Volkswagen's plans to become the world's number one car maker have just taken significant step forward, with reports emerging from Europe that VW Group execs are considering the purchase of Alfa Romeo.
Though Volkswagen and Fiat are yet to comment publicly on the deal, Volkswagen has reportedly scraped together a $22 billion kitty specifically for buying new car companies.
Italian car marque Alfa Romeo is currently owned by Fiat, and though European media outlets are reporting that Fiat insiders are not keen to let Alfa Romeo fall into German hands, Volkswagen officials have, in the past, cited their regard for the Italian brand. Furthermore, reports from Automotive News Europe cited two Volkswagen executives both of whom are reported as saying Alfa Romeo would make a very good purchase.
The Volkswagen Group currently owns several car brands, such as Audi, Skoda, Seat, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Porsche, and of course Volkswagen, and Alfa Romeo's former design chief now heads up the Volkswagen Group's design team, Walter de Silva.
If the deal did go ahead and Volkswagen took control of Alfa Romeo, it would certainly add to the company's overall global car sales - an extra 100,000 units per annum - and bring it closer to its goal of replacing Toyota as the world's number one car company.
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