[MRM]

For the record, I will say that I think Porsche's plan is a bad idea. Porsche, Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, the jewels in the crown are all high profit/upscale niche brands. VW is a mass market value brand. Ford and Toyota are mass market manufacturers that compete across all lines. I do not think that mass market manufacturers do well when they take over niche brands (such as Fords recent experience) and niche manufacturers don't do well trying to combine with other niche manufacturers to try to increase their combined size. Combining niche brands with mass market manufacturing is a recipe for disaster for both sides. It's one thing for Porsche to have an ownership stake in a mass market company and trade parts and technology. It is completely different to try to combine the companies. It is good to have ambitious goals, because if you aren't getting stronger you're getting weaker, but accomplishing that goal wil be the death of VW, Porsche and Audi.