VW Expects No Ruling on Suzuki Stake Before Summer

Volkswagen AG doesn't expect a court ruling before mid-year at the earliest on Suzuki Motor Corp.'s demands to sever their equity ties.

The prediction was part of the annual report VW released on Thursday.

The companies formed an alliance in late 2009 for VW to tap Suzuki's minicar expertise in exchange for sharing its advanced powertrain technologies. But cultural clashes kept the partners from accomplishing those goals. Each accuses the other of breaching the terms of their alliance.

Suzuki demanded a "divorce" in September 2011 and sold its 1.5% VW holding. But VW has refused to divest its 19.9% stake in the Japanese carmaker.

Suzuki filed a complaint with the ICC International Court of Arbitration in London in November 2011, seeking to force VW to sell its stock.