Audi takes Bentley under its umbrella starting March 1, 2021.
After today’s vote by the company’s supervisory boards, Lamborghini as well as Ducati, they will remain in the VW Group familia. This also allows Audi to control Bentley. After months-long rumors suggested that the conglomerate would sell the two Italian companies to make way for manufacturing and production efficiencies, the reorganization was approved today by the company’s supervisor board. Rumours circulated that VW might sell Bentley as well. None of these scenarios have been confirmed.
A report last month suggested that Lamborghini, Ducati, and Italdesign could all be combined into one organization . VW CEO Herbert Diess stated that the company would “into one legal structure”. Diess said that it was a slow process, but it could still happen. VW Group also named Stephan Winkelmann, Bugatti president and CEO of Lamborghini last month. This is the same company that he ran from 2005 to 2016.
As electrification becomes the preferred powertrain for more makes and models, Lamborghini should be able to navigate the next decade with the help of the reorganization. The EV onslaught will not come to Lamborghini and Bugatti any time soon. Winkelmann stated last week that no marquee would look for the tech yet, as it isn’t ready to meet performance requirements. It won’t arrive until the end of this decade if one does. Lamborghini and Ducati will continue to call VW home until then.