The Volkswagen brand employs some 200,000 people worldwide, with some 120,000 of them located in Germany. The brand stands for diversity, fairness, tolerance and equal opportunity, because that is the foundation for innovative strength, creativity and performance. With some 5,000 vocational trainees, Volkswagen is also very active in supporting young talent. The company offers its employees excellent career prospects in Germany and abroad and is deeply committed to its social responsibility as a good and reliable employer all over the world.
Human Resources and Organization
Press releases
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Closing the skilled-labor gap together: Volkswagen and CARIAD support the 42 Berlin coding school
As a founding member of 42 Wolfsburg, which opened in spring of 2021, Volkswagen recognized the potential of the novel peer-based training concept for its transformation to a software-centered mobility provider from the beginning. Together with its software subsidiary CARIAD, Volkswagen is once again expanding its dedication to promoting the next generation of highly qualified coding experts and – along with its partners Bayer, Capgemini, Microsoft, SAP and T-Systems – providing 42 Berlin with funding in the range of double-digit millions. Additionally, Volkswagen and CARIAD are making their global network and expertise available to the students, for example through mentoring programs and internships. Following 42 Wolfsburg, 42 Heilbronn and 42 Prague, 42 Berlin is the fourth iteration that the Volkswagen Group is funding as part of the 42 network. -
Volkswagen AG concludes pay negotiations
The negotiating commissions of Volkswagen AG and IG Metall Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt today brought their negotiations for Volkswagen AG’s approximately 125,000 employees covered by the company collective agreement to a successful conclusion. Volkswagen AG’s chief negotiator and Chief Human Resources Officer of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand Arne Meiswinkel commented: “We reached agreement before the duty to refrain from industrial action expired, which will create long-term planning certainty and stability for the company and the workforce. With our new Volkswagen Master’s scholarship program we will also promote loyalty to our company among young talent from an early stage and ensure that we have continued access to key future skills for the transformation.” -
Collective bargaining at Volkswagen AG continues
The negotiating commissions of Volkswagen AG and IG Metall Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt today continued the collective bargaining process in Wolfsburg. Opening the second round of negotiations, Volkswagen AG’s chief negotiator and Chief Human Resources Officer of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand Arne Meiswinkel presented the situation of the company amid a challenging global backdrop. He said that the stated goal was to negotiate a collective agreement with IG Metall for the company and its employees that will ensure long-term stability. Volkswagen will make an offer in the next round of negotiations. Meiswinkel said this would depend on achieving a common understanding of the company’s overall situation and other important topics such as the future use of partial retirement and the forward-looking allocation of the 1,400 annual training places specified in the collective bargaining agreement. -
Nelly Kennedy named new Chief Marketing Officer at Volkswagen
Nelly Kennedy has been appointed new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand from mid-February 2023. In this role, she succeeds Jochen Sengpiehl, who has moved to Volkswagen Group China as CMO. Kennedy is currently Senior Global Brand Marketing Director at Google in California. She is an acknowledged digital expert and has decades of experience in brand marketing. -
Volkswagen announces new appointments to key positions on the Brand Board of Management
Volkswagen has made new appointments to key positions on the Brand Board of Management, laying crucial foundations for the company’s transformation toward the age of digital and autonomous mobility. Thomas Ulbrich becomes board member in charge of the newly created New Mobility division, which unites the e-series and software expertise of Volkswagen Passenger Cars. Kai Grünitz, previously Head of Development at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, succeeds Ulbrich as the board member responsible for Technical Development (TD). Other personnel changes relate to Finance. Patrik Andreas Mayer, currently Chief Financial Officer at Volkswagen Group Russia, becomes the Chief Financial Officer at the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand. He succeeds Alexander Seitz, who has been appointed Executive Chairman of Volkswagen Group South American Region. He is thus the successor to Pablo Di Si, who has been President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America and CEO of Volkswagen North American Region since September 1, 2022. Ulbrich, Grünitz, Mayer and Seitz will take up their new posts effective October 1, 2022. -
