VW to pursue deal with Porsche

STUTTGART, Germany — Volkswagen AG says it will pursue an eventual combination with Porsche but vows the sports car maker will not lose its independence.

Wolfsburg-based Volkswagen says its supervisory board, the German equivalent to a U.S. board of directors, plans to hold talks with Porsche SE “in order to reach a final concept fulfilling this goal.”

VW says that the new company will be achieved by the “gradual involvement of Volkswagen in Porsche AG,” Porsche’s carmaking unit, and the subsequent merger of Volkswagen with Porsche SE, the holding company for the automaker.