" The largest automobile company in the world is Volkswagen. Who owns it? The answer is the government of Qatar. "
- Robert Zubrin

The quote suggests that Volkswagen, one of the world's largest automobile companies, is widely perceived as being owned by the government of Qatar. This statement aims to highlight a common misconception about corporate ownership and governance.

At its core, the quote serves to challenge assumptions about corporate structures and ownership dynamics in the global business landscape. It prompts us to question our understanding of who truly controls major corporations and how information or rumors can spread and become widely accepted as fact without verification. Robert Zubrin uses this specific example to illustrate broader issues around misinformation and the importance of accurate research when discussing such topics.

Robert Zubrin is an American aerospace engineer, author, and space advocacy activist known for his work in promoting human exploration of Mars. He founded the Mars Society, an organization dedicated to advancing the settlement of Mars by humans, and has authored several books on space exploration and policy.