VW's Piech upbeat on Porsche takeover - paper

FRANKFURT Oct 23 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG.DE) Chairman Ferdinand Piech expects the takeover by Porsche (PSHG_p.DE) to move ahead smoothly and played down in a newspaper interview any differences in his extended family that owns Porsche.

"A task of this size will not be accomplished overnight as if out of a textbook. This has to develop. Mistakes will be made," he told Bild newspaper in the interview published on Thursday.

"The decisive thing is for all sides not to lose sight of the goal."

Asked if that included all members of the Porsche and Piech clan that controls Porsche, he said: "Be assured that we are all pulling in the same direction here."

Piech said he was confident labour leaders at VW and Porsche would settle a row over worker representation at the Porsche holding company that will own both carmakers once Porsche raises its 35 percent VW stake to a majority later this year.

"I think it is absolutely reasonable that Porsche and VW workers each have three representatives on the supervisory board," he said.

Piech said the car industry had to brace itself for a long dry spell given the financial crisis that has crimped demand for cars but said VW would emerge strengthened from the turmoil due to its strong management, global reach and refreshed lineup of environmentally friendly models. (Reporting by Michael Shields; Editing by Paul Bolding) (michael.shields@thomsonreuters.com, Reuters Messaging: michael.shields.reuters.com@reuters.net; +49 69 7565 1266))