As the Volkswagen Group continues its global transformation, Procurement is strengthening collaboration with its supplier network to support a competitive business model designed to be globally leading. Key priorities include simplifying structures, strengthening supply chain resilience, increasing transparency, and improving efficiency while maintaining quality and innovative strength. Strong supplier partnerships remain essential to the Group’s long-term competitiveness.
“Transformation only works if it is lived together. The realignment of our business model is closely linked to strong and reliable partnerships: it is a shared task and a shared achievement. The Group Award is one way we make that contribution visible and drive it forward,” says Karsten Schnake, Member of the Extended Executive Committee and Member of the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management responsible for Procurement. “Despite the challenges, our strong supplier network has remained a key contributor to operational stability, as well as greater efficiency and adaptability across our supply chains. Together, we continue to deliver innovative solutions for today’s vehicles – and the leading technologies of tomorrow,” he adds.
Volkswagen Group Award 2026
The Group Award is presented for the 22nd time and recognizes performance, underlining that results are achieved through close collaboration across teams, brands, and suppliers worldwide. It is a sign of appreciation for the contributions of the supplier network, which are essential to daily operations but often not visible. This year’s motto, “WE CIRCLE”, describes the closing of the loop between idea, implementation, and recognition. The Award builds on past achievements and supports future collaboration. Each Award honours partners who have made a measurable contribution to the Group’s performance and transformation objectives and is presented by Members of the Board of Management to the following partners:
The Volkswagen Group honoured Simoldes Plásticos, S.A. for its ability to combine development, efficiency and series production into a stable industrial process, ensuring innovation, cost discipline and production stability at scale. The award was presented by Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Group.
The company BENTELER Automobiltechnik GmbH was recognized for its successful transformation through strategic focus, rapid execution and the effective combination of new technologies with existing strengths, actively driving industrial transformation. The award was presented by Kai Grünitz, Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Brand for Technical Development.
Hammerer Aluminium Industries Holding GmbH received the award for enabling sustainable material solutions through transparent CO₂ data, strong process transparency and close collaboration across the value chain, supporting informed decision-making and scalable implementation. The award was presented by Stefan Mecha, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
The Volkswagen Group honoured Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG for strengthening supply chain resilience through early risk mitigation, transparent assessments and structured preparation of alternative solutions, enabling robust and crisis-proof supply structures. The award was presented by Michael Kerschensteiner, Chief Procurement Officer Škoda & Region East.
The Volkswagen Group honoured ServiceNow, Inc. for advancing transformation through consistent system standardization and the use of shared platforms, improving transparency, control and efficiency across processes and enabling scalable implementation across the Group. The award was presented by Joachim Scharnagl, Member of the Executive Board of Porsche AG with responsibility for Procurement.
The company Minth Group Limited was recognized for strengthening competitiveness through cost transparency and a shared understanding of efficiency, enabling data-driven decision-making and the sustainable optimization of costs and processes. The award was presented by David Powels, Chief Financial Officer of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand.
Fehst Componentes, Lda. received the award for proactively stabilizing production in critical situations through strong program management, rapid assumption of responsibility for tooling and assembly lines, and effective end-to-end coordination across the supply chain. The award was presented by Werner Tietz, Member of the Extended Executive Committee, Group R&D.
The Volkswagen Group honoured Banco Santander, S.A. for strengthening supply chain resilience through scalable supply chain finance solutions, creating stable framework conditions for liquidity, transformation and sustainable collaboration across the Group. The award was presented by Dieter Dehoorne, Member of the Board of Management at AUDI AG Procurement.
The company Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd. was recognized for combining global presence with strong regional collaboration, enabling flexible implementation in complex projects and delivering consistent product quality across markets. The award was presented by Thomas Schäfer, CEO of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars Brand, Head of the Brand Group Core.
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited received the award for combining innovation, stable supply performance and strong industrialization capabilities, enabling the reliable transition from development to series production and strengthening long-term technological partnership. The award was presented by Thomas Schmall, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG responsible for Technology.
The Volkswagen Group honoured Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. for its contribution to future-ready vehicle architecture through advanced system-on-chip solutions, strengthening software-defined vehicle capabilities and enabling scalable technology platforms. The award was presented by Karsten Schnake, Member of the Extended Group Executive Board of Volkswagen AG and Board Member for Procurement of the Volkswagen brand.