According to industry sources, it appears that Volkswagen will buy a controlling stake in Italdesign Giugiaro a.k.a. Italy’s largest design and engineering firm. Sources confirmed the fact that Vw will announce the deal early as next week.
Why this move from Vw? The answer is this: in order to follow the plan to be the world’s largest automaker by 2018 with sales of 10 million vehicles a year Volkswagen needs more designers and engineers for its cars. Volskwagen Group will add 60 models, including upgrades, only in 2010. For those who don’t know, Italdesign has currently 975 employees and 800 computer aided design workstations and it is owned by Giorgetto Giugiaro, 71, who serves as chairman, and his son Fabrizio, 45, who heads the design and model division. Both are expected to continue their work after Vw takeover.
[via autonews – sub. required]
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