The comments came from Porsche SE, Volkswagen's largest shareholder through the Porsche and Piëch families. "The Volkswagen Group is at a historic crossroads," Hans Dieter Pötsch, chairman of Porsche SE's management board, said in a statement Friday. "As the majority holder of Volkswagen AG's ordinary shares, Porsche SE therefore supports the group board of management and its proposals. The Porsche and Piëch families exercise significant influence over Volkswagen through Porsche SE, which owns 31.9% of Volkswagen's equity while controlling 53.3% of its voting rights. Volkswagen responded by emphasizing that Porsche SE's comments align with management's strategy.