VW Spends $8.3 Billion This Week!

It’s been a busy week for VW Chairman Ferdinand Piech as he has spent $5.8 billion dollars acquiring 49.9% stake in Porsche and $2.5 billion for a 20% stake in Suzuki in his quest to make VW the #1 car manufacturer in the world by 2018. 

Suzuki will not be VW’s 12th brand, but the two companies will share technology that each one will need to expand their footprint in emerging markets.  The deal also gives Suzuki 2.5 percent voting stake in VW.

This latest buyout/merger exemplifies the need for manufactures to form strategic alliances in order to survive these tough economic times.

What manufacturer mergers would you like to see happen in the near future?

Source: http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2009/12/09/457797.html

Mercury and Jaguar #1 in Customer Satisfaction

Customers who purchased or leased a new Mercury or Jaguar during May or June 2009 found the sales process to be the best in each class respectively. This award can be a little deceiving since the vehicles themselves were not rated only the “Sales Process” which included the dealership facility, salesperson, paperwork/finance process, delivery process and vehicle price.

What is more surprising is that in the “luxury class” Cadillac ranked second overall ahead of lexus and Mercedes Benz who tied for third.

Click on the link below to read more and see who where your automaker ranked among the field.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34327823/ns/business-autos/