Premiere at the ID. Meet: apprentices from Volkswagen Sachsen present ID.5 GTX „Xcite“ show car
Volkswagen presents today the ID.5 GTX „Xcite“ to the public for the first time today at the ID. Meet in Locarno (Switzerland). This vehicle is an individual product made by apprentices at Volkswagen’s three locations in Saxony, at Zwickau, Dresden and Chemnitz. For one year, 14 of the best budding specialists worked on a project to demonstrate their skills with considerable creativity and responsibility under expert supervision – from the first design through the adaptation of the bodywork and paintwork to technical commissioning. In addition to sustainability, reflected by vegan leather in the interior, the main focus of this year’s project was on holistic mobility. The ID.5 GTX „Xcite“ already has on board an electric skateboard for the last few meters to the driver’s destination. This is the eighth project of its type completed since 2014. -
Volkswagen Supervisory Board resolves to further develop Group management
The Volkswagen Group is further developing its Group management. The Group Board of Management of Volkswagen AG is being streamlined and responsibilities will be reallo-cated. The Supervisory Board adopted a corresponding resolution. The new Chairman of the Board of Management, Oliver Blume, will focus on strategy, quality, design and the software subsidiary CARIAD. In addition, the central Board of Management divisions Fi-nance, Human Resources and Truck & Bus, Integrity and Legal Affairs, IT, Technology as well as China will continue to be represented on the Group Board of Management along with the brand groups Volume, Premium and Sport & Luxury. -
Oliver Blume follows Herbert Diess as Chairman of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Group
In its meeting today, the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG appointed Oliver Blume as the new Chairman of the Group Board of Management. He will take over this position with effect as of 1 September 2022, combining this with his role as Chairman of the Board of Management of Dr. Ing. h. c. F. Porsche AG and continuing in the latter capacity also after a possible IPO. Herbert Diess will at the same time resign as Chairman of the Board of Management by mutual agreement. The Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Hans Dieter Pötsch, thanked Herbert Diess on behalf of the entire board: “During his tenure as Chairman of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars Brand and as Chairman of the Group Board of Management, Herbert Diess played a key role in advancing the transformation of the company. The Group and its brands are viable for the future; its innovative capabilities and earning power are strengthened. Mr. Diess impressively demonstrated the speed at which and consistency with which he was able to carry out far-reaching transformation processes. Not only did he steer the company through extremely turbulent waters, but he also implemented a fundamentally new strategy.” -
Personnel foundation laid for Volkswagen Group’s continuing successful transformation
The Human Resources Department of the Volkswagen Group is fueling the company’s transformation and is now enhancing its executive leadership for the work that lies ahead in this process. Marcellus Puig, the Head of HR for the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand, will become the new President and CEO of the Volkswagen Group Argentina on August 1 and add a proven HR expert to the ranks of the company’s leadership. He will report to Pablo Di Si, the Executive Chairman of Volkswagen Latin America. As part of this change, Arne Meiswinkel, the General Representative of the Volkswagen Group, will become the Chief Human Resources Officer for the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand on August 1. He will report to Gunnar Kilian, the Group’s Chief Human Resources Officer, and oversee the global HR work of more than 180,000 employees. Meiswinkel will also continue to be responsible for the Group’s HR principles and management at Volkswagen AG. At SEAT S.A., Dr. Laura Carnicero succeeds Xavier Ros, Member of the Board of Management for Human Resources at AUDI AG since May 20, as the Member of the Board of Management for People and Organization with effect from 1 July. She will report directly to SEAT S.A. President Wayne Griffiths. -
G7 labor and social ministers learn about the transformation to e-mobility at Volkswagen
