Not much would have been missing, and Ferdinand Porsche would have become a plumber. But as a young journeyman, Ferdinand was enthusiastic about the then new wonder world of electricity. The inventor secretly built a small power plant of steam engine and dynamo-and let the whole house shine in the light bulb light. These were the first steps to one of the world’s largest auto empires: Volkswagen. 150 years ago, on September 3, 1875, Porsche was born in the workshop of his father Anton in today’s Czech Vratislavice Nad Nisou (Maffersdorf). Porsche went to Vienna and became a pioneer of the electric car, which is experiencing a resurrection today. His vehicle, the wheels of which were driven individually, he called “Semper Vivus” (always alive). It was still more like a carriage. With the “Mixte car”, the first fully functional hybrid vehicle followed a little later. Creators of the original beetle will soon be forgotten, Porsche wrote with a different development of automotive history. This is reminiscent of this in the reconstructed birthplace, which has been a museum of the VW subsidiary Skoda since 2016, a chrome-decorated classic car: a Volkswagen Beetle from 1950 with googly eyes and “pretzel windows”. More than 21.5 million beetles in various variations were built until the final end of production in 2003. “This is an incredible number,” says museum guide Petr, who is currently leading a Czech couple through the exhibition. He is convinced: “Nobody will be able to set this record, because today the models alternate much faster.” And as far as the reliability is concerned, the design of the beetle is really perfect. In the service of the Hastenkreuzesder Erste “Volkswagen”, however, Ferdinand Porsche’s fading side is also standing: his combination with the National Socialists. Because the forerunner of the beetle originated from Adolf Hitler after a small car that was not allowed to cost more than 1000 Reichsmarks. Porsche developed the so-called “strength through joy” car, but only a small series was created until the end of the war. The military production of bucket and swimming trolleys based on the first “Volkswagen” was carried out. After the war, the French occupation authorities in custody for 22 months. They accused him of using forced laborers. But he was never charged as a war criminal. Ferdinand Porsche died on January 30, 1951 in Stuttgart. There he had already started unemployed in 1931-and with the founding of his construction office, he laid one of the foundations for the later family empire. From the heir to empire, the descendants of the legendary beetle designer check the majority of voting rights in the VW group. Since 2022, they have also kept a blocking minority on its listed daughter, the Stuttgart sports and off-road car manufacturer Porsche. But that was not always the case: after the war, Volkswagen was in state property – and was only privatized in 1960. In Stuttgart, Ferry Porsche expanded his father’s design office to become a sports car manufacturer during this time. More on the theme part of the theme remained connected and developed cars with each other. As a VW owner, the family only came into play about 20 years ago. At that time, the sports car maker got in with the Wolfsburg group – and gambled at the takeover. Ultimately, VW turned the tables and swallowed the Stuttgart. Therefore Porsche is one of ten VW group brands – and not the other way around. However, the two family branches and Piëch, which are from the beetle constructor, thus came into the possession of the majority of the decisive VW stem shares. Dynasty at the Tax Wolfgang Porsche (82), grandson Ferdinands, told the German Press Agency: “My grandfather has the basis for a company with his extraordinary technical talent and his tireless technical talent created that still stands for engineering and innovative strength today ”. As a designer and company founder, he had shaped automotive history in Germany and beyond. “For the family, he is particularly remembered as a loving grandfather who has passed on his passion for technology and automotive construction to the following generations.” In addition to Wolfgang Porsche, who is also called “WoPo” at the Porsche headquarters in Zuffenhausen, there is another crucial figure in the family: Hans-Michel Piëch. The 83-year-old leads his family branch and, like his cousin, sits in a number of supervisory boards and committees. Many other members of the widely branched family also have influential positions in the auto empire, which also includes trucks. The question of who will be in charge of the owner in the future is currently particularly important. Because both Volkswagen and Porsche are in severe carpenters. In view of US tariffs, the doldrums in China and the lame European economy, profits from both companies decreased drastically. A savings course should help both in Wolfsburg and Zuffenhausen, among other things, several tens of thousands of jobs are to be lost. Who will succeed? For some time now it has been speculated on how the two patriarchs could name as successors. Your mandates run for several years. At least Wolfgang Porsche has already made it clear that younger people should take over the helm afterwards. It is conceivable that Ferdinand Oliver Porsche (64) takes over the successor of his uncle. So far, no successor is publicly emerging on the Piëch page. A spokesman for Porsche SE did not want to comment on the succession. Most recently, she ignited the double role of Oliver Blume as Porsche and VW boss. At Porsche, “family instead of financial market”, said Hendrik Schmidt from the fund provider DWS at the last general meeting. The impression of a group of corporations arises in which individual interests are provided via corporate interests. Therefore, the fundamental question arises as to whether the Supervisory Board exercises its control function appropriately. The lack of generation change cements this “wagon castle mentality”.
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