Porsche SE—Volkswagen's main shareholder and the investment vehicle of the Porsche and Piëch families—reported a €2.22 billion net loss for the first half of 2026, swinging from a small profit a year earlier. It publicly urged Volkswagen to make faster, deeper cost cuts, warning the group stands at a "historic crossroads." Chairman Hans Dieter Pötsch said "the longer the decisions drag on, the bigger the problems become," urging that business considerations override all else. The CFO called it "imperative" to cut overcapacity and costs, saying there must be "no taboos" or Volkswagen risks permanently falling behind rivals.