Today, as part of the German G7 presidency, the labor and social ministers of the G7 nations visited the Volkswagen main plant in Wolfsburg to learn about the site’s shift to e-mobility, along with other topics. The ministers were welcomed by Gunnar Kilian, Chief Human Resources Officer of Volkswagen AG, and Thomas Schäfer, future CEO and current COO of the Volkswagen brand. The discussions focused on the role of Volkswagen in the successful transformation to a sustainable and software-based tech company while also keeping the needs of the employees in view. Following the workforces in Zwickau and Emden, the approximately 60,500 employees of Volkswagen AG in Wolfsburg will be prepared for e-mobility by means of training measures over the coming years. -
Imelda Labbé appointed as the new member of the Board of Management for Marketing, Sales and After-Sales at Volkswagen Passenger Cars
Imelda Labbé is taking over as the new member of the Board of Management for Marketing, Sales and After-Sales at Volkswagen Passenger Cars on July 1, 2022. She succeeds Klaus Zellmer, who has been appointed as CEO of ŠKODA AUTO a. s. with effect from July 1. Currently holding the post of Spokeswoman for the Board of Directors of Volkswagen Originalteile Logistik GmbH (OTLG), Labbé has many years of experience in sales, product and brand management, and the after-sales business. -
Volkswagen Group announces new appointments to key positions in communications
In view of the most recent changes in the Volkswagen Group Board of Management and the ‘Volume’ Brand Group, Volkswagen Group China and the Volkswagen Passenger Cars, ŠKODA AUTO a.s. and Volkswagen Group Components brands are adjusting their communications leadership structure. -
Thomas Schäfer named new Chief Operating Officer at Volkswagen brand
Thomas Schäfer has been named Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Volkswagen brand effective April 1, 2022. Schäfer will subsequently take over as Chairman of the Volkswagen brand with effect from July 1, 2022, and will also join the Group Board of Management as the member responsible for the ‘Volume’ Brand Group. Ralf Brandstätter will continue to serve as Volkswagen CEO until June 30, 2022, subsequently taking responsibility for the Group Board of Management’s China Division effective August 1, 2022. Brandstätter and Schäfer will prepare for the seamless handover of CEO responsibilities during the transition period from April to July. -
Coronavirus premium for Volkswagen AG employees
Volkswagen AG is again paying the employees at its German locations a coronavirus premium in recognition of their great dedication in recent months working under difficult conditions. The regular coronavirus premium of €500 will be paid out at the end of February 2022 with employees’ monthly salary. This was announced today (Tuesday) by the Executive Board and the Works Council. -
Volkswagen’s Supervisory Board strengthens Group Board of Management team
Volkswagen AG is strengthening its Group Board of Management to deal with the next phase of the transformation. As part of this, the structure of the management body and its functions will be reorganised to make the company even more effective in tackling the challenges of the years ahead. The Group’s Supervisory Board adopted the corresponding resolutions at its meeting in Wolfsburg on Thursday. The Chairman of the Board of Management, Herbert Diess, will take over responsibility for the automotive software division CARIAD within the Group Board of Management from Markus Duesmann at the beginning of 2022. The CEO of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars Brand, Ralf Brandstätter, will join the Group Board of Management at the same time and will be responsible for the activities of the core brand. Herbert Diess will continue as the Board of Management member with responsibility for the Volume Brand Group. On 1 February 2022, Manfred Döss will take over “Integrity and Legal Affairs” from Hiltrud Werner. Hauke Stars will take up the position of Group Board of Management member responsible for “IT” on the same day. In addition to being the member of the Board of Management of Audi for Sales, Hildegard Wortmann will assume the same role on the Group Board of Management as from 1 February 2022 as well. -
Note to editors: New brand communications line-up at Volkswagen
Changes to Volkswagen Communications: The structural separation of Brand and Group Communications that was initiated in July 2020 at the Wolfsburg site has been completed effective December 1. In this connection, key areas of communicating the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand have been realigned and strengthened. Robin Aschhoff remains Head of Communications. -
Change of leadership at Volkswagen Financial Services – Lars Henner Santelmann leaves, Dr. Christian Dahlheim joins
