German auto giant Volkswagen is having trouble with its subsidiary Skoda. Not only are profits down at the Czech-based automaker, but its cars are now competing directly with VW models - and in some cases are beating them in road tests.

There are some mistakes that you only make once. Reinhard Jung, chairman of Volkswagen's subsidiary Skoda, recently made such a slip at the Geneva Motor Show.

Several dozen spotlights and cameras were aimed at the executive when he stepped onto the stage on Tuesday of last week. Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn and Ferdinand Piech, the powerful head of VW's supervisory board, were sitting in the first row. Then Jung said: "I would like to welcome, in particular, the chairman of the supervisory board of the VW Group, Professor Dr. Ferdinand Porsche."

The slip of the tongue is unlikely to have gone down well with Ferdinand Piech. The Porsche and Piëch families - which are both descended from the legendary German automotive pioneer Ferdinand Porsche - have been involved in a dynastic feud for decades over control of the car companies Volkswagen and Porsche.

Jung will not have an opportunity to repeat his gaffe: The 59-year-old executive is being sent into retirement this fall.