VW hones commercial focus

German auto giant Volkswagen is further honing its commercial vehicles push, by announcing the appointment of a supervisory board and a location for its new truck and bus holding company, Volkswagen Truck & Bus GmbH.

Based in Braunschweig, west of Berlin and a stone's throw from Volkswagen AG's Wolfsburg headquarters, it appears the alignment of MAN, Scania and Volkswagen's own commercial vehicles division is gaining pace, as the group takes on the might of Daimler and Volvo.

The supervisory board will be chaired by Dr Martin Winterkorn, who is also Chairman of the Board of Management for Volkswagen AG. Joining him on the supervisory board with will be shareholder representatives Hans Dieter Potsch, Dr Francisco Javier Garcia Sanz, Dr Leif Ostling, Daniela Behrens and Dr Ferdinand Oliver Porsche, along with employee representatives Bernd Osterloh, Gunnar Kilian, Athanasios Stimoniaris, Günter Pröbster, Johan Järvklo and Lisa Lorentzon.

Dr Winterkorn said the formation of the supervisory board for the holding company signified the next major step in Volkswagen's commercial vehicles strategy.

"The composition of the Supervisory Board represents the next big step in strengthening our important commercial vehicles business area," he said.

"The Supervisory Board and management will work together to bring our business in medium and heavy duty trucks with its strong brands of Scania, MAN Truck & Bus and MAN Latin America closer together and to develop it further successfully."

Andreas Renschler, member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG with responsibility for commercial vehicles, said the holding company's Braunschweig address brought with it many practical benefits.

"We have reached a further milestone for our commercial vehicles holding with the composition of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen Truck & Bus and the decision on the corporate headquarters," he said.

"Together with the Supervisory Board, we decided on Braunschweig because the airport there guarantees us direct access to our brands. That was the decisive factor for all involved."

In addition to being geographically close to Wolfsburg, the location is also roughly halfway between MAN's headquarters in Munich, Germany, and Scania's headquarters in Sodertalje, Sweden.

"In a next step the management and the Supervisory Board will draw up the overall strategy for our truck brands," said Mr Renschler.

"Our stated goal is to develop the alliance between MAN, Scania and MAN Latin America to become a global champion."