Joining forces with Volkswagen has been central to the survival of Lamborghini in the same way that other luxury car makers have formed alliances with bigger firms, according to the raging bull’s chief executive.

Speaking at the Las Vegas launch of the successful Lamborghini Gallardo, a popular vehicle with supercar hire customers, Stephen Winkleman told the Daily Telegraph that the Volkswagen was central to the success of the firm.

He said the alliance gave Lamborghini increased reliability and that while it shares ten percent of its parts with the mother company, it has been allowed to retain its DNA.

“Look at the exotic car makers all around us," he added. "They have all had to look for relationships, alliances and synergies, without which they would have been destroyed, but there is the danger the mother company wants to save too many costs and they lose their markets."

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