FERDINAND PIECH RESIGNS

A grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, Ferdinand Piech became chairman and CEO of Volkswagen in 1993. He turned the company around and added top marques like Lamborghini, Bentley and Bugatti. Under Piech’s direction, VW bought Porsche in 2012 and in the process became Europe’s biggest carmaker – just four years after Porsche made a failed attempt to buy VW.

In the ’60s, Piech pushed the boundaries at Porsche, ultimately creating the 917. His resignation signifies the end of a long power struggle at VW/Audi/Porsche. It’s the end of an era.

Portrait: Hermann Bredehorst