Editing Ferdinand Piëch (section)

==Biography==

Piëch was born in Vienna, Austria, to [[Louise Piëch|Louise]] (''née'' Porsche; daughter of Ferdinand Porsche) and [[Anton Piëch]], a lawyer. He studied at the [[Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz]] and graduated in 1962 from [[ETH Zurich]] in Switzerland with a degree in mechanical engineering, having written a master's thesis on the development of a [[Formula One]] (F1) engine. At the same time, Porsche was involved in F1, developing an eight-cylinder engine for the [[Porsche 804]].

From 1963 to 1971, Piëch worked at [[Porsche]] in [[Stuttgart]], where he was involved in the development of the [[Porsche 906]] and subsequent models, including the successful [[Porsche 917]]. In 1972, he joined [[Audi]] in [[Ingolstadt]]. By 1975, he had become manager of technological engineering, where he was responsible for the design concepts behind many Audi models from the 1970s and 1980s, including the [[Audi 80]], [[Audi 100]], and [[Audi V8]]. He celebrated his 40th birthday on 17 April 1977 with a grand ball, attended by guests such as [[Giorgetto Giugiaro]]. At the event, the staff of the Porsche Hotel presented him with an Audi 80 constructed entirely out of [[marzipan]] and measuring just {{convert|40|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length.<ref name=AutoMotoruSport197709>{{cite journal| title = Personalien: Ferdinand Piech| journal = [[Auto, Motor und Sport]]| volume = Heft 9 1977| pages = Seite 7 |date = 27 April 1977}}</ref> In the same year, he initiated the development of a car for the [[World Rally Championship]], which led to the creation of the [[Audi Quattro]] with its [[four-wheel drive]] system. The Quattro model used a [[turbocharged]] inline-five-cylinder engine.

Between his departure from Porsche and his move to Audi, Piëch ran a small engineering company, during which time he developed a five-cylinder in-line [[diesel engine]] for [[Mercedes-Benz]]. Upon joining Audi, he revisited this concept, as market demand for engines with more than four cylinders was rising. At the time, Audi (and the Audi-derived VW Passat/Santana model range) used longitudinally mounted inline engines and front-wheel drive. More conventional layouts with six cylinders, such as a [[V6 engine]] or a [[Straight-six engine|straight-six]], were dismissed due to production costs or packaging limitations, as the latter would not fit with front-wheel drive configurations.

In 1993, Piëch moved to the parent company of [[Volkswagen Group|Volkswagen AG]], becoming the [[Chairman]] of the Board of Management, succeeding [[Carl Hahn]]. Volkswagen was on the brink of bankruptcy at that time, but Piëch played a central role in orchestrating a dramatic turnaround.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kapoor |first1=Rahul |title=Former VW head, Ferdinand Piech passes away: Here's how he turned the company from rags to riches |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/auto/car-news/former-vw-head-ferdinand-piech-passes-away-heres-how-he-turned-the-company-from-rags-to-riches/1687601/ |access-date=30 August 2019 |work=The Financial Express |date=27 August 2019}}</ref> He oversaw Volkswagen's acquisition of [[Lamborghini]] and [[Bentley]] and the establishment of [[Bugatti Automobiles]], integrating them alongside [[Volkswagen]], [[Škoda Auto|Škoda]], [[SEAT]], and [[Audi]] into a hierarchical structure akin to that used by [[Alfred Sloan]] at [[General Motors]]. In 2000, Piëch was appointed chairman of [[Scania (company)|Scania AB]].<ref>[https://www.scania.com/news/press_releases/2000/q2/press_9741.asp Ferdinand Piëch new chairman of the Scania Board] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927070038/https://www.scania.com/news/press_releases/2000/q2/press_9741.asp |date=27 September 2007 }} 24 May 2000, Scania.com.</ref> He retired from the board of management in 2002 but continued to serve as chairman of the supervisory board.

Under Piëch's leadership, Volkswagen consolidated an array of mid-sized and premium vehicle brands such as [[Audi]], [[Bentley]], [[Bugatti]], [[Ducati]], [[Lamborghini]], [[Porsche]], [[Škoda Auto|Skoda]], [[SEAT]], [[Scania AB|Scania]], and [[MAN Truck & Bus|MAN]] under the VW Group umbrella. According to Piëch, this strategy aimed to enhance these brands' status and reputation by leveraging Volkswagen's engineering, design expertise, and commitment to quality.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Piëch |first=Ferdinand |title=Volkswagen mourns death of Ferdinand Piëch |url=https://www.volkswagen-group.com/en/press-releases/volkswagen-mourns-death-of-ferdinand-piech-16969/download?disposition=attachment}}</ref>

During his tenure, Piëch was known for aggressively pushing the Volkswagen and Audi brands upmarket with considerable success. He also made significant moves into acquiring other [[marque]]s, securing [[Lamborghini]] for Audi and establishing [[Bugatti Automobiles SAS]]. His acquisition of [[Rolls-Royce Motors|Rolls-Royce]] and [[Bentley]] proved more contentious. While Volkswagen successfully obtained the [[Crewe]] factory, car designs, nameplates, and trademarks such as the [[Spirit of Ecstasy]] and the Rolls-Royce grille, it was denied the use of the Rolls-Royce name, which [[BMW]] had licensed from [[Rolls-Royce Holdings]]. After negotiations, VW sold the Spirit of Ecstasy and the Rolls-Royce grille trademarks to BMW, allowing BMW to launch [[Rolls-Royce Motor Cars]]. Although Piëch later claimed that his primary interest was in Bentley, as it sold better than Rolls-Royce by a ratio of two to one, many saw the loss of the Rolls-Royce brand as a significant failure.

However, Piëch's efforts to revive Volkswagen's fortunes in North America were a success. Unlike Hahn's earlier failed attempts, Piëch's decision to manufacture the [[Volkswagen New Beetle]], which debuted in 1998, revitalized Volkswagen's presence in the U.S. market after years of stagnation.

In recognition of his continued influence in the automotive industry, ''[[Automobile Magazine]]'' awarded Piëch their Man of the Year accolade in 2011.<ref name = "Auto">[https://www.automobilemag.com/features/awards/1101_2011_man_of_the_year_ferdinand_piech/index.html Ferdinand Piech – 2011 Man of the Year – Automobile Magazine] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119031437/https://www.automobilemag.com/features/awards/1101_2011_man_of_the_year_ferdinand_piech/index.html |date=19 November 2010 }} Retrieved 16 November 2010.</ref>