The head of the Volkswagen brand, Wolfgang Bernhard, is considering leaving as a result of the change of management of the Volkswagen group.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

Handelsblatt online reported that Bernhard threatened to resign earlier this year if Martin Winterkorn, currently head of the Audi brand, became group CEO.


Now Winterkorn has been named successor to Bernd Pischetsrieder from the beginning of 2007, he is reportedly planning a complete restructuring of the group, undoing work that Bernhard was largely responsible for.


Winterkorn plans to set up a premium group of brands, comprising Audi, Bentley, Bugatti and Lamborghini, and a group of mass market brands comprising Volkswagen, Seat and Skoda. This is very different to the current structure in which Skoda, Bugatti and Bentley belong to the Volkswagen group of brands and Audi, Seat and Lamborghini are in the Audi group which encompasses ‘sporty’ brands.


Handelsblatt concluded that Bernhard has little choice but to leave.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

Newspapers have been speculating that Bernhard will return to DaimlerChrysler, where he was formerly Chrysler CEO. Bernhard is still a close friend of DaimlerChrysler chief executive, Dieter Zetsche.


According to TheCarConnection.com, any move back to Mercedes-Benz in Stuttgart appears to have been blocked by German union representatives on the DaimlerChrysler supervisory board. A return to Chrysler is also unlikely.


“Wolfgang isn’t coming back to Auburn Hills,” one insider told TheCarConnection, adding: “There is no job for him.”