Lamborghini's prospects finally improved after July 1998, when it was bought by the Volkswagen Group and handed over to VW's Audi division.

But Volkswagen A.G.'s Audi division showed an 8.6 percent sales gain for the month.

Some staff work will be shared with Volkswagen's Audi division.

Last Tuesday, at his urging, it voted to replace Mr. Pischetsrieder with the head of Volkswagen's Audi division, Martin Winterkorn.

Volkswagen A.G., which built cars in New Stanton, Pa., until the mid-1980's is considering an American plant again for its Audi division.

He was to be replaced by Dr. Martin Winterkorn, who was head of the Audi division.

He will be replaced by Martin Winterkorn, the head of the Audi division at the end of the year.

Martin Winterkorn, the chief executive of VW's Audi division, is the leading candidate.

But Volkswagen and its Audi division continued to have quality problems: Volkswagen was among the five worst brands in the industry, among 37 ranked.

Skeptics say it will also cannibalize VW's Audi division, which rolled out a new version of its A8 luxury sedan this week.