Martin Winterkorn
Encyclopedia
Martin Winterkorn is the Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, the parent company of the Volkswagen Group
, and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Audi
and Porsche Automobil Holding SE.
He succeeded Bernd Pischetsrieder
as Chairman of Volkswagen AG on 1 January 2007. Prior to that, he had been the Chairman of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Group subsidiary Audi
AG.
from 1966 to 1973. From 1973 to 1977 he was a Ph.D student at the Max-Planck-Institute for Metal Research and Metal Physics, where he received his doctorate
in 1977.
Winterkorn embarked on his career in 1977, as a specialist assistant in the research division "Process Engineering" at Robert Bosch GmbH
. From 1978 to 1981, he headed the refrigerant compressor development group "Substances and Processes" at Robert Bosch GmbH and Bosch-Siemens-Hausgeräte GmbH.
In 1993 Winterkorn became head of "Group Quality Assurance" at Volkswagen AG, and was appointed General Manager of Volkswagen AG with power of attorney in March 1994. He was additionally responsible for VW Group Product Management from June 1995. In January 1996, Winterkorn took over from Herbert Schuster as Member of the Brand Board of Management for "Technical Development" for the Volkswagen brand. From July 2000, he was Member of the VW Group Board of Management for Technical Development. Winterkorn was instrumental in getting Volkswagen CEO Ferdinand Piech
to approve the production of the New Beetle
.
Dr. Winterkorn had been Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi AG since 1 March 2002. He headed the Audi
brand group, including the brands SEAT
and Lamborghini
, which was formed on 1 January 2002. Winterkorn also assumed responsibility for Technical Development at AUDI AG with effect from 1 January 2003. In his capacity as CEO of the Board of Management of Audi AG, Dr. Winterkorn was also Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG.
Since June 2003, Dr. Winterkorn served as an Honorary Professor of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics
, in recognition of his service to the promotion of research at the establishment. He's been featured both in the 2007 and the 2008 Power List of American automotive magazine Motor Trend
.
Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen Group is a German multinational automobile manufacturing group. , Volkswagen was ranked as the world’s third largest motor vehicle manufacturer and Europe's largest....
, and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Audi
Audi
Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....
and Porsche Automobil Holding SE.
He succeeded Bernd Pischetsrieder
Bernd Pischetsrieder
Dr. Bernd Peter Pischetsrieder is a German automobile engineer and manager.He was born in Munich, Bavaria, and studied Mechanical Engineering at the Technical University of Munich from 1968 to 1972. He earned the degree of "Diplom-Ingenieur", and began his career at BMW in 1973 as a Production...
as Chairman of Volkswagen AG on 1 January 2007. Prior to that, he had been the Chairman of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Group subsidiary Audi
Audi
Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....
AG.
Biography
Winterkorn studied metallurgy and metal physics at the University of StuttgartUniversity of Stuttgart
The University of Stuttgart is a university located in Stuttgart, Germany. It was founded in 1829 and is organized in 10 faculties....
from 1966 to 1973. From 1973 to 1977 he was a Ph.D student at the Max-Planck-Institute for Metal Research and Metal Physics, where he received his doctorate
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
in 1977.
Winterkorn embarked on his career in 1977, as a specialist assistant in the research division "Process Engineering" at Robert Bosch GmbH
Robert Bosch GmbH
Robert Bosch GmbH is a multinational engineering and electronics company headquartered in Gerlingen, near Stuttgart, Germany. It is the world's largest supplier of automotive components...
. From 1978 to 1981, he headed the refrigerant compressor development group "Substances and Processes" at Robert Bosch GmbH and Bosch-Siemens-Hausgeräte GmbH.
In 1993 Winterkorn became head of "Group Quality Assurance" at Volkswagen AG, and was appointed General Manager of Volkswagen AG with power of attorney in March 1994. He was additionally responsible for VW Group Product Management from June 1995. In January 1996, Winterkorn took over from Herbert Schuster as Member of the Brand Board of Management for "Technical Development" for the Volkswagen brand. From July 2000, he was Member of the VW Group Board of Management for Technical Development. Winterkorn was instrumental in getting Volkswagen CEO Ferdinand Piech
Ferdinand Piëch
Ferdinand Karl Piëch is an Austrian business magnate, engineer and executive who is currently the chairman of the supervisory board of Volkswagen Group....
to approve the production of the New Beetle
Volkswagen New Beetle
-Specifications:*Dimension:**Length: **Width: **Height: **Wheelbase: **Curb weight: *Max speed: 177–210 km/h *Acceleration : 6.5-13.2 sec-Body styles:-Engine choices:-Safety:...
.
Dr. Winterkorn had been Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi AG since 1 March 2002. He headed the Audi
Audi
Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....
brand group, including the brands SEAT
SEAT
SEAT, S.A. is a Spanish automobile manufacturer founded on May 9, 1950 by the Instituto Nacional de Industria , a state-owned industrial holding company....
and Lamborghini
Lamborghini
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., commonly referred to as Lamborghini , is an Italian car manufacturer. The company was founded by manufacturing magnate Ferruccio Lamborghini in 1963, with the objective of producing a refined grand touring car to compete with established offerings from marques like...
, which was formed on 1 January 2002. Winterkorn also assumed responsibility for Technical Development at AUDI AG with effect from 1 January 2003. In his capacity as CEO of the Board of Management of Audi AG, Dr. Winterkorn was also Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG.
Since June 2003, Dr. Winterkorn served as an Honorary Professor of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics
Budapest University of Technology and Economics
The Budapest University of Technology and Economics , in hungarian abbreviated as BME, English official abbreviation BUTE, is the most significant University of Technology in Hungary and is also one of the oldest Institutes of Technology in the world, having been founded in 1782.-History:BME is...
, in recognition of his service to the promotion of research at the establishment. He's been featured both in the 2007 and the 2008 Power List of American automotive magazine Motor Trend
Motor Trend
Motor Trend is an American automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, issued by Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles, and bearing the tag line "The Magazine for a Motoring World". Petersen Publishing was sold to British publisher EMAP in 1998, who sold the former Petersen...
.