Volkswagen Group
German multinational automotive manufacturing company and one of the world's largest automakers, producing vehicles across multiple brands and segments.
Company Type
public
Founded
1937
Headquarters
Wolfsburg, Germany
Stock
Frankfurt Stock Exchange: VOW3
About Volkswagen Group
What does Volkswagen Group own?
Volkswagen Group owns twelve automotive and commercial vehicle brands: Volkswagen, Skoda, SEAT, CUPRA, Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bentley, Bugatti, MAN, Scania, and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. The group also owns Ducati, the Italian motorcycle manufacturer. Porsche AG is a separately listed subsidiary in which Volkswagen AG retains a 75% stake.
Volkswagen Group owns twelve automotive and commercial vehicle brands: Volkswagen, Skoda, SEAT, CUPRA, Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bentley, Bugatti, MAN, Scania, and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. The group also owns Ducati, the Italian motorcycle manufacturer. Porsche AG is a separately listed subsidiary in which Volkswagen AG retains a 75% stake.
Is Volkswagen Group publicly traded?
Yes, Volkswagen AG is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange with ordinary shares (VOW) and preferred shares (VOW3). Despite being publicly listed, effective voting control rests with Porsche Automobil Holding SE, the Porsche and Piech family holding company, which holds approximately 53% of ordinary shares. The State of Lower Saxony holds approximately 20% of ordinary shares and has a statutory blocking minority.
Yes, Volkswagen AG is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange with ordinary shares (VOW) and preferred shares (VOW3). Despite being publicly listed, effective voting control rests with Porsche Automobil Holding SE, the Porsche and Piech family holding company, which holds approximately 53% of ordinary shares. The State of Lower Saxony holds approximately 20% of ordinary shares and has a statutory blocking minority.
Who founded Volkswagen?
Volkswagen was founded in 1937 by the German Labour Front, a Nazi-era organization, with Ferdinand Porsche as chief engineer. The original purpose was to produce an affordable people's car for German workers. After World War II, the factory was transferred to the West German government. The modern Volkswagen Group was built through decades of acquisitions under subsequent management, particularly under Ferdinand Piech's leadership in the 1990s and 2000s.
Volkswagen was founded in 1937 by the German Labour Front, a Nazi-era organization, with Ferdinand Porsche as chief engineer. The original purpose was to produce an affordable people's car for German workers. After World War II, the factory was transferred to the West German government. The modern Volkswagen Group was built through decades of acquisitions under subsequent management, particularly under Ferdinand Piech's leadership in the 1990s and 2000s.
Where is Volkswagen Group headquartered?
Volkswagen Group is headquartered in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. Wolfsburg was founded as a purpose-built city to house the Volkswagen factory and workers in 1938. The city's economy remains closely tied to Volkswagen. The group also maintains significant administrative operations in other German cities and operates manufacturing facilities in more than 20 countries.
Volkswagen Group is headquartered in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. Wolfsburg was founded as a purpose-built city to house the Volkswagen factory and workers in 1938. The city's economy remains closely tied to Volkswagen. The group also maintains significant administrative operations in other German cities and operates manufacturing facilities in more than 20 countries.
How many brands does Volkswagen Group own?
Volkswagen Group owns twelve automotive and commercial vehicle brands: Volkswagen, Skoda, SEAT, CUPRA, Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bentley, Bugatti, MAN, Scania, and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, plus Ducati motorcycles. The group sold approximately 9 million vehicles globally in 2024 across these brands.
Volkswagen Group owns twelve automotive and commercial vehicle brands: Volkswagen, Skoda, SEAT, CUPRA, Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bentley, Bugatti, MAN, Scania, and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, plus Ducati motorcycles. The group sold approximately 9 million vehicles globally in 2024 across these brands.
Who owns Volkswagen Group?
