The Latest from German Car Scene

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• STARS FOR SAFETY – VOLKSWAGEN OFFERS ONE OF THE SAFEST MODEL RANGES
• INTEGRATED AUTOMOTIVE GROUP: VOLKSWAGEN WILL TAKE A 49.9 PERCENT STAKE IN PORSCHE AG IN FIRST STEP
• VOLKSWAGEN GROUP STARTS FULL PRODUCTION IN RUSSIA
• SKODA AUTO SUCCESSFUL IN RUSSIA, MARKET SHARE IS GROWING
• WOLFRAM THOMAS IS DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SEAT
• BMW ENGINEERS TRIAL HOT NEW TECHNOLOGIES
• THE 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS: PACEMAKER IN AUTOMOTIVE DEVELOPMENT
• F1 BUGATTI TO FEATURE AT MPH

STARS FOR SAFETY – VOLKSWAGEN OFFERS ONE OF THE SAFEST MODEL RANGES Posted: 21 Oct 2009 02:04 AM PDT Vehicle safety is the top priority at Volkswagen. This is emphasised by the current Euro NCAP ratings, according to which a total of six Volkswagen models (Polo, Golf, Tiguan, Touran, Passat and Touareg) were awarded the maximum five-star rating for the demanding crash tests. Volkswagen therefore offers its customers one of the safest model ranges in the world.

INTEGRATED AUTOMOTIVE GROUP: VOLKSWAGEN WILL TAKE A 49.9 PERCENT STAKE IN PORSCHE AG IN FIRST STEP Posted: 21 Oct 2009 01:59 AM PDT Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft will take a 49.9 percent stake in Porsche AG in a first step towards an integrated automotive group with Porsche. This was agreed between Volkswagen and Porsche SE during negotiations on the contracts of implementation relating to the merger of the two companies.

VOLKSWAGEN GROUP STARTS FULL PRODUCTION IN RUSSIA Posted: 21 Oct 2009 01:53 AM PDT The Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, jointly gave the signal for the official start of production at the Russian plant in Kaluga on Tuesday. The plant is part of the Volkswagen Group's international expansion strategy in one of the world's most important long-term growth markets.

SKODA AUTO SUCCESSFUL IN RUSSIA, MARKET SHARE IS GROWING Posted: 21 Oct 2009 01:44 AM PDT Skoda Auto is putting the Octavia model into complete production in the Russian Federation despite the current crisis, supporting the positive trend for the Skoda brand in Russia. Complete production is being started 11 months before the originally planned date.

WOLFRAM THOMAS IS DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SEAT Posted: 20 Oct 2009 02:39 PM PDT Wolfram Thomas (53) has been appointed as deputy president of SEAT, S.A.. Mr. Thomas has held the post of Executive Vice-President for Production of the Spanish brand since September 2002. Mr. Thomas assumes his new function as deputy president to the Chairman James Muir in addition to his current assignment.

BMW ENGINEERS TRIAL HOT NEW TECHNOLOGIES Posted: 20 Oct 2009 10:05 AM PDT MULGRAVE, AUSTRALIA – October 20, 2009: For years, engineers have avoided heat in cars to protect components from overheating.

THE 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS: PACEMAKER IN AUTOMOTIVE DEVELOPMENT Posted: 20 Oct 2009 09:10 AM PDT MULGRAVE, AUSTRALIA – October 20, 2009: After four years in production and sales of 270,000 units, Mercedes-Benz is now presenting the 2009 S-Class. With an even more dynamic design, even more comfort and path-finding innovations, this extensively updated new series of the world's most successful luxury saloon is reiterating its claim to be the standard for automotive progress.

F1 BUGATTI TO FEATURE AT MPH Posted: 20 Oct 2009 08:29 AM PDT DORLISHEIM, UNITED KINGDOM – October 20, 2009: The world's most expensive Bugatti Veyron, complete with F1 number plate, will be a star attraction at this year's MPH Show featuring Top Gear Live at London's Earls Court between 5-8 November.