Society

As one of the world’s largest automotive manufacturers, the Volkswagen Group has a great responsibility toward its partners, stakeholders and society. The aim is not only to live up to this responsibility and role but, above and beyond this, to have a positive impact. The holistic approach of our regenerate+ sustainability strategy provides the basis for advancing sustainability together with our partners and stakeholders.

Supply chain

The Volkswagen Group creates responsible and sustainable supply chains

The Volkswagen Group is committed to enabling sustainable mobility for future generations. This entails meeting our legal, social, and environmental responsibilities not only within the Group but also in our supply chain. This includes more than 63,000 supplier locations in 96 countries around the world, which will be organized responsibly, not only to minimize risks, but also to ensure a positive contribution for all partners.

The aim is to be able to show by 2040 that, in terms of sales revenue, over 95% of suppliers have a positive sustainability rating (S-Rating).

Customers & Stakeholders

The Volkswagen Group is a reliable partner

The Volkswagen Group prides itself on being a trustworthy partner, both now and in the future. Our reputation is based not only on our rich heritage but also on our clear commitment to shaping the sustainable mobility landscape of tomorrow.

As a globally active company, our business activities impact the lives of an array of different people. We consider it our responsibility to actively shape the framework for our business activities in dialog with all stakeholders. To this end, we participate in ongoing dialog characterized by openness, structure, and constructive and critical engagement with all stakeholders. Central to this approach is the cultivation of relationships, understanding various needs, and working together for mutual benefit. Our goal is to cultivate meaningful connections, build trust, and forge lasting partnerships through this dialog.

The Volkswagen Group is increasing its positive social impact

Society and the Volkswagen Group are inextricably linked, each shaping and influencing the other. With this interconnectedness comes a profound responsibility to promote positive change – within our own locations and beyond. To achieve this goal, the Volkswagen Group supports various projects through donations. Our employees’ direct involvement in voluntary work also contributes to this goal. Through the Group sustainability strategy regenerate+, we consolidate and harmonize these efforts under the banner of Societal Impact, integrating them into our holistic approach to sustainability.

At the heart of our Societal Impact efforts is the promotion of Corporate Citizenship projects in the form of forwardlooking initiatives that prioritize environmental protection, education and community development at many of our locations around the world. In addition to donations made by the Group, our companies and our employees, the Volkswagen Group is planning to establish a new Sustainability Impact Fund with an annual allocation of up to €20 million starting in 2025. This fund will be specifically dedicated to sustainability projects. In this way, we want to improve our social impact.

"IZB ZOOM IN": Exchange with suppliers on sustainable materials

The Volkswagen Group is cooperating with Wolfsburg AG's International Suppliers Fair (IZB) in the new "IZB ZOOM IN" format to promote exchange with suppliers, explore potential and discuss common goals. The main topic of the kick-off event on 21 and 22 November 2023 at CongressPark Wolfsburg was "Sustainable materials". The trade event attracted 54 exhibitors from 13 nations and 850 participants from Volkswagen and selected partners from the supplier industry.

Further information on sustainability in the supply chain can be found here.

A woman with short gray hair stands smiling at a conference table, engaging in conversation with her colleagues. A whiteboard with diagrams is visible in the background.

Representation of interests towards society

The Volkswagen Group and its brands operate in a complex and heavily regulated environment. We see it as our responsibility to actively shape the framework for our business activities in dialogue with our stakeholders.

The Volkswagen Group has also established a Stakeholder Panel, which has overseen the Group sustainability activities for over 20 years now. We want to incorporate our stakeholders’ suggestions and recommendations even better in the future through the introduction of new formats intended to create the opportunity for even more interactive and transparent communication on important sustainability issues relevant to corporate strategy and society.

The Volkswagen Group is also a participant in the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), a partner of the World Economic Forum (WEF) and an active member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

Further information can be found here:

Stakeholder Relations | Volkswagen Group (volkswagen-group.com)

Memberships | Volkswagen Group (volkswagen-group.com)

A group of happy children playing with colorful construction toys outdoors.

Assumption of social responsibility worldwide

As a global company and good corporate citizen, we want to fulfill our social responsibility worldwide – at our sites and beyond.

For us, an important component of corporate citizenship is local involvement at the Volkswagen Group's locations worldwide. Numerous production sites in Volkswagen Group's global network are involved in many individual local projects. Either in the form of donations, volunteer work or self-initiated projects for social, societal or cultural issues. These projects are managed locally under the responsibility of the relevant units.

Individual topics and projects are as follows:

YES Program, Volkswagen Group Africa
Together engaged, Volkswagen AG
Advancing Life Chances, United Kingdom, Bentley Motors
Audi Social Day 2023, worldwide, AUDI AG
Together for Social Mobility, Volkswagen Group Foundation Brazil
Donation to Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque, Volkswagen Group France
Donations to the children's hospital Auf der Bult and to the association for children with cancer, Hanover, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles