Porsche to EU Regulators: No Can Do
Speaking to Handelsblatt magazine (via Forbes), Porsche's CEO set the stage for his company's on-again/off-again VW takeover. Wendelin Wiedeking claimed the fiercely independent sports car maker's products can't meet the EU's proposed 2012 carbon dioxide emissions regulations. While Wiedeking did include the qualifier "in their current form," he clearly stated that Stuttgart's finest couldn't satisfy Brussels regulators. "Realistically, emissions requirements can only be graded by vehicle segment. A common limit for everyone is a business generation plan for compact car makers." Which is what Porsche would be if when it assumes control of VW. Which Wiedeking will address no sooner that November, or whenever the European Court of Justice gets around to strking down the "VW law" that prohibits a change of controlling ownership. Hmmm. Sounds like a lock to us. Still…
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Does this mean that if the EU actually did set regs based on segment, that Porsche would not be looking at eating VW? I think that Wiedeking's ego is too big for that at this point. I'm just worried that one of two things will happen: that either Porsche will begin platform-sharing with VW (argh) or it will use VW profits to push upmarket and leave the sub-$100k market behind. My hope is that they will combine suppliers and lower costs for Porsche, allowing it to lower prices without resorting to platform sharing. Shaving $5k off the price of a Cayman would make me very happy.