Porsche Still Threatens Bugatti

Filed in archive on January 11, 2007

Porsche's ambitious CEO Wendelin Wiedeking


According to MotorAuthority, recent print articles have suggested Porsche's increased stake in the VW-Audi Group jeopardizes the future of the specialty marques managed under the Group's corporate umbrella - namely Bentley, Bugatti, and lamborghini.

MotorAuthority now claims that the speculation over profit-making Bentley and (perhaps) Lamborghini should be put to rest. However, loss-making Bugatti's future is still very much in question.

As I reported in Automobiles de Luxe, there have been print reports suggesting that Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking has personally and repeatedly attacked the pet-projects of VW Chairman Ferdinand Piech (brave on Herr Wiedeking's part) in board meetings turning them from "constructive to combustible" according to sources for CAR magazine.

This recent bit of info from AutoNews quoted on MotorAuthority suggests that the bitter climate that exists between the two parties (Porsche & VW-Audi) has yet to subside and is, in fact, intensifying.

Bugatti may yet be axed at Porsche's behest to curb the flow of red ink. Let's hope not.