated equipment. Its reprofiled headlights framing a new chrome grille exude versatility, quality and refinement. Volkswagen is offering a discount of £1,000 for all the Touran range. This means that the new Touran 1.6 litre S will now cost from £13,750 while the range topping 2.0 litre TDI Sport will be available at a price of £20,060. The said offer runs through March 31 only.
And for those who are seeking high-performance mixed with economy and practicality the Golf GT is also made affordable. There are two engine options available for the GT: a 2.0 litre TDI 170 PS diesel engine and the revolutionary 1.4 litre TSI 170 PS petrol engine. Through the new Volkswagen Finance Solutions package, customers may be able to take home a new GT 1.4 litre TSI for as little as £249 a month.
Volkswagen Finance Solutions offer a flexible personal contract plan that allows customers to make payments from between 11/2 and 31/2 years. Plus, at the end of the agreed term customers are also given the option of either purchasing the car, return it, or use it to avail of a new Volkswagen.
Volkswagen is continuously expanding its market and has recently announced that it will continue to offer the College Graduate Program in partnership with Volkswagen Credit. The said program does not require leasing security deposit and take note, Volkswagen pays of up to $800 for the first month’s payment on Volkswagen vehicles leased or financed through the Volkswagen Credit.
Who can avail? The program is open to eligible recent college graduates or those who are about to graduate and includes new, near-new, and Certified Pre-Owned Volkswagen models. Other eligible customers are those who are four months away from graduation or have graduated but not more than a 24 months ago from the date of their credit application with Volkswagen Credit from a two-year of four-year accredited college.
Additional requirements include: full-time employment or written commitment from a future employer, three personal references, a proposed monthly car payment that would not exceed 25% of gross monthly income and a credit approval through Volkswagen credit. The program is offered until December 31, 2007.
According to Adrian Hallmark, Executive Vice President, Volkswagen of America, “Volkswagen congratulates those who pursue higher education. And, knowing that many students graduate burdened with student loans and very little savings, our college graduate program can help get them into a new Volkswagen and save a little money in the process.”
Volkswagen of America, Incorporated was founded in they ear 1955 and is headquartered in Auburn Hill, Michigan. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is Europe’s largest automaker and ranked fourth in the world next to General Motors, Toyota and Ford. It is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and a famous brand of top-of-the-line auto parts like Volkswagen Diesel Parts. Volkswagen is the manufacture of famous car models like Rabbit, New Beetle and convertible, GTI, Jetta, GLI, Passat wagon, Eos and Touareg which are sold through approximately 600 independent US dealers.
Growing up with three brothers, Natalie Anderson became exposed early to the world of automobiles. This 29-year-old account manager now dreams of having her very own top-of-the-line vintage car.
Volkswagen recalls minivans over fire concerns
Volkswagen is recalling nearly 16,000 Routan minivans to address fire concerns involving latches on the sliding doors.
Read more on USA Today
Porsche is known for producing small but immensely powerful engines. The same can be said about the company—small but powerful. Porsche is a German automaker renowned for its lines of sports car. News has it that the German sports car maker is getting closer to its goal which is to control Europe’s largest automaker, the Volkswagen Group. It should be noted that Porsche is one of the largest shareholders of Volkswagen with a total of 27.4% and is planning to further increase its stakes if not for the Volkswagen Law.
The Volkswagen Law limits the voting rights of shareholders in the company to 20% regardless of how large their owned shares are. Another provision on the VW law also gives the right to the State of Lower Saxony to appoint directors regardless of the fact that they are not the largest shareholder of the company. The VW Law is nothing but unfair to Porsche. This is also the very reason why Porsche would like the VW Law to be abolished.
The Volkswagen Law was ratified in 1960 during the time of privatization following the postwar. During that time Volkswagen was rescued by the allied and German authorities. The VW Law was created to protect the company from any form of takeover.
But currently the European Court of Justice has begun to criticize the VW Law stating that the law hinders the flow of free capital which increases the possibility for it being cancelled. Furthermore it is also expected that if ever the law is repealed the State of Lower Saxony might sell some or its entire 20.8% stakes in Volkswagen and the probable buyer is none other than Porsche.
Wedelin Weideking, Porsche boss has expressed his desire to increase the company’s stake in Volkswagen to 8.6 billion Euros or $11.2bn. But why does Porsche has such care for Volkswagen? Even before, Porsche has already have had a big influence at Volkswagen brought by the fact that part of Volkswagen takes its root from Ferdinand Piech, who is a member of the Porsche family. Piech was also the former CEO of Volkswagen and now hold the chair of the upper supervisory board. And recently, in the most cunning display of power and influence, Piech and Wiedeking have conspired to oust Bernd Pischetsrieder who is the former boss of BMW and VW CEO. He was replaced by Martin Winterkorn who is a protégé of Piech.
Piech has also previously worked at Porsche where he was responsible for the launching of the 917 racer. Afterwards he went to Audi and started the Quattro revolution. When finally became the CEO of VW he foster quality turnaround which helps VW and Audi to obtain a place in the premium car segment. He also introduced a platform strategy to control costs.
There is a strong partnership between Porsche and Volkswagen not only because of family but also of interest. Porsche wants to increase its stakes in Volkswagen to protect its investment and also to make sure that its ongoing cooperative efforts with Europe’s largest automaker will not be jeopardized. At present, the German sports car maker is sharing production facilities with Volkswagen. Europe’s largest is also the supplier of quality parts to Porsche like Volkswagen pressure plate and others that are used to build cars.
Some of the vehicles produced by Porsche in partnership with Volkswagen are Cayenne and Touareg SUVs. The upcoming Panamera sports sedan will have its body built at the VW’s Hanover plant and will use VW Audi electronic bus systems plus other parts such as safety electronics, infotainment, security and climate detecting gadgets.
But according to some reports the interest of Porsche to Volkswagen goes beyond pure business interest – some say that Wiedeking thinks that he can do a much better job than any of the bosses in VW. The ousting of Pischetsrieder is seen by many as a means of slowly taking control of Volkswagen. It is not going to be surprising if one day Porsche will really take over Volkswagen.
Growing up with three brothers, Natalie Anderson became exposed early to the world of automobiles. This 29-year-old account manager now dreams of having her very own top-of-the-line vintage car.