Audi to take command of Bentley; Lamborghini and Ducati will stay in the VW group

The Volkswagen Group's Supervisory Board has approved its “Together 2025+” strategy, which will realign the brand's priorities and resources in terms of electrification and bring some of its luxury brands under control, Volkswagen declared today. After months of consideration that they might be on sale, the declaration approved that Bentley, Lamborghini, and Ducati will remain in the Volkswagen Group.

The restructuring arrived after a few months of speculation that the company would disperse the two Italian brands in search of manufacturing and production quality. There were reports that VW would trade Bentley, too. Having said that, none of these possibilities are valid.

Rather, Audi will be taking over the control of Bentley’s management responsibilities from March 1, 2021. According to the announcement, the restructuring would enable the two parties to identify growth opportunities in their electrification initiatives. The organization seeks to reduce operating expenses, for which the Board agreed to minimize 5% by 2023, while at the same time lowering manufacturing costs by 7% over the next two years. 

In addition to that, the board did not have anything to say about the two Italian companies other than the fact that they will stay a part of the VW Group. Although it is important to note that Lamborghini and Ducati are already under the management of Audi AG, which also centralizes the bulk of non-Porsche premium products in the Volkswagen Group into one branch.

That being said, nothing in the declaration mentioned the prospects of Bugatti. The sources have approached a Bugatti official to make a statement and will add if any response is received.  Moreover,  Bugatti has a curious bond with Lamborghini at the present, provided that Bugatti President Stephan Winkelmann has lately been named President and CEO of Lamborghini.

The restructuring will allow Lamborghini to find a path through the next decade as electrification is becoming a vital powertrain for the majority of the automakers. Although the EV attack will not come fast to Lamborghini or Bugatti.

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