Automaker’s offices raided in development of interest to drivers of used cars in New Jersey

Drivers of used Volkswagen cars in New Jersey may be wondering what’s going on with the prospective merge or sale between the German automaker and Porsche. Authorities are demonstrating the same curiosity, having recently raided Porsche corporate offices.

German prosecutors executed search warrants at Porsche headquarters this morning on suspicions of securities law infractions and market manipulations, reported Bloomberg. Porsche had originally been trying to execute a purchase of Volkswagen, but is now selling its stake to Qatari investors.

“Based on evidence provided by [german regulators,] we have opened a preliminary investigation into suspected market manipulation and unauthorized leaks of insider information,” Claudia Krauth, a spokeswoman for the prosecutor’s office, told the wire service.

The saga began when former Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking attempted to gain a voting majority of Volkswagen shares, plunging the luxury maker into debt before Porsche turned to the Middle East to sell it’s majority stake in Volkswagen, reported Reuters.

The price of shares during the takeover skyrocketed to more than 1,000 euros each, but the end result was that Volkswagen owns Porsche because of the debt accumulated before the financial downturn, according to the news provider.