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, the Porsche and Piech family holding company, holds approximately 53% of Volkswagen AG's ordinary shares and therefore effective voting control. The State of Lower Saxony holds approximately 20% of ordinary shares and has a statutory blocking minority under the VW Law. The remaining shares are held by institutional investors and public shareholders. Qatar Investment Authority is also a significant shareholder.
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, the Porsche and Piech family holding company, holds approximately 53% of Volkswagen AG's ordinary shares and therefore effective voting control. The State of Lower Saxony holds approximately 20% of ordinary shares and has a statutory blocking minority under the VW Law. The remaining shares are held by institutional investors and public shareholders. Qatar Investment Authority is also a significant shareholder.
History of Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen was founded in 1937 by the German Labour Front, a Nazi-era organization, with Ferdinand Porsche as the chief engineer. The original purpose was to produce an affordable "people's car" (Volkswagen in German) for ordinary German workers. The Volkswagen Beetle, designed by Porsche, became one of the most recognizable automobiles in history.
After World War II, the Volkswagen factory in Wolfsburg was placed under British military control before being transferred to the West German government in 1949. The Beetle became a global export success in the 1950s and 1960s, particularly in the United States, where it became a cultural icon associated with the counterculture movement.
Volkswagen acquired Auto Union (the predecessor of Audi) in 1965 and NSU Motorenwerke in 1969, merging them to form Audi NSU Auto Union AG, later renamed Audi AG. This acquisition gave Volkswagen access to Audi's engineering capabilities and front-wheel-drive technology.
The group's expansion into luxury and premium brands accelerated in the 1990s and 2000s under the leadership of Ferdinand Piech, who served as CEO from 1993 to 2002. Piech oversaw the acquisition of SEAT (1986, formalized under his tenure), Skoda (1991), Bentley (1998), Lamborghini (1998), and Bugatti (1998). The acquisitions of Bentley and Lamborghini in particular established Volkswagen Group as a force in the ultra-luxury automotive segment.
Volkswagen acquired a controlling stake in Scania in 2008 and MAN in 2011, creating a powerful commercial vehicle division. The group also acquired Ducati, the Italian motorcycle manufacturer, in 2012.
Porsche AG, the sports car manufacturer, had a complex relationship with Volkswagen Group for decades. Porsche Automobil Holding SE, the Porsche and Piech family holding company, had attempted to acquire Volkswagen AG in 2008 but was forced to abandon the effort due to financial difficulties. Volkswagen subsequently acquired a stake in Porsche AG, and in 2012 the two companies merged, with Porsche AG becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG.
In 2015, Volkswagen Group was engulfed in the "Dieselgate" emissions scandal, one of the largest corporate scandals in automotive history. The US Environmental Protection Agency revealed that Volkswagen had installed software in its diesel vehicles that detected emissions tests and activated pollution controls only during testing, while allowing vehicles to emit up to 40 times the legal limit of nitrogen oxides during normal driving. The scandal affected approximately 11 million vehicles worldwide and resulted in more than $30 billion in fines, settlements, and remediation costs globally.
In 2023, Porsche AG was listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in one of Europe's largest IPOs, raising approximately €9.4 billion. Volkswagen AG retained a 75% stake in Porsche AG, while Porsche Automobil Holding SE acquired 25% of the ordinary shares.
In 2025, Volkswagen Group pursued significant restructuring measures in response to declining profitability, particularly in its core Volkswagen brand. The restructuring included workforce reduction agreements with German labor unions, plant efficiency programs, and cost reduction targets. The group reported H1 2025 revenue of approximately €158.4 billion, roughly in line with the prior year.
Brands Owned by Volkswagen Group
View all 10 brandsVolkswagen Group owns 10 brands in our database. Showing featured brands below.
