Volkswagen Group planning to spin off Lamborghini, Ducati and Italdesign - report

The Volkswagen Group has gone on the record about potentially spinning off Lamborghini, Ducati and Italdesign.

Automotive News Europe reports the three Italian companies could be folded into a structure wherein Volkswagen could act if a decision was made to change ownership.

“We are working on our Italian legal structure,” said CEO Herbert Diess in a presentation to analysts this week.

“We are, let’s say, bringing it into a legal structure where we could act,”

“It’s probably a bit of a slower process… [but] it’s on our agenda.”

The news follows reports last month the Volkswagen Group was looking to publicly list Lamborghini and was organising future supply and technology transfer deals.

It’s not the only shuffling in the Group’s plans. Other reports have suggested the German giant will sell Bugatti to Croatian electric vehicle start-up Rimac in exchange for a larger share in that company.

Other reports have suggested Bentley could also be off-loaded, though talks with banks and hedge funds have been halted due to COVID-19.

Diess has previously said the company is constantly looking at its portfolio.

“Brands must be measured against new requirements. By electrification, by reach, by digitalisation and connectivity of the vehicle. There is new room for manoeuvre and every brand must find its new place,” he said.

The Volkswagen Group is focusing heavily on its ambitious rollout of electric vehicles, with around 70 due to be released by 2030.

The company is investing €35 billion (A$57 billion) in the development of battery-electric vehicles alone over the next five years, while also investing an additional €11 billion (A$17.9 billion) in hybrid vehicles and €27 billion (A$43.9 billion) in software.

The reports of Lamborghini’s spinning off come as Stephan Winkelmann has returned to the role of CEO at the Sant’Agata Bolognese automaker, which he’ll run in tandem with Bugatti.

Winkelmann was CEO of the company between 2005 and 2016, a strong period of growth for the once-small supercar manufacturer.