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Press Release

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

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Pietro Zollino
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.

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Portrait of Oliver Blume, CEO Volkswagen Group
“Europe has everything it needs to remain economically successful in the future: industrial strength, technological expertise, and tremendous innovative power. We want to - and must - make even better use of these strengths and continue to develop them. Because geopolitical crises and rapidly growing global competitive pressure are challenging Europe - just as they are challenging us as the Volkswagen Group - to move faster and drive change forward with determination. The Volkswagen Group remains firmly rooted in Europe. As our home, a hub of innovation, and a cornerstone of industrial strength, Europe is central to our long-term ambition to become the Global Automotive Tech Driver. With ‘For Europe’, we therefore aim to provide impetus for close collaboration between business and politics. Competitiveness is a shared responsibility: companies must do their part, and policymakers must create the right framework conditions. We are leading the way. Now is the time to set the right course for ‘Made in Europe’, CO₂ regulations, and trade with China. If we join forces and act decisively, we can sustainably strengthen Europe’s competitiveness and shape our future through our own efforts.”
Oliver Blume CEO Volkswagen Group
Portrait of 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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