Audi
Owned by Volkswagen Group
German luxury automobile manufacturer known for its advanced technology, quattro all-wheel drive system, and premium positioning in the automotive market.
luxury-vehiclegerman-carquattro
Bentley
Owned by Volkswagen Group
British luxury automobile manufacturer owned by Volkswagen Group, known for handcrafted high-performance vehicles.
luxury-carsbritish-heritagehandcrafted
Bugatti
Owned by Volkswagen Group
French luxury hypercar manufacturer known for ultra-exclusive high-performance vehicles, now part of Bugatti Rimac joint venture.
hypercarultra-luxuryhigh-performance
Cupra
Owned by Volkswagen Group
Spanish performance car brand owned by Volkswagen Group through SEAT, producing sporty electric and combustion vehicles including the Formentor, Born, and Terramar.
performance-carsspanish-brandelectric-vehicles
Ducati
Owned by Volkswagen Group
Italian motorcycle manufacturer owned by Volkswagen Group, known for high-performance sport bikes.
sport-bikesitalian-brandhigh-performance
Lamborghini
Owned by Volkswagen Group
Italian luxury sports car manufacturer owned by Volkswagen Group, known for exotic high-performance vehicles.
luxury-sports-carsexotic-carshigh-performance
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Stock Information
Volkswagen Group Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +One of the world's two largest automakers by volume, providing unmatched manufacturing scale
- +Diversified brand portfolio spanning mass-market to ultra-luxury reduces cyclical risk
- +Shared platform architecture (MQB, PPE) spreads development costs across multiple brands
- +Strong commercial vehicle division (MAN, Scania) provides diversification beyond passenger cars
- +Porsche AG listing unlocked significant value and provided capital for electrification investment
Considerations
- -Dieselgate legacy costs and reputational damage continue to affect the group
- -Declining profitability in China from intensifying domestic EV competition
- -Complex governance structure with Porsche family control and Lower Saxony blocking minority
- -Large German workforce and strong union presence limit restructuring flexibility
- -Transition to battery electric vehicles requires massive capital investment amid margin pressure
Frequently Asked Questions About Volkswagen Group
What does Volkswagen Group own?
Volkswagen Group owns twelve automotive and commercial vehicle brands: Volkswagen, Skoda, SEAT, CUPRA, Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bentley, Bugatti, MAN, Scania, and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. The group also owns Ducati, the Italian motorcycle manufacturer. Porsche AG is a separately listed subsidiary in which Volkswagen AG retains a 75% stake.
Is Volkswagen Group publicly traded?
Yes, Volkswagen AG is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange with ordinary shares (VOW) and preferred shares (VOW3). Despite being publicly listed, effective voting control rests with Porsche Automobil Holding SE, the Porsche and Piech family holding company, which holds approximately 53% of ordinary shares. The State of Lower Saxony holds approximately 20% of ordinary shares and has a statutory blocking minority.
Who founded Volkswagen?
Volkswagen was founded in 1937 by the German Labour Front, a Nazi-era organization, with Ferdinand Porsche as chief engineer. The original purpose was to produce an affordable people's car for German workers. After World War II, the factory was transferred to the West German government. The modern Volkswagen Group was built through decades of acquisitions under subsequent management, particularly under Ferdinand Piech's leadership in the 1990s and 2000s.
Where is Volkswagen Group headquartered?
Volkswagen Group is headquartered in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. Wolfsburg was founded as a purpose-built city to house the Volkswagen factory and workers in 1938. The city's economy remains closely tied to Volkswagen. The group also maintains significant administrative operations in other German cities and operates manufacturing facilities in more than 20 countries.
How many brands does Volkswagen Group own?
Volkswagen Group owns twelve automotive and commercial vehicle brands: Volkswagen, Skoda, SEAT, CUPRA, Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bentley, Bugatti, MAN, Scania, and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, plus Ducati motorcycles. The group sold approximately 9 million vehicles globally in 2024 across these brands.
Who owns Volkswagen Group?
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, the Porsche and Piech family holding company, holds approximately 53% of Volkswagen AG's ordinary shares and therefore effective voting control. The State of Lower Saxony holds approximately 20% of ordinary shares and has a statutory blocking minority under the VW Law. The remaining shares are held by institutional investors and public shareholders. Qatar Investment Authority is also a significant shareholder.
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