Lars Henner Santelmann, Chairman of the Board of Europe’s largest automotive financial services provider since September 2015, is leaving the company at his own request as of January 31, 2022, to assume a role in the field of environmental protection and conservation. His successor will be Dr. Christian Dahlheim, currently Head of Group Sales at Volkswagen AG. The Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen Financial Services AG, Volkswagen CFO Dr. Arno Antlitz, said: “We would like to thank Lars Henner Santelmann for his many years of service to our company. He has played a key role in its evolution. Among his particular achievements are the organizational realignment and the focus on a new digital business model. Volkswagen Financial Services is a mainstay of our NEW AUTO Group strategy. With his expertise in sales and financial services, Dr. Christian Dahlheim will enable us to continue along this successful path,” continued Antlitz. -
Digital skills for the future: Volkswagen and CARIAD fund the new coding school ‘42 Berlin’
As a founding partner of ‘42 Wolfsburg’, Volkswagen recognized at an early stage the powerful role that the innovative coding school ‘42’ could play in the company’s transformation to a software-focused technology company. The non-profit coding academy opened its doors last spring and is being strategically and financially supported by Volkswagen in the company’s role as lead partner. Volkswagen is now drawing on this positive experience with ‘42 Wolfsburg’ to expand this commitment to IT training even further. The automaker has now joined forces with its software subsidiary, CARIAD, and such companies as Bayer, Microsoft, SAP and T-Systems to set up a second coding academy in the German capital of Berlin. The first students are scheduled to begin their studies at ‘42 Berlin’ next summer. -
Start of goTOzero weeks – Volkswagen Group invites employees around the world to environmental events
Decarbonization, energy, environmental compliance, biodiversity, water, waste and the circular economy – these are the topics of the Volkswagen Group “goTOzero weeks,” a new series of environmental events that is starting today and will be held through November in the company’s brands, regions and departments. The Group-wide campaign is designed to share information and promote cross-brand networking among the Volkswagen Group employees. The program will include events, talks by experts and many digital workshops and information programs provided by the brands Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT, ŠKODA, Bentley, Porsche, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Volkswagen Group Components, the China region and various departments. The company’s production facilities will be a driving force behind the Volkswagen Group’s transformation into a carbon neutral company. Their use of renewable power will be a critically important element in the company’s entire decarbonization strategy. -
Focus on customers: Volkswagen appoints Chief Experience Officer
Volkswagen is continuing the consistent implementation of its ACCELERATE brand strategy and is creating the framework for strengthening the integrated customer experience in the age of digital mobility. A newly created project unit will serve as the interface to all relevant divisions and regions and establish a holistic user experience management system. Customer requirements and feedback will become the focal point for developing vehicles and services throughout the life cycle. The goal is to create a best-in-class customer experience at every point of contact with the Volkswagen brand. Dr. Markus Kleimann, formerly responsible for the G3 series (mid- and full-size), will head the new unit. -
Bernd Osterloh appointed as TRATON SE’s new Executive Board member with responsibility for human resources
TRATON SE has filled the position of Executive Board member with responsibility for human resources, which has been vacant since last year. Bernd Osterloh, the current Chairman of Volkswagen AG’s General and Group Works Councils, will take up the position from May 1, 2021. TRATON SE’s Supervisory Board passed a corresponding resolution earlier today. -
New Chief Strategy Officer at Volkswagen
Andreas Walingen, currently head of Group Product Strategy, will become Chief Strategy Officer of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand effective May 1, 2021. In this function, he succeeds Michael Jost, who is leaving the Volkswagen Group to devote time to his own projects. In addition to leading Group Strategy Product, Michael Jost also holds the position of Chief Strategy Officer of the Volkswagen brand. -
Volkswagen drives forward its transformation
