Volkswagen Creates Truck Group to Push MAN, Scania Cooperation
Volkswagen AG created a holding company for its MAN and Scania heavy-truck units in the latest effort to kick-start cost savings and cooperation efforts after buying the former rivals.
VW’s controlling stakes in Munich-based MAN SE and Sweden’s Scania AB will be pooled into the German automaker’s Truck & Bus GmbH subsidiary, the Wolfsburg-based company said in a statement May 5.
“Bringing together our commercial vehicle brands under one roof means we can focus more strongly on the needs of the truck and bus business and can therefore accelerate the decision-making process,” said Andreas Renschler, who will head the commercial vehicles unit.
Volkswagen has been struggling to create a global heavy-truck business that can compete with industry leaders Daimler AG and Volvo AB. Europe’s largest automaker has reaped limited financial rewards for the billions of euros invested in the past decade to purchase Soedertaelje-based Scania and MAN.
VW’s commercial vehicles unit, which makes delivery vans, will report to Renschler and be part of the company’s commercial vehicles group. But it still will maintain close ties with the namesake passenger car brand, where there are more synergies, VW said.
