Porsche

[N_Jay]

On Monday Porsche received the go-ahead from its board to increase its stake in the VW Group to more than 50 per cent.
Soon afterwards the VW Group announced that it was also buying control of Scania, the Swedish truckmaker.

This means that Porsche now owns one of the top three global automotive empires, encompassing the entire vehicle range from large trucks, prestige cars, sports cars and exotic cars through to family and small cars; VW, Audi, Bentley, Skoda, Seat, Bugatti, Lamborghini, MAN, Scania and of course Porsche are now all controlled by Porsche.

This is one of the most remarkable turn-around's in automotive and business history.
Only some 15 years ago, Porsche itself was virtually bankrupt and had to be rescued by VW - but now it owns a global automotive giant, building around 6.5 million cars per year and employing some 450,000 workers.

[Shindig78]

I agree -- very impressive. Porsche has dramatically improved quality and reliability over the years. Introducing the Boxster in the late 1990s was a big milestone in their success.

Overall, they've done a great job of building cars that enthusiasts really desire -- the Cayman, the new 911 Turbo Cab, and even the Cayenne. Plus, they've mastered the "special edition" with one-offs like the GT2 and GT3, Cayenne GTS, etc.

It will be interesting to see how they evolve over the next several years. The introduction of the Panamera, the redesign of the Cayenne, and the introduction of a smaller SUV will all play a role in the future growth of Porsche.

[N_Jay]

Originally posted by Shindig78
I agree -- very impressive. Porsche has dramatically improved quality and reliability over the years. Introducing the Boxster in the late 1990s was a big milestone in their success.

Overall, they've done a great job of building cars that enthusiasts really desire -- the Cayman, the new 911 Turbo Cab, and even the Cayenne. Plus, they've mastered the "special edition" with one-offs like the GT2 and GT3, Cayenne GTS, etc.

It will be interesting to see how they evolve over the next several years. The introduction of the Panamera, the redesign of the Cayenne, and the introduction of a smaller SUV will all play a role in the future growth of Porsche.

Back in my Product Management days, I used both Porsche and Honda as examples of companies that have learned how to leverage product platforms successfully.

Motorola did not grasp the concept (yet they kept saying it was important).

(Honda and Porsche owner since 1983)

[robrecht]

Originally posted by N_Jay
(Honda and Porsche owner since 1983)

Is the Porsche up and running again? It sounds really fun with all that engine work.