VW hikes MAN Stake to 73%

Volkswagen AG has boosted its voting stake in German truckmaker MAN SE to 73% from 59.6%, MAN says.

If VW's MAN holding exceeds 75%, the company would be allowed to take full control of MAN.

Analysts say VW is moving ahead with plans to merge its own truck business with that of MAN and Swedish truckmaker AB Scania, in which it owns a 71.8% voting stake. MAN also owns a 17.4% voting stake in Scania.

VW has said the three-way merger could save at least €200 million per year on purchasing, production and R&D in the mid-term.