RE: Is Ferrari On VW's Shopping List?
Thursday 11th November 2010
Not what a VW-Ferrari would look likeReports in the German press have suggested that VW's chairman, Ferdinand Piech, is eyeing up Ferrari to join the VW Group's already gargantuan stable of brands.
Is Ferrari On VW's Shopping List?
Prancing Horse claimed to be 'object of desire' for Piech
Not what a VW-Ferrari would look like
It's already on record that Piech wants to bring Alfa Romeo into the VW Group but, according to Manager Magazin, Ferrari is "the real object of his desire".
It's not as ridiculous as it sounds, either. Ferrari is worth around £2.6bn and VW has around £16bn of cash, so the funds aren't an issue. And Fiat has form with selling stakes in Ferrari - it sold 34 per cent of the Prancing Horse to Italian investment bank Mediobanca in 2002, though has since bought that back.
Crucially, though, Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne isn't against doing the same again - he even said in September that opening up Ferrari shares to the general public was a possibility. In that context, selling a stake to VW almost seems likely. Opening shares to a public offering would of course also open the door to VW...
Whether Ferrari would fit into a portfolio that includes Bugatti, Porsche and Lamborghini is somewhat less certain. But when Dr Piech has his eye on something who knows what could happen...
Discussion
Much as Lambo hasn't actually suffered under VAG ownership, there is clearly some 'parts bin' content in the Gallardo and parts-sharing going on.
...and cynical me suggests that won't be used to bring prices down.
Wouldn't want to see Ferrari under VAG ownership - not in principle, and not when they've already got Porsche, Lambo, Bentley and Bugatti.
...and cynical me suggests that won't be used to bring prices down.
Wouldn't want to see Ferrari under VAG ownership - not in principle, and not when they've already got Porsche, Lambo, Bentley and Bugatti.
Was it not the Fiat CEO (or some other top bloke) who was quoted on PH a while back during the early days of the "recession" as predicting that there would ultimately only be 3 big players in motor manufacturing?
I seem to recall him saying VW or Fiat being one of them. (prophetic or "in the know"
)
I seem to recall him saying VW or Fiat being one of them. (prophetic or "in the know"
) 
Why is it that the Germans have such a succesful motor industry, and the UK don't. Well, not a British owned one that is. Couldn't be the 'couldn't care less about industry and manufacturing' governments we've had for the last 50yrs, could it ? No, of course not, they've made the country a success by letting the finacial institutes do their own thing, haven't they ?
robinessex said:
Why is it that the Germans have such a succesful motor industry, and the UK don't. Well, not a British owned one that is. Couldn't be the 'couldn't care less about industry and manufacturing' governments we've had for the last 50yrs, could it ? No, of course not, they've made the country a success by letting the finacial institutes do their own thing, haven't they ?
Allegro, Princess, Marina, Metro, Maestro, Montego, Rover 200/400/800.Basically because we built crap cars, slowly and expensively. The Governments of the time may be partly responsible, but less so than the management, unions, workers etc etc etc.
IMHO of course.
uremaw said:
robinessex said:
Why is it that the Germans have such a succesful motor industry, and the UK don't. Well, not a British owned one that is. Couldn't be the 'couldn't care less about industry and manufacturing' governments we've had for the last 50yrs, could it ? No, of course not, they've made the country a success by letting the finacial institutes do their own thing, haven't they ?
Allegro, Princess, Marina, Metro, Maestro, Montego, Rover 200/400/800.Basically because we built crap cars, slowly and expensively. The Governments of the time may be partly responsible, but less so than the management, unions, workers etc etc etc.
IMHO of course.
uremaw said:
robinessex said:
Why is it that the Germans have such a succesful motor industry, and the UK don't. Well, not a British owned one that is. Couldn't be the 'couldn't care less about industry and manufacturing' governments we've had for the last 50yrs, could it ? No, of course not, they've made the country a success by letting the finacial institutes do their own thing, haven't they ?
Allegro, Princess, Marina, Metro, Maestro, Montego, Rover 200/400/800.Basically because we built crap cars, slowly and expensively. The Governments of the time may be partly responsible, but less so than the management, unions, workers etc etc etc.
IMHO of course.
Jaguar/Land rover
Lotus
Bentley
Rolls Royce
Aston Martin
TVR
Triumph
Rover
It's so sad really as british cars have always been so cool, unlike the boring souless german cars!
We still have Morgan though!
I'd eat my hat if this would ever happen. The Itallians are not likely to sell anything to outsiders especially when Ferrari are trading so well (relatively speaking) at the moment...If they decide to sell a stake it will preferably be internally like an Italian bank or institution. Remember when Ford tried to buy Ferrari back in the 60's?
And if Alonso wins this weekend you can bet their forecasts will be elevated...so no presure for big jaw then.
And if Alonso wins this weekend you can bet their forecasts will be elevated...so no presure for big jaw then.
alexpa said:
Currently owned by Fiat, possibly to be owned by VW.
What’s the difference?
Doesn’t mean Ferrari won’t continue in the same fashion. Perhaps we’d get a VW roadster looking like the 1966 Dino 206, ho ho ho, not.
I think not.What’s the difference?
Doesn’t mean Ferrari won’t continue in the same fashion. Perhaps we’d get a VW roadster looking like the 1966 Dino 206, ho ho ho, not.
Lack of competition is a bad thing. It means that VW would do what is ultimately the best interests of VW and not the individual brand.
You need genuine competition, not manufactured. It's bad enough having Bugatti & Lamborghini under the same banner but at least there is some mileage to say that Bugatti would appeal to a different audience than 'Lambo'
However, Lamborghini and Ferrari are direct competitors and I wouldn't like Ferrar played with to ensure the best market share between the two brands.
robinessex said:
Why is it that the Germans have such a succesful motor industry, and the UK don't. Well, not a British owned one that is. Couldn't be the 'couldn't care less about industry and manufacturing' governments we've had for the last 50yrs, could it ? No, of course not, they've made the country a success by letting the finacial institutes do their own thing, haven't they ?
Because the Germans dealt with any "protests" swiftly, thus the workforce got on with the job.That and some slight over-engineering on early models to keep the reliability up.
200,000 is fine for an old merc...
The BL days killed the British Motoring Industry
As for the buy out, wouldn't surprise me, they own plenty of other high performance brands, but I don't think it will happen any time soon, there still concentrating on merging with Porsche!
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