Volkswagen AG (shortened in VW , also called Group Volkswagen , Volkswagen Group in English or Volkswagen Konzern in German) is an automobile group German. AG means Aktien Gesellschaft , that is to say joint stock company, which corresponds in France to a SA.

VW is since more than one decade the first European car manufacturer . It is also present on the totality of the worldwide markets through its various marks. For this reason, the China represents its second market in volume, behind the Germany.

The head office is located at Wolfsbourg in Lower Saxony. This Land holds 18% of the actions and a law blocks the rights of any other shareholder to more the equality of the rights to vote even if its share of the capital is higher. Porsche currently holds 30,94% of the actions of the group Volkswagen AG and owes in virtues of the German right throw a tender offer on the group but will propose only one price in lower part of the market so that it fails and that Porsche holds only the 31,9% of the German manufacturer to be able to control it.

Group

The group controls the following marks: (data of March 2004)

• Audi (Germany), since 1969 (in the past Car Union, NSU, Horch, Wanderer, DKW).

• Bentley (Great Britain), cars of great luxury, since 1999. The follow-up of the Rolls-Royce of before 2003 holds.
• Bugatti (France), cars of great luxury, since 1998.
• Lamborghini (Italy), sporting, since 1998.
• Seat (Spain), since 1986.
• Škoda (Czech Republic), since 1991.
• Volkswagen (Germany)
• Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge, commercial vehicles
• Scania (Sweden), vehicle heavy trucks, since 2001.
• Man, vehicle heavy trucks, since 2006.

The vehicles produced by these various marks go from the small car to the car of luxury and sport while passing by the high-performance touring car, the minibuses and various commercial vehicles.

The marks of luxury, arrivals later within the group, make that this one moves away from its original name Volkswagen (meaning car of the people in German), the models produced by those not having anything “popular”. Certain models like the Tuareg division its platform with Porsche.

The mark Škoda makes it possible the group to propose vehicles technically close to Volkswagen at cheaper price, the cost of the labor as a Czech Republic being relatively weaker than in Germany.

Other branches of industry

The group is not only present in automotive engineering, but proposes also finance departments and insurances. Moreover, it produces industrial engines and engines of boats.

April 22nd, 2004 is announced the repurchase of Leaseplan, the European leader of the hiring long life of vehicles, at the bank Dutchwoman ABN AMRO. An acquisition of 2 billion euros that Volkswagen takes with half with its load. The manufacturer joins, in this operation, with MDC, a company controlled by the State of Abou Dabi, and with Olayan, held by Saoudi interests, which will take each one 55%.

Statistical data

Data 2002

• the production of the group rose to 4,984 million vehicles.
• Sales turnover of 86,948 billion Euro S.
• Result after taxes: 2,597 billion euros.
• 324.892 employees
• 45 places of production in 19 country.
• Each day leaves approximately 20.000 vehicles the factories.
• the group sells its vehicles in 150 different countries.
• world Market share: 12,1%
• Market share in Germany: 20%

See too

• List of the German companies
• Volkswagen

External bonds

• Official site
• Official site of Volkswagen in France
• Site of fans
• Site of impassioned VW