Suzuki Divorces Volkswagen, Sells Stake To Porsche

Cameron Aubernon
by Cameron Aubernon

Suzuki announced Saturday it will sell its 1.5 percent stake in Volkswagen to Porsche next week, finalizing the divorce between the two automakers.

The sale to Porsche Automobil Holding SE — which is Volkswagen AG’s largest shareholder — will go through on Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal reports, netting Suzuki ¥36.7 billion ($304 million USD) in special profit.

Suzuki’s stake sale also marks the end of a failed partnership between it and VW. Originally made in late 2009, the partnership included cooperation in emerging markets, and co-development of fuel-efficient small vehicles. In exchange, Suzuki took the 1.5 percent stake in VW, while the latter took a 19.9 percent share in the former.

Regarding the 19.9 percent share, Suzuki bought the stake back from VW last week for ¥429 billion ($3.6 billion), following an order by The London Court of International Arbitration for the German automaker to sell said stake. The court also found Suzuki did breach its partnership agreement, and may have to pay damages in turn.

Photo credit: RL GNZLZ/ Flickr/ CC BY-SA 2.0

Cameron Aubernon
Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

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  • I just love it when cause celebs like "being green" COLLAPSE INTO THEIR OWN FOOTPRINT. I love it. I love every minute of it. When I see VW cars on the road now, I give the drivers DEATH STARES. My 6.4-L AWD HEMI is cleaner LOL.

    • EAF EAF on Sep 26, 2015

      Hahaha! Even before Dieselgate I gave owner's the death stare, but now I feel a level of superiority as well.... while I pass them in my cat-less deathtrap.

  • Jeff S Jeff S on Sep 27, 2015

    There will be a market for those used VW diesels among the Rolling Coal group and the Friends of Coal. I can see them modify these VWs to blow soot on Prius drivers and others they don't like.

  • Brn Brn on Sep 27, 2015

    Let's see if my math is correct. 1 / .199 * $3.6 bil = $18.09 bil Suzuki valuation 1 / .015 * $0.304 bil = $20.27 bil VW valuation That's awful darn close, considering one of these is the worlds largest automaker and the other is far from it. At that valuation, I'd buy VW stock.

  • John Horner John Horner on Sep 28, 2015

    Suzuki has been unlucky in love. GM and then VW. Ouch.

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