Brand Facts About Volkswagen You Probably Didn't Know
How much do you really know about the auto giant, Volkswagen? According to Interbrand's ranking of the most valuable car brands in 2017, Volkswagen is pegged at number 9, comfortably perched in the middle of Audi and Porsche. But the fact is, Volkswagen owns both these brands and more. Doesn't that make it more valuable than what it's touted to be? One very interesting fact about Volkswagen acquisitions is that it co-owned Rolls-Royce with BMW in 1998. BMW, however, got the rights to the Rolls Royce name for production while Volkswagen got the erstwhile Rolls Royce manufacturing establishment and the rights to its iconic radiator grille design as well as mascot.
Volkswagen is a lot more than just the legendary Beetle, it owns a total of 6 marque automobile brands, including a very celebrated motorcycle one. Let's take a quick look:
1. Ducati© Ducati
This generally comes as a shocker to many, although it shouldn't. After all, if BMW can manufacture bikes and own Rolls-Royce, Volkswagen can own Ducati and help it ride into the future. Ducati is a German brand subsidiary of another marquee car manufacturer (one we'll get to in just a bit), and shifted shop to Volkswagen in 2012 at a cost of $1.2 billion. Even though Ducati appears to have grown under Volkswagen's wing, the brand is on the market once more and Royal Enfield or Harley Davidson might just swoop in and ride off with it.
2. Bugatti© Bugatti
Bugatti is a French boutique brand that was acquired by Volkswagen in 1998 for a sum that is unknown. The car brand was beginning to drown at the time and who better than the almighty German saviour to give it the lift it needed. Today, Volkswagen can say that one of the world's fastest and most coveted vehicles, the Bugatti Veyron Supersport is born from one of its workshops.
3. Bentley© Bentley Motors
The fight to get Rolls-Royce also included Bentley, a brand which was manufacturing cars at the same facility as Rolls-Royce in Crewe, England. BMW managed to win the Rolls-Royce name and badge in 1998 but Volkswagen got the manufacture facility and all things Bentley. That's precisely why the front fascia of the Bentley has a striking resemblance to that of most Rolls-Royce cars.
4. Porsche© Porsche
The 918 Spyder is more a Volkswagen product than a Porsche product. Guess we bow down to German engineering now because Das Auto, but damn, Volkswagen knows how to get the juices flowing in any potential star. There's always a loud boom when two German auto-hauses collide. It's funny, though, that it was actually Porsche that planned to take over Volkswagen in 2005. How the tables turned in a matter of seven years!
5. Audi© Audi
Earlier, we spoke of a German brand that was raising Ducati stallions. That brand is Audi. Volkswagen and Audi together brought Ducati home. Audi has been an integral part of Volkswagen since its merger in 1966. Much like Ducati, together they got another marque auto-works to join their club, the final piece of the puzzle...
6. Lamborghini© Lamborghini
Probably the most celebrated subsidiary of the Volkswagen group, Lamborghini was bought over in 1998. Today Lamborghini is soaring high, working on unbelievable automobile concepts like Terzo Millennio and producing performance racers like the Huracan . There are rap songs about Lamborghinis, what more could Volkswagen possibly ask for?
Other than these six valuable brands, Volkswagen also owns Skoda, Scania, Seat and Man S.E.. We can definitely say that they have their hands full!
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