Ferdinand Piech
Engineer and business executive
BORN APRIL 17, 1937 – DIED AUGUST 25, 2019, AGED 82
AUTOMOTIVE magnate Ferdinand Piech will be remembered for his shrewdness and brilliance in business, if not for his friendly demeanour.
He earned a reputation as a ruthless autocrat who created belligerent work environments to get results.
He joined Volkswagen (VW) as chief executive in 1993 when it was on the brink of bankruptcy, reversing its fortunes.
He grew VW into the second-biggest car manufacturer, just behind its rival Toyota.
More than 30 executives are said to have lost their jobs during his reign at Porsche, Audi and VW.
His move into motoring was never in doubt as the grandson of Ferdinand Porsche through his mother Louise’s line. He also had a long-lasting association with the Nazis, due to his parents being card-carrying members.
He was born in Vienna, Austria, where his father Anton was a lawyer and ran a VW factory, later revealed to be made up largely of slave labourers.
He trained as a mechanical engineer before starting his working life at Porsche. Within a few years he was creating innovative technical models like the air-cooled, six-cylinder design and left Porsche in 1972 after rising to senior technical director there.
His expertise saw him pioneer aerodynamic styling and the Quattro four-wheel drive system at Audi.
He exited VW at a time of scrutiny after revelations it had produced 11 million “low emission” cars that, in fact, pumped out pollutants far exceeding US limits.
He wed his second wife Ursula in 1984, who survives him along with their three children. He also leaves behind a further 10 children from other relationships.