欧州会社(SE)

欧州自動車業界の雄フォルクスワーゲンが年間生産台数の目標を800万台に設定したと報じるNew YorkTimesの記事。青字1番目は、「販売台数で欧州最大の自動車メーカーであるフォルクスワーゲンは、アメリカで年産10万～15万台規模の新工場建設を検討している」という意味。最終行の青字２番目に書かれている通り、フォルクスワーゲンは現在ポルシェの傘下企業である。現在ポルシェはフォルクスワーゲン株の20％超を所有しているが、いずれ株式の過半数を取得し、フォルクスワーゲンを子会社化する予定と報じられている。記事に登場するアウディもポルシェグループに属している。英文は難しくないが、以下の点を特記しておく。

1)ドイツの会社名にはVolkswagen AGのように社名の後に“AG”が付されていることが多い。AG(“アーゲー”と発音する）は株式会社の意味である。

2)Porsche Automobil Holding SEには、社名の後に“SE”が付いている。“SE”は、欧州会社(Societas Europaea)を意味する。この言葉はラテン語で、「ソシエタス・ヨーロピア」と発音する。各国の会社法を準拠法とする会社ではなく、欧州会社法に基づき設立された会社である。欧州会社法に基づいて設立されるSEは、決算公告等についても、加盟国それぞれの会社法に応じて変える必要はなく、単一の決算公告等ですますことができる。

Volkswagen Sets Annual Sales Target of 8 Million

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: March 13, 2008

Filed at 8:42 a.m. ET

WOLFSBURG, Germany (AP) -- Volkswagen AG aims to sell 8 million cars a year by 2011 -- almost 30 percent more than last year -- and will introduce 20 more models including vans, pickups and sport utility vehicles in a bid to expand its market share in Asia, Europe and North America.

Europe's biggest automaker by sales is also looking at building a new plant in the United States that could produce between 100,000 and 150,000 cars per year.

Chief executive Martin Winterkorn announced the sales goal Thursday. Volkswagen sold 6.2 million cars in 2007 -- helping to push up revenue almost 4 percent to 108.9 billion euros ($168.5 billion) from 104.8 billion euros in 2006.

''We want to deliver 8 million group vehicles to our customers by 2011,'' Winterkorn said at a news conference, adding that the company, whose brands include Audi, Skoda, Seat, Lamborghini and Bentley, will make a renewed effort to increase market share.

''We will be tailoring our vehicles precisely to regional customer requirements,'' he said. He added that Volkswagen hopes to reach 1 million cars sold in the U.S. by 2018 compared to the 329,000 it sold in 2007.

Board member Jochem Heizmann said Volkswagen's board would decide this summer whether to build a new production plant in the U.S., but did not say where it may be located or what models might be built there.

Once any decision is made, he said, it would take two to three years before production started.

He said the strength of the euro, which hit a record $1.5625 on Thursday, underlined the need to produce more cars in the dollar area.

''That's why we are currently examining in detail various options to develop additional production capacity,'' he said.

Volkswagen shares fell 1.3 percent to 153.57 euros ($237.68) -- part of a wider decline on Frankfurt's DAX index, which was down nearly 2.5 percent on renewed worries about the global credit crisis.

Winterkorn made clear he was optimistic about the effects of Porsche Automobil Holding SE's plan to take a majority stake in his company.