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VW Group chief Martin Winterkorn says that the recent buy-in to Japanese firm Suzuki is of "paramount significance" to both manufacturers.

VW took a 20 per cent stake in Suzuki late last year - with VW chief Ferdinand Piech saying that he'd been attracted by "cutting-edge supermini technology, better presence in emerging markets - and motorbikes".

The latter comment has sparked speculation that the VW Group could be considering building two-wheeled vehicles to accompany its burgeoning range of cars, vans and trucks.

Winterkorn said that VW and Suzuki are planning to work on joint projects. "We have set up a joint project office in Wolfsburg to coordinate cooperation," he said. "Work on concrete ideas and vehicle projects will begin in the coming weeks."

VW has announced that it will use a bond and share sale to raise around four billion euros; it needs the cash to help its aggressive new-model and acquisition-based push to dethrone Toyota as the world's biggest car manufacturer within the next 10 years.

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