Is ferrari on vw's shopping list?

**Zeb** · 11-11-2010,05:07 PM

Prancing Horse claimed to be 'object of desire' for Piech

Not what a VW-Ferrari would look like
Reports 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. 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...

**MalcQV** · 12-11-2010,03:16 PM

I hope not! I can't see Fiat letting go of Ferrari. In fact I can't see what VW want with it or Alfa.

It has been suggested it may be a rumour put about by VAG or VW to push Fiat into a decision regarding Alfa. I hope Fiat sell neither.

**Zeb** · 12-11-2010,07:29 PM

I get the feeling that, VW will be interested in buying out Ferrari. If not then they will probably buy a quarter of there share!

**MalcQV** · 12-11-2010,07:50 PM

Originally Posted by Zeb

I get the feeling that, VW will be interested in buying out Ferrari. If not then they will probably buy a quarter of there share!

I hope you're wrong.

**paul b** · 12-11-2010,10:17 PM

I doubt any of it will happen.

Ferrari is the flag ship car of Italy; the Italian Government would not allow control of it to fall into anyone's but an Italian's hands.

The Goverment would buy it before VW AG would buy it!

**MalcQV** · 13-11-2010,03:52 PM

I hope so Paul. there is something quirky about Italian cars, I guess a slight unreliability, but that is less so these days. I think VAG are almost perfect and I just feel that is not what Ferrari or indeed Alfa are about.

**Borab0y** · 14-11-2010,10:51 PM

I was at Maserati (also owned by Fiat) the other week and heard some things that would now make sense if Fiat intend on selling Ferarri.

It would also be VW's way into F1 instead of the engine supplier rumoured a while back.