Who Owns Lamborghini? The Link to Audi Explained

Audi and Lamborghini – these are two names that are recognized by car enthusiasts worldwide.

However, as much as we love admiring these cars from afar (or, if we’re lucky, up close and personal), there’s a burning question: does Audi own Lamborghini?

Lamborghini is currently owned by the Volkswagen Group, which is a multinational automotive manufacturer that also owns Audi.

Keep reading as we shift gears and race toward the fascinating truth!

The historical background of Audi And Lamborghini

Let’s start by returning to the 1960s when Ferruccio Lamborghini (the founder of Lamborghini) decided he’d had enough of tractors and wanted to give Enzo Ferrari a run for his money.

As the legend goes, Ferruccio, a successful tractor manufacturer, wasn’t too happy with his Ferrari’s clutch.

After a heated exchange with Enzo, he set out to create his own line of supercars.

And thus, in 1963, Lamborghini’s first passenger car, the 350 GTV, was born, with the sole mission of outperforming and outclassing its Italian rival.

Over the years, Lamborghini became known for its aggressive designs and raw power. From the iconic Miura to the monstrous Aventador, Lamborghinis have always managed to make our hearts race.

Meanwhile, in Germany, Audi was making its mark on the automotive world.

Founded by August Horch in 1932, the brand was named after the Latin translation of his surname.

Audi has come a long way since then, becoming a leader in luxury vehicles.

But what happens when two giants of the car world cross paths?

That’s where the Volkswagen Group comes into play.

The Volkswagen Group is a company that currently owns several car brands, including Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, and more.

They purchased a 50% stake in Audi in 1964, and since 2020, the Volkswagen Group has a 100% ownership over the Audi brand.

Now, what does this have to do with Audi and Lamborghini, you ask?

Well, the Volkswagen Group is the puppet master pulling the strings behind these two marques, among others.

Let’s dive further!

Audi’s acquisition of Lamborghini

As we all know, life can be full of twists and turns, and Lamborghini’s journey was no exception.

The 1990s brought a series of challenges for the Italian supercar manufacturer, including economic downturns, fluctuating sales, and even an Indonesian owner.

The once-glorious Lamborghini brand was in a financial pickle, desperately searching for someone to save the day.

And that’s when Audi saw Lamborghini’s struggles as the perfect chance to add some Italian flair to its lineup.

In 1998, Audi flexed its financial muscles and acquired the struggling Lamborghini. Thus, Audi, a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group, became the owner of Lamborghini!

As part of the Volkswagen Group, Audi was well-positioned to provide Lamborghini with the stability and resources it desperately needed to regain its footing in the supercar industry.

But, of course, no love story would be complete without a bit of help from Cupid.

In this case, Cupid took the form of the Volkswagen Group, which, as mentioned earlier, has a knack for collecting car brands like Pokémon cards.

The Volkswagen Group owns brands like Volkswagen, Seat, Bentley, Porsche, Audi, and Lamborghini:

The acquisition was a strategic move for the Volkswagen Group, strengthening Audi’s image and expanding its influence in the luxury car market.

With the deal sealed, Audi officially took ownership of Lamborghini, ready to steer the brand toward a brighter future.

The impact of the acquisition on both brands

But what did this new alliance mean for both carmakers?

Keep reading to find out!

Benefits to Lamborghini from Audi’s ownership

There’s no question that Lamborghini benefited from being acquired by Audi; here are some reasons why!

• Financial stability and support. No longer worrying about scraping together enough euros for its next project, Lamborghini could focus on what it did best: creating sensational supercars that make us weak in the knees.
• Access to new technology and shared platforms. It’s no secret that the Germans know a thing or two about engineering, and Lamborghini wasted no time in capitalizing on this.
• Expanded market reach. Under Audi’s wing, Lamborghini gained entry into new markets and showrooms around the world, reaching a wider audience of potential buyers.

Advantages for Audi in acquiring Lamborghini

Of course, Audi didn’t acquire Lamborghini without reason.

Here are some reasons why it was beneficial for Audi:

• Learning from Lamborghini’s expertise in supercars. You know what they say – you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but you can certainly learn a thing or two from a seasoned Italian supercar maker. Audi, eager to improve its performance vehicles, tapped into Lamborghini’s expertise in supercars.
• Enhanced brand image. Acquiring Lamborghini added a touch of prestige to the Audi brand.
• Divisersication of the product portfolio. The acquisition allowed Audi to diversify its product portfolio, giving it a foothold in the exclusive supercar market. After all, variety is the spice of life – and what’s spicier than adding a lineup of Italian exotics to your garage?

Does Lamborghini use Audi engines?

Lamborghini’s engines are known to be one of the most powerful and exhilarating in the industry.

But with Audi in the picture, some might wonder if Lamborghini has traded in its homegrown Italian powerplants for some fine German engineering.

It turns out there have been instances where Lamborghini has borrowed a thing or two from its German counterpart.

Case in point: the Lamborghini Urus, the brand’s first entry into the world of high-performance SUVs.

Under the hood lies a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, which shares some DNA with Audi’s own engines.

However, Audi also uses engines from Lamborghini models, like the 5.2-liter V10 in the Audi R8.

You can learn more about Audi’s and Lamborghini’s shared engine technology in our article here!

Does Audi own Bugatti?

Ah, Bugatti – the French automaker producing some of the fastest and most expensive cars in the world.

As it turns out, Bugatti is indeed part of the Volkswagen Group.

Bugatti was acquired by the Volkswagen Group in 1998, the same year they acquired Lamborghini!

So, Audi doesn’t directly own Bugatti, but they’re both under the eye of the Volkswagen Group.

As members of the same automotive clan, Audi, Bugatti, and other Volkswagen Group brands have undoubtedly benefited from shared knowledge, technology, and resources.

This synergy has allowed Bugatti to push the limits of automotive engineering, breaking records with machines like the Chiron and the Veyron.

Conclusion

And so, our story comes to an end. We went back in time and witnessed high-stakes corporate takeovers.

Audi does, indeed, own Lamborghini – a union that has proven to be beneficial for both brands.

And with that, we’ll close the curtain; who knew learning could be so fun!?