Volkswagen (VW) entered the automotive industry in 1937 with the launch of the Beetle model series. The brand was established in Berlin, Germany, to manufacture vehicles for the people. Due to its origin in Nazi Germany, VW suffered the consequences of World Wars. However, VW managed to create its significant position by rolling off durable and technologically advanced vehicles.
Today, VW is one of the largest automotive groups that also owns many other brands. These acquisitions provide VW with a large product portfolio and shared platforms to manufacture top-tier vehicles.
Here we have provided all the details regarding the brands owned by Volkswagen.
Volkswagen Owned Companies
The most interesting fact about Volkswagen is that it owns a number of top-tier automotive brands. For convenience, VW has segmented companies into groups according to the type of vehicle manufactured by the brand.
Let’s take a closer look at the Volkswagen-owned brands.
Volume Group
The volume group of VW includes all the brands that are popular in the affordable car market.
Volkswagen
Despite acquiring multiple automotive brands, VW still manufactures vehicles under its name. The VW brand is segmented into two parts, VW Passenger Cars which was established in 1937 and VW Commercial Cars which was established in 1995. Both the segments are rolled off under the VW nameplate and also feature the VW logo.
Skoda
Skoda is a Czechoslovakian brand that was established in 1895. The brand successfully operated till WW and was manufacturing tanks and war machinery for the forces. However, after the war, Skoda was declared a state-owned company which affected its overall production.
In 1991, VW Group acquired a 30% share of Skoda and completely owned the brand since 2000. VW continued the production of Skoda models that are known for their modern car safety features and reliability.
Seat and Cupra
The Seat was a Spanish state-owned brand that dates back to 1950. It is one of the largest vehicle manufacturers in the country popular for its build quality, design and safety features. Since its inception, Seat has been working in collaboration with Fiat but the partnership officially ended in 1982. In 1986, stakes of Seat and Seat Sports were acquired by VW Group and in 1990 the brand became a wholly owned subsidiary of VW.
The Seat Sports division specialises in manufacturing high-performance street-legal sports cars. The division 2018 was renamed Cupra. Here are some used Seat models for sale in the UAE that you can browse through.
Premium Group
As evident from the name, the premium group comprises brands specialised in manufacturing luxury vehicles.
Audi
A century-old brand Audi needs no introduction in the automotive industry. The brand secures a significant position in the market for its luxury and premium model lineup. Due to these features, Audi tops the list of most popular used German car makes and models in the UAE.
Before Volkswagen, Audi was one of the brands owned by Daimler-AG. In 1965, VW acquired the brand and reintroduced the brand with F103 Series.
Lamborghini
The history of Lamborghini elaborates on the dedication of Ferruccio Lamborghini behind the brand. However, due to a series of unfortunate events, he was not able to operate the company for a longer time. After Ferruccio, the company was sold to multiple other owners and was finally acquired by VW in 1998.
VW continued the legacy of Ferruccio by rolling off exotic luxury sports cars equipped with powerful engines. If you are also interested in driving street-legal sports cars, browse through these used Lamborghini cars for sale in the UAE.
Bentley
Bentley is another luxury brand owned by Volkswagen in 1998. Bentley was started in 1909 by Walter Owen Bentley and Horace Miller Bentley. The brand specialises in manufacturing luxury vehicles popular for their powerful engines, higher agility and comfortable interior.
One of the most interesting facts about Bentley is that it manufactures armoured vehicles for the Crown State of the UK. This justifies the quality and luxury that Bentley provides to its consumers. If you are also interested in availing of these features, here are some used Bentley cars for sale in the UAE.
Ducati
Ducati is the only motorcycle manufacturer among the companies owned by Volkswagen. The company dates back to 1926 with headquarters in Bologna, Italy. Ducati was officially acquired by VW in 2012.
Sport Group
Currently, the Sports Group of VW only includes sports car manufacturer Porsche.
Porsche
Porsche secures a significant position in the market for its craftsmanship visible in its model lineup. Porsche was founded in 1931, but it was helping other automotive brands in vehicle manufacturing at that time. After WWII, Porsche released the first model series 356 under its own nameplate.
Since Porsche was a family-owned business there were many complications in merging the operations of both brands. After all the legal arrangements, VW finally acquired the brand in 2012.
Others
Apart from the above-mentioned groups, there are also some other brands owned by Volkswagen.
Bugatti
Bugatti entered the market in 1909 with its model EB110 GT. The model features a large radiator grille and oversized fenders and is powered by a V12 engine. Due to its unique shape and higher agility, the model was well-received in the market. Bugatti continued to launch sports car models until the 1950s when it was shut down. After a pause, the brand was revived in 1991 and was acquired by VW in 1998.
MAN
In 2011, VW acquired MAN, one of the oldest brands in the automotive industry. It was started in 1758 and was focused on manufacturing auto parts. Later, the brand also launched its commercial model lineup, which was well-received by the users.
Scania
Similar to MAN, Scania also manufactures heavy-duty vehicles including marine engines, trucks and buses. After its acquisition by VW in 2008, the brand focused on reducing carbon emissions of its vehicles. Despite being a heavy-duty vehicle manufacturer, Scania Was successful in achieving its green aim.
This was the complete list of brands owned by Volkswagen. The acquisition of brands aids VW in expanding its model lineup and also manufacturing top-notch vehicles on shared platforms. If you are also interested in availing of these durable and technologically advanced vehicles, browse through these used cars for sale in the UAE.
Stay tuned to UAE’s leading auto blog for more information on VW group brands.
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