Volkswagen to retain Lamborghini

FOLLOWING months of speculation that Lamborghini may be cast adrift from the Volkswagen Group in order to streamline efficiencies for the conglomerate, it has been revealed by the Volkswagen supervisory board that the Italian supercar brand will remain part of the Group.

The announcement also stated that motorcycle brand Ducati will be retained by the VW Group – another marque that was rumoured to be getting the chop.

While not expounding on the decision to retain the two brands, the move ensures the short-term safety of Lamborghini which will no doubt begin a transition towards electrification over the next decade.

It will also secure the future of the Urus SUV, which is underpinned by the same MLB Evo platform as a number of other VW Group SUVs including the Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7 and Bentley Bentayga.

Lamborghini has already started dipping its toes into the world of electrification with the Sian coupe, while an all-electric 2+2 GT car has also been doing the rounds on the rumour mill.

Along with the Lamborghini announcement, VW Group executives also confirmed that luxury brand Bentley will fall within the management responsibility of Audi from March 1, 2021.

The decision was made to allow for greater synergies with relation to electrification and EVs, which will no doubt help Bentley achieve its goals of electrifying its entire range by 2026, before moving to an EV-only brand by 2030.

As a luxury brand with a finger firmly in the EV pie, Audi is well placed to help provide battery technology to Bentley, having just released its first EV in Australia – the E-Tron SUV – with more EV’s on the way, including the E-Tron Sportback sedan and E-Tron GT – the brand’s first all-electric performance model.

The Sportback and GT could provide the underpinnings for electric versions of the Bentley Continental GT and Flying Spur, while the E-Tron could form the basis for a next-generation Bentayga.

VW Group executives said the company is forming a plan to target a five per cent reduction in fixed costs by 2023, while also reducing material costs by seven per cent over the next two years.

The announcement also saw a reshuffle of VW Group top brass, with a number of executives moving into new roles to help the brand achieve its goals around electromobility and digitalisation.

Volkswagen chairman of the board of management Herbert Diess said the changes within the company are some of the most significant in its history.

“Together we are rigorously pressing forward with the largest transformation in the history of Volkswagen,” he said.

“In the upcoming years, we will continue to invest in electromobility, digitalisation and battery technology and, at the same time, substantially reduce fixed costs and material costs throughout the Group in all brands and regions in order to ensure Volkswagen’s future viability.”