Management and the works council have drawn up a set of guidelines specifying additional components for driving forward the Group’s transformation in the current fiscal year. The measures agreed will make an important contribution to disciplined cost management, the key drivers being freezing the size of the workforce at the January 2021 level and an extensive retirement package. It was also decided to open up partial retirement to employees born in 1964 as announced as part of the digital transformation roadmap, to reopen partial retirement for the 1961 and 1962 birth cohorts, and to additionally launch an early retirement program for the 1956 to 1960 birth cohorts. -
Dr. Arno Antlitz succeeds Frank Witter as Group CFO from April 1, 2021
Dr. Arno Antlitz, currently member of the Board of Management of AUDI AG for Finance and Legal Affairs, is to succeed Frank Witter as the Group Board of Management member responsible for Finance at the earlier date of April 1, 2021. The Supervisory Board already announced the change last December. As is known, Witter’s contract expires at his own request at the end of June 2021, an earlier changeover was already intended in December. Witter will continue to serve the company in an advisory capacity until then to ensure the best possible transition. He will present the Group’s annual financial statements at the Annual Media Conference. -
Volkswagen Group strengthens quality assurance – Frank Welsch to lead the new unit
The Volkswagen Group has strengthened and simultaneously reorganized its quality assurance. To this end, Frank Welsch will become the new Head of Group Quality Management and Strategy as of February 1. In this function, he will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer of the Volkswagen Group, Herbert Diess. Thomas Ulbrich will succeed Welsch as Chief Development Officer of Volkswagen Passenger Cars. -
New member of the Board of Management for Development at Volkswagen Passenger Cars
Thomas Ulbrich, member of the Board of Management for Mobility at Volkswagen Passenger Cars, is to become member of the Board of Management for Development as of February 1. He will succeed Frank Welsch in this role, who is taking over as Head of the realigned Group Quality Assurance. Following the successful market entry of the first MEB-based vehicles, the tasks of the board-level management function for electric mobility managed by Thomas Ulbrich will be transferred back to the areas of responsibility of the respective divisions. -
Volkswagen Supervisory Board agrees on management positions and reorganisation of Group Board – stronger focus on costs planned
During its meeting today, the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG dealt extensively with the Together 2025+ strategy and, in connection with this, a realignment of personnel. The Board unanimously resolved to give its full support to the strategy, in particular the orientation of the company towards electromobility and digitalisation. This results in the following realignment of personnel resolved by the Supervisory Board: -
Change at the helm of Group Communications: Nicole Mommsen succeeds Peik v. Bestenbostel
Nicole Mommsen is to be the new Head of Global Group Communications at Volkswagen. In her future function, she will be responsible for the entire communications of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft and will report to CEO Herbert Diess. Nicole Mommsen succeeds Peik v. Bestenbostel, who will hand over this function with effect from January 1, 2021 and leave the company as part of a planned retirement arrangement. Nicole Mommsen joined Volkswagen from Goldman Sachs this August and has since headed Corporate Communica-tions. -
Note to editors: Change at Volkswagen Communications
Change at Volkswagen Communications: Stefan Voswinkel (44) is to become Head of Product and Technology Communications of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand with effect from January 1, 2021. He succeeds Florian Urbitsch, who has left the company. In this function, Voswinkel will report to Robin Aschhoff, Head of Communications of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand. Until the end of the year, Christoph Adomat, currently Head of Technology Communications, will manage Product Communications in addition to his other duties. -
Volkswagen supports nonprofit “42Wolfsburg” programming school
Volkswagen is supporting the construction and operation of a free programming school in Wolfsburg. The association called “Verein 42Wolfsburg e.V.” is setting up an IT hotbed called “42Wolfsburg” in cooperation with the private, nonprofit École 42 based in France. It is planned to open the coding school in Markthalle Wolfsburg in early 2021. Volkswagen will be donating €3.7 million in the first year, and a further two million euros annually in the following years. Next year, up to 600 students are already expected to be training in Wolfsburg’s Markthalle under an innovative learning concept with no teachers or formal classes. They will learn their skills under a peer-learning concept. -
