Volkswagen's plans to close plants in Germany and nearly double planned job cuts to around 100,000 have put the spotlight on its unique governance and ownership structure that have drawn criticism from investors for years.
Like other German conglomerates, the 89-year-old automaker is the result of decades of expansion and strategy shifts, resulting in an empire that stretches from mass-market SEATs to luxury Lamborghinis, as well as stakes in sports car maker Porsche AG and truck maker Traton.
