Europe's biggest carmaker, Volkswagen (VW), plans to buy German sports car firm Porsche in stages while retaining the latter's independence.

欧洲最大的汽车制造商大众，计划收购德国保时捷跑车并保留其品牌的独立性。

The integrated group will unite 10 brands under one roof

VW says its board will hold talks with Porsche "in order to reach a final concept fulfilling this goal".

Both sides had earlier said they wanted to form an integrated（整合的） automotive group.

The latest move comes after Porsche's chief executive Wendelin Wiedeking and financial director Holger Haerter had resigned（认命的，服从的） "with immediate² effect".

Mr Wiedeking had failed in his long-running attempt to take over VW, despite Porsche building a 51% holding in the company.

Porsche had hoped to build up a 75% stake, but the financial crisis and the slump³ in the global automotive sector⁴ put paid to its efforts, which in the end saddled（使负担，课以） the sports car maker¹ with huge debts.

'Progressive acquisition'

The two companies aim to complete the merger⁵ by the middle of 2011, according to Christian⁶ Wulff, governor of Lower Saxony, the German state that owns a large stake in VW.

"I'm optimistic that we can lay out the details of our agreement in principle during a supervisory（管理的，监控的） board meeting on 13 August," he said.

VW says that the new company will be achieved by the "gradual involvement of Volkswagen in Porsche AG" - Porsche's carmaking unit.

The integrated group would come under the leadership of VW.

'Growth opportunities'

Martin Winterkorn, chairman of the Volkswagen management board, said the move "makes two strong companies even stronger".

"Volkswagen and Porsche have excellent know-how⁷ at their disposal and can use their resources even more efficiently⁸ by combining them," he added.

He said the merger would create additional growth opportunities, as well as safeguarding and creating jobs.

"At the same time, we can call on our considerable experience in the integration⁹ of proud and successful brands rich in tradition.

"Like Audi today, Porsche can also continue its independent development under the aegis¹⁰ of（在……支持之下） Volkswagen and preserve its own identity," he added.

Porsche will effectively become the 10th brand under the VW umbrella.

Mr Winterkorn also announced that the Gulf¹¹ state of Qatar would buy a 17% stake in VW.

Earlier on Thursday, Porsche said it would increase its capital by at least 5bn euros ($7.10bn; £4.3bn).

It said that this new sum would "create the foundation of building an integrated car manufacturing group with Porsche and Volkswagen".