Voluntary tests available - Tests for Volkswagen employees with symptoms of corona
Volkswagen is to offer its workforce voluntary corona tests and will be setting up walk-through containers to collect samples at its German locations. The company is thus doing its best to prevent the effects of a renewed outbreak of the coronavirus (Covid-19) and making a further contribution toward protecting against the spread of the virus. “For Volkswagen, protecting the health of our colleagues continues to have the highest priority. In the event of a possible second wave of corona, we want to be as best prepared as possible with this testing capability”, Board Member for Human Resources, Gunnar Kilian, said. “The aim is to identify cases of infection very early and systematically prevent the virus from spreading any further. That is fundamental to protecting the health of the workforce and avoiding the threat of another lockdown.” Currently, the infection status at Volkswagen AG is at a good level. -
Markus Duesmann takes charge of Car.Software organization at the Volkswagen Group
The central development of a software platform for the Volkswagen Group is picking up speed. As part of his Group-wide responsibility for research and development, the CEO of Audi, Markus Duesmann, has also taken charge of software. With its own operating system for all Volkswagen Group models, an automotive data cloud and a new electronics architecture, the cross-brand Car.Software organization set itself a tight schedule for the coming years in early July. Its new CEO is to be Dirk Hilgenberg, most recently Senior Vice President Manufacturing Engineering at the BMW Group. The organizational focus of the Car.Software organization is to be at the IN Campus high-tech hub in Ingolstadt. -
Volkswagen donates one million dollars for reforestation in Australia
Following the devastating bush fires at the beginning of the year, Volkswagen is now do-nating one million Australian dollars (about 617,000 euros) to "Bush Heritage Australia" for bush fire and reforestation projects in Australia. The "One Million Trees Project" in the Eurardy Nature Reserve in Western Australia will receive 250,000 dollars and a project to restore 400 hectares in the Scottsdale Reserve in New South Wales will receive 750,000 dollars. -
Major donation by Volkswagen complete
All the medical supplies which the Volkswagen Group is donating within the framework of its coronavirus support have now arrived in Germany. The final consignment has been shipped from China to Germany. All in all, the donation includes almost 10 million face masks, 6 million pairs of disposable gloves, 300,000 sets of protective clothing, 200,000 protective goggles, 10,000 infrared thermometers and 250,000 liters of disinfectants. -
Stress test for everyday suitability: company employees in Saxony begin testing fleet of 150 ID.3
For selected employees at Volkswagen Sachsen, the e-mobility of tomorrow begins today: They will be testing the all-electric Volkswagen ID.3 for everyday usability over a period of several weeks – before delivery officially starts in early September. A total of 150 ID.3 built in Zwickau have been reserved for employees at the three plants in Saxony for everyday testing under real conditions to analyze anonymized data on the usage and driving behavior of the ID.3. Over the coming months, this will provide Volkswagen with a steady stream of additional information from hundreds of thousands of kilometers travelled. -
Group-wide personnel changes in Technical Development and Product Line organization
Matthias Rabe has been named Member of the Board for Engineering at Bentley effective August 1. He succeeds Werner Tietz, who moves to SEAT as Executive Vice-President for Research and Development as of July 1. Werner Tietz succeeds Axel Andorff, who assumes responsibility for the Midsize and MEB Product Line at ŠKODA, also with effect from July 1. He takes over from Matthias Glodny, who becomes Head of the Modular Toolkits, Drivetrains and Modules Product Line at Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand. -
Volkswagen stands up for respectful coexistence
Volkswagen is supporting “Wolfsburger Woche für Vielfalt und Toleranz” (Wolfsburg diversity and tolerance week) organized by Aids-Hilfe Wolfsburg. Representatives from the German Aids organization and the Group Works Council raised rainbow flags outside the brand tower as a visible sign of the initiative. The rainbow is a global symbol of diversity, tolerance and acceptance. -
Volkswagen supports its 40,000 suppliers with instructions for protective measures in production
In connection with the resumption of production, the Volkswagen Group has developed measures ensuring the maximum level of health protection for its employees and is now implementing them at its plants. In order to provide the best possible support for the resumption of production and logistics processes in the coronavirus crisis by its more than 40,000 suppliers and several hundred logistics contractors throughout the world, the Group is making its concepts available to them with immediate effect. -
