Lamborghini, manufacturer of exceptional sports cars

Following several changes of ownership in the 1970s, AUDI AG of Ingolstadt acquired the entire share capital of the Italian sports car manufacturer Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. in July 1998. The legal form of the company is approximately equivalent to a limited liability company that issues shares, such as exists in Great Britain, an American joint-stock corporation or a German public limited company (AG), like AUDI AG itself.

Shortly after the acquisition Audi restructured the company, and Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. became Automobili Lamborghini Holding S.p.A.. Since November 1998 Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. (sports cars), Motori Marini Lamborghini S.p.A. (powerboat engines), Lamborghini ArtiMarca S.p.A. (merchandising) and, since September 2000, AUTOGERMA S.p.A., the Italian importer for the Audi, Seat, Škoda, Volkswagen and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle brands, have existed as operating companies.

In the 2004 business year the general importer AUTOGERMA generated sales revenues of Euro 4.45 billion, employed a total of 724 people in the annual average and sold 241,299 vehicles of all Volkswagen Group brands. This Lamborghini subsidiary was established in 1951 in Italy. It has a network of over 2,000 dealers and service workshops, and a large parts store in Verona. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of AUTOGERMA is the Volkswagen Board Member Dr. Hans Dieter Pötsch.

The Automobili Lamborghini Holding company is controlled by a shareholders' meeting made up of members of the Audi Board of Management. The Board of Directors, similar to that in British companies, consists of managing members and members who are not involved in the management. The chairman is Dr. Martin Winterkorn. The CEOs of the holding are Wolfgang Rasper and Salvatore Cieri.

In 1963 Ferruccio Lamborghini established the company Ferruccio Lamborghini Automobili in Sant'Agata Bolognese near Bologna. The company entered the sports car sector with the 350 GTV. However, the legend began with the Miura, the first mid-engined "super sports car", which originated from a passion for the world of motorsport. It was succeeded by the no less spectacular Espada, Countach und Diablo models. The successor to the Diablo, the Murciélago, was shown to the public at the 2001 German Motor Show (the 'IAA') in Frankfurt, the Gallardo in 2003 (Geneva) and the Murcièlago Roadster in 2004.