Does Ford Motor Company own Volkswagen?
Ford does not own Volkswagen. They are separate automakers with a strategic alliance rather than a parent-child ownership relationship.
The question often arises from coverage of their collaboration, which centers on joint development and technology sharing rather than ownership. This article explains the ownership structure and the nature of their partnership, with updates through 2024 and into 2025.
Ownership structure
Both Ford Motor Company and Volkswagen AG are independent, publicly traded automotive groups. Ford is listed in the United States, while Volkswagen operates as a German holding company with global brands under the Volkswagen Group. There is no mechanism by which Ford owns Volkswagen or vice versa, and each company maintains its own governance and strategic control.
The Ford–Volkswagen alliance
Below is a concise timeline of the alliance's milestones and the current status as a non-ownership partnership.
- January 2019: Ford and Volkswagen announce a long-term alliance to collaborate on commercial vehicles, electrification, and autonomous driving, with no cross-ownership involved.
- 2020–2021: The partners outline joint development plans for vans and mid-size pickups and establish Argo AI, a dedicated autonomous-driving company funded by Ford and supported by VW as part of the alliance.
- 2022–2024: Argo AI winds down as Ford refines its autonomous-driving strategy, while the broader alliance continues to pursue shared platforms, electrification, and connectivity across markets.
Across these years, the relationship has centered on collaboration and technology sharing rather than ownership. The companies continue to operate independently while pursuing cost-effective partnerships on selected programs.
What this means for consumers and investors
Ownership vs. partnership explained
For consumers, the alliance may translate into interoperable technologies and shared platforms in specific segments (such as vans and electric propulsion) but does not create a merged corporate entity. For investors, Ford and Volkswagen AG remain separate stocks with no ownership stake one in the other, reflecting a strategic collaboration rather than an acquisition or merger.
Summary
Ford Motor Company and Volkswagen AG are not owners of each other. They are distinct, publicly traded automakers that entered into a strategic alliance in 2019 to collaborate on commercial vehicles, electrification, and autonomous driving. The arrangement emphasizes joint development and cost-sharing rather than ownership, and it has evolved through 2024 with ongoing projects and a restructured approach to autonomous driving. Both companies retain their independent governance and brand identities.
What car brands are owned by Ford?
Ford currently owns the Ford and Lincoln car brands. The company also operates the Motorcraft brand for automotive parts. Ford has sold or divested from other brands it previously owned, such as Mercury, which was a mid-tier brand that shut down in 2010, and also has no ownership stake in Mazda anymore, according to this Marin Mazda blog post.
- Ford: The company's namesake brand, which sells a wide range of automobiles and commercial vehicles.
- Lincoln: Ford's luxury vehicle division, which sells luxury cars and SUVs.
- Motorcraft: A brand that sells automotive parts.
- Former brands: Ford previously owned brands like Mercury, which was sold in 2010, and had a significant stake in Mazda that has since been divested, notes Jalopnik and Marin Mazda.
Are Fords using VW engines?
Ford Grand Tourneo Connect Engine
While Ford calls these units EcoBoost and EcoBlue, respectively, these are essentially Volkswagen's TSI and TDI four-cylinder engines.
What company owns Volkswagen?
Volkswagen is owned by Volkswagen AG, also known as the Volkswagen Group, a German multinational automotive manufacturing company. The Volkswagen Group is headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany, and is a publicly traded company, with major shareholders including Porsche SE. The group also owns numerous other car brands like Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, Porsche, and Ducati.
- Owner: Volkswagen AG (Volkswagen Group)
- Headquarters: Wolfsburg, Germany
- Other owned brands: The group owns or controls a range of brands, including Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Cupra, Ducati, Lamborghini, Porsche, SEAT, and Skoda.
- Publicly traded: Volkswagen AG is a publicly traded company.
- Major shareholder: Porsche SE is one of the largest shareholders in the company.
Is VW owned by Ford?
No, Ford does not own Volkswagen; Volkswagen is owned by Volkswagen AG (also known as the Volkswagen Group). Ford and Volkswagen have a strategic alliance to collaborate on certain vehicles, such as pickup trucks and vans, and electric cars, but neither company has an ownership stake in the other.
- Volkswagen ownership: The Volkswagen Group is a multinational company that owns the Volkswagen brand. Porsche SE is the largest shareholder, with the German state of Lower Saxony and Qatar also holding significant stakes.
- Ford and Volkswagen alliance: The two companies have a partnership to share development costs and platforms for certain vehicles like pickup trucks and vans, and to collaborate on electric and autonomous driving technology. This alliance allows each company to benefit from the other's expertise and expand their market reach without merging or acquiring each other.
