Porsche billionaire approved to dig 500m tunnel under historic Austrian landmark for hidden eight-car garage despite protests
Published on Oct 13, 2025 at 3:56 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Oct 13, 2025 at 3:56 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Wolfgang Porsche got the green light to build a 500-meter tunnel that connects his mansion, the Zweig Villa in Austria, to a hidden car garage in the center of Salzburg.
He came up with the idea a few months ago, and it immediately made headlines for two reasons.
One, because the project would cost billions, and two, because it enraged the locals.
But no matter, the city council has already approved his plan.
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Why Wolfgang Porsche wants to build this tunnel
Even though the company gravitates around Volkswagen Group, the Porsche family still exerts a significant pull.
Porsche family members still collectively own 12 percent of the business, which is a lot for a company of this caliber.
This means that when they speak, Porsche – as a business entity – always has to listen.
Their influence extends to several cities in Austria, where most family members reside and own various properties.
Specifically, Wolfgang’s main personal residence is in Zell am See, also in Austria, but the Zweig Villa in Salzburg is an even bigger deal for him personally as well as for the brand.
The company bought it in 2020, renovated it, and now they want to build an underground tunnel from the Linzergasse parking garage to the villa, with a footpath tunnel for the final approach.
The council has already granted approval, even though the locals aren’t happy.
A huge name in the business
Wolfgang is one of the grandsons of the company’s founder, and his brother Ferdinand ‘Butzi’, created the 911.
Members of the Porsche family own a significant stake in both the company they created as well as in Volkswagen, which means their voting power – their ability to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to things is not insignificant.
Having said that, as a business entity, VW Group is quite complex.
For reference, Volkswagen Group still owns 75 percent of Porsche, which in turn owns 45 percent of Rimac, which owns Bugatti, but is also owned, in part, by Hyundai.
