The best thing Volkswagen AG can do when it carries through its proposed merger with Porsche is this: Leave Porsche alone and reap the revenue from a glossy brand with loyal, rich customers, analysts say.

Wendelin Wiedeking acknowledges applause from workers on his last day as chief executive of Porsche at a factory near Stuttgart, Germany, on July 23. AP PHOTO

Having emerged July 23 atop a power struggle among members of the Piech and Porsche families — who control Porsche Automobil Holding SE (Ferdinand Piech, a member of Porsche's founding family, a board member and also chairman of Volkswagen, is Wolfgang Porsche's cousin) — that cost Wendelin Wiedeking his job as chief executive, Volkswagen is left to gather the spoils, namely the marquee Porsche name that will soon be counted with Audi, Bentley and Lamborghini, among its stable of luxury brands.

"I don't think Volkswagen will change it much, Porsche is such a brand," said Howard Wheeldon, senior strategist at BGC Partners. "There's huge value in just the brand, it'd be best to leave it alone."

Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn, who ran luxury brand Audi under VW ownership, said that is just what Europe's biggest automaker by sales plans to do.

"Like Audi today, Porsche can also continue its independent development under the aegis of Volkswagen and preserve its own identity," he said after announcing plans to put the luxury sports car maker under VW's umbrella through a merger.

For Porsche's 10,000 workers — who have long prided themselves on the quality, respect and high prices fetched by its cars — that's sure to be some welcome relief after weeks of back-and-forth and concern over the future of the company.