Volkswagen and Audi merge operations in Australia
The two German brands are set to merge in Australia, with operations to commence soon from a single headquarters.
Volkswagen and Audi will soon be managed from under the same roof, with the two companies announcing they will combine operations in Australia.
While most Volkswagen Group brands – which include Bugatti, Bentley, Lamborghini, and Porsche – are traditionally run as separate entities, this latest move means local decisions about the company's most popular passenger vehicles will be centralised.
Audi joins Volkswagen cars, Volkswagen commercial vehicles, and Skoda as an integrated corporate operation.
"From a Skoda Fabia city car all the way to Audi's R8 supercar ... Volkswagen Group Australia will be class-leading in all aspects of the automotive market in which it competes," Volkswagen Group Australia boss Managing Director Michael Bartsch said at the announcement.
The merger is expected to be approved by parent companies in Germany, as well as the Foreign Investment Review Board locally.
Volkswagen Group Australia has made assurances its customers won't notice any changes in the way the brands interact with buyers locally.
The company's new headquarters are currently being completed in inner Sydney.
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