Many VW employees own a stake in the company. The rapid rise in the value of their shares have left them considerable better off -- much to their surprise. Even old hands at the stock exchange can't remember anything comparable.

The value of VW shares has risen by 1,000 percent since July 2007. But these rocketing figures have nothing to do with the true value of the company. The price rise is being driven by pure speculation. But with Porsche moving to acquire the majority of shares in the last few days -- rumours abound. To find out more, our reporter Grit Hofmann visited the home of VW in Wolfsburg and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.