WHat will be the next big automotive merger??

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http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/news/in...

Fiat-Chrysler was apparently rebuffed by GM in recent days, but Marchione is predicting a merger to come. For the life of me I can't really see who is out there….

Citroen?

Maybe a Korean-Euro tie up?

The point is to have the size to spread the R&D costs and development effort over many more platforms, which of course mean a certain sameness on the products, unfortunately.

Any bets?

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DUMBO100 said:

I'm surprised that one of the premium manufacturers hasn't tried to buy Tesla yet

I think Tesla is closely held, though it might be Apple or Google who would be in the running too for it.

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jamoor said:

True, to me Tesla appears to be a company that is as much into software as it is into cars.

All of the major manufacturers know nothing about the latter which is why their in car systems suck.

Pretty much every manufacturer except Toyota has signed up for Apple's in car interface, and the Google stuff is on the way. I do not think any of the manufacturers will seriously play in that space.

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Apparentlly Marchionne also approached Toyota with merger in mind but was rebuffed. Should be an interesting year...

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DonkeyApple said:

Porsche own the controlling stake of the VW Group, what used to be VAG. After taking control they spun the Porsche car business into a new wholly owned subsiduary of VW Group called Porsche AG but the original Porsche SE controls the whole shebang.

As I recall the Porsche/Piech clan had 51% control over all of VAG

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I quite like the notion of FCA-BMW actually . Wonder what happens to Ferrari which they have slightly restructured corporately in the group in the scenario...

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Wills2 said:

kambites said:

DonkeyApple said:

kambites said:

glazbagun said:

I'm not sure size is so important if they can keep profitability up. Porsche were making fortunes off the back of the Cayenne, after all. So long as they can keep their "premiumness" up and don't overplay their hand I think they'll be OK.

Well yes but Porsche are no longer independent, they're part of VAG.

Porsche own the controlling stake of the VW Group, what used to be VAG. After taking control they spun the Porsche car business into a new wholly owned subsiduary of VW Group called Porsche AG but the original Porsche SE controls the whole shebang.

As I understand the situation, Porsche's car division (Porsche AG?) is 100% owned by VAG. Who owns VAG is fascinating and thoroughly confusing but somewhat beyond the scope of this discussion.

It's OK to be wrong and admit it....

Its complex because of the family dynamic. Porsche is a sub of VAG indeed, but all of VAG is controlled by the Porsche-Piëch family who jointly have about 52% control over the whole VAG Group.