10/01/2026Press Release

For Europe: Volkswagen Group is committed to Europe’s future and competitiveness

Pietro Zollino

Volkswagen Group Communications Deputy Head of Group Communications & Head of Corporate Communications

+49 (0) 172 8371 431 pietro.zollino@volkswagen.de

Blue European flag with yellow stars, colorful stripes and the text "For Europe." — For Europe: Volkswagen Group is committed to Europe’s future and competitiveness

With its ‘For Europe’ commitment, the Volkswagen Group underscores its role as a driving force for Europe’s future and competitiveness.
Europe’s industrial sector is facing massive competitive and transformative pressures. The Volkswagen Group is addressing this transformation with attractive products and future-oriented technologies.
The largest transformation program in the company’s history aims to create competitive structures and is also intended to strengthen Europe’s future viability.
On Sunday, October 11, 2026 - the day before the opening of the Paris Motor Show - a discussion on “For Europe” will take place among high-ranking representatives from the media, industry associations, and politics, as well as top executives from the Volkswagen Group.

Wolfsburg. With its clear commitment, “For Europe,” the Volkswagen Group is underlining its role as a driving force for Europe’s future and competitiveness ahead of the upcoming Paris Motor Show. European industry is facing intense competitive and transformational pressures. The Volkswagen Group is embracing this change with attractive products and future-oriented technologies. At the heart of this commitment are strong European value chains and sustainable jobs, as well as customer-relevant key technologies, ranging from the further expansion of electric mobility and battery technology to software and artificial intelligence, and innovative energy systems. The largest transformation program in the company’s history aims to strengthen competitive structures, thereby laying the foundation for a strong industrial future in Europe. “For Europe” provides impetus for close collaboration between business and politics in Europe. Together, the challenges facing companies and nations amid geopolitical crises and rapidly intensifying global competition shall be tackled decisively in order to strengthen Europe as a business location in the long term. On October 11, one day before the opening of the Paris Motor Show, the Volkswagen Group invited high-ranking representatives from the media, industry associations, and politics to engage in a dialogue with the company’s top managers as part of “For Europe.” Starting October 12, the Group’s brands - Volkswagen, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Škoda, CUPRA, and Audi - will present their latest model innovations during press conferences at their booths at the Paris Motor Show.

Portrait of Oliver Blume, CEO Volkswagen Group — **Oliver Blume** CEO Volkswagen Group

Overview of the program on October 11 in Paris:

Keynote address by Oliver Blume, CEO of the Volkswagen Group, on the “For Europe” initiative
Panel discussion with Arno Antlitz, CFO & COO of the Volkswagen Group, and Werner Tietz, Member of the Group’s Extended Executive Committee for Research & Development, on the topic “Leveraging Group synergies in Europe”
Keynote by Thomas Schäfer, CEO of the Volkswagen Brand and Brand Group Core, on the topic “Electric Urban Car Family – A European success story”
Keynote address by Sébastien Martin, France’s Minister Delegate for Industry
Panel discussion with Oliver Blume and Sébastien Martin on the topic “Protecting and strengthening Europe’s industrial base - a joint effort”
Keynote by Andreas Mindt, Head of Group Design, on the topic “Role of Group Design”
Panel discussion with Andreas Mindt, Oliver Stefani, Head of Design at Škoda, and Jorge Díez, Head of Design at SEAT/CUPRA, on the topic “One Group. Distinctive Brands. Designing the Electric Urban Car Family.”

The Volkswagen Group in Europe by the numbers (2025):

476,400 employees, representing approximately 72 percent of the global workforc
55 plants in 16 countries
3.94 million vehicles delivered to customers; Europe is by far the Volkswagen Group’s largest market, accounting for 44 percent of global deliveries
High market share of 25 percent across all drive types and 27 percent for all-electric vehicles
Number 1 in 23 of 31 core markets
Over 100 billion euros in procurement spending takes place in Europe each year; 7 of the Volkswagen Group’s 10 largest suppliers are European

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For Europe: For Strong Mobility, Innovation, and Value Creation

With its clear commitment 'For Europe', the Volkswagen Group underscores its role as a driving force for Europe's future and competitiveness. 'For Europe' provides momentum for close cooperation between business and politics in Europe.

Overview:

1. What is behind the Volkswagen Group’s “For Europe” initiative?
With “For Europe,” the Volkswagen Group is reaffirming its commitment to its home market and, in light of enormous global competitive pressure, calling for closer cooperation between business and politics. The goal is to sustainably secure Europe’s industrial base through technological innovations and strong local value chains.

2. How does the Volkswagen Group plan to strengthen its competitiveness in Europe?
To create efficient structures, the Group is driving forward the largest transformation program in its history and is investing heavily in key technologies such as electric mobility, software, and artificial intelligence. In addition, Group CEO Oliver Blume is calling on policymakers to create better framework conditions, for example regarding CO₂ regulations and trade with China.

3. How important is the European market for the Volkswagen Group?
With 44 percent of global deliveries, 55 plants, and over 476,000 employees, Europe is by far the Group’s largest and most important market. With a strong market share of 27 percent in fully electric vehicles, the company is playing a leading role in driving the mobility transition here.