Pistols at dawn: General Motors and Volkswagen.

Economist (US), The, July, 1993

Volkswagen (VW) and General Motors (GM) are involved in a dispute over the use of industrial espionage after plans for GM future models were found in the possession of VW executives who had defected from GM. GM is challenging VW for the lead in the European car market.

VOLKSWAGEN, Europe's biggest car maker, has been wounded in its duel with General Motors over allegations of industrial espionage. Amid the crossfire, Ferdinand Piech, the chairman of VW, predicted on July 28th that the dispute was not about to end peacefully. That would be unfortunate for Mr Piech, who continues to stand by his production chief, Jose Ignacio Lopez, who defected from GM in March. If Mr Lopez is forced to go, Mr Piech's loyalty means he is now bound to follow.

Loss-making VW...