Volkswagen starts with step-by-step resumption of production
The plants of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand are to successively restart production. First, production is to be resumed at the plants in Zwickau and Bratislava (Slovakia) in the week from April 20. The other plants in Germany and in Portugal, Spain, Russia and the USA are to restart production in the week from April 27. Subsequently, in the course of May, production will be resumed successively in South Africa, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. Ralf Brandstätter, COO of the Volkswagen brand, said: “With the decisions by the federal and state governments in Germany and the loosening of restrictions in other European states, conditions have been established for the gradual resumption of production. Volkswagen has prepared intensively for these steps over the past three weeks. In addition to developing a comprehensive catalogue of measures for the protection of our employees’ health, we have also forged ahead with the re-establishment of our supply chains.” On this basis, short-time working is to continue at the Volkswagen plants in Germany. However, the number of employees affected by short time working will be successively reduced in line with the resumption of production. -
Volkswagen and IG Metall successfully complete pay negotiations
Volkswagen and IG Metall have brought their negotiations for Volkswagen AG employees covered by the company collective agreement to a successful conclusion. As a result of the coronavirus crisis, the negotiations took place under extremely difficult conditions. The parties agreed that the pay agreement, which had been terminated with effect from April 30, 2020, should remain in force until the end of December 2020 without increases in the pay scales. The collective agreement has a term of eight months. In addition, support for employees was agreed so that they could master their everyday lives more effectively in the coronavirus crisis. -
Coronavirus: Volkswagen uses 3D printing to produce face shields
In response to the corona crisis, the Volkswagen Group has started to produce face shield holders by 3D printing. This is part of a joint transnational initiative with Airbus and the 3D printing network “Mobility goes Additive”, which includes about 250 companies. The products developed by Airbus will be used in Spain and will be flown from Hamburg to Madrid by Airbus, next week. This cross-industrial initiative was launched in response to requests from the Spanish authorities, which will also distribute the products in the country. The aim is to make as many holders as possible by then. In addition, there are a number of other initiatives by Volkswagen Group brands to produce medical supplies. -
First consignment of medical supplies for hospitals and doctors has arrived from China
On Saturday, the Minister-President of Lower Saxony, Stephan Weil, and the HR Board Member of Volkswagen, Gunnar Kilian, took delivery of a first consignment of face masks from China in Brunswick. The Volkswagen Group is organizing medical equipment with a total value of about €40 million in China which will then be made available to doctors and hospitals in Germany. The supplies are to be delivered as soon as possible. The products or-dered include face masks, gloves, disinfectants, clinical thermometers, protective goggles and protective clothing. The first consignment, which arrived on Saturday, consisted of 400,000 face masks, 240,000 for medical facilities throughout Germany and 160,000 for hospitals and doctors in Lower Saxony. The distribution of the equipment is to be organized by public bodies. -
Volkswagen Group supports doctors and hospitals with major donation of medical supplies from China
To ensure supplies for doctors and hospitals in Germany, the Volkswagen Group is organ-izing medical materials in China in the short term. The total value of the goods to be donated by the Group is about €40 million. The equipment – in-cluding face masks, gloves, disinfectants, clinical thermometers, protective goggles and protective clothing – is to be made available to medical personnel providing emergency treatment and care. Last week, Volkswagen had already donated about 200,000 FFP-2 and FFP-3 face masks for public health protection. -
Volkswagen Group donates protective face masks
The Volkswagen Group will be providing about 200,000 category FFP-2 and FFP-3 protec-tive face masks for public health protection in the near future. The donation is being made in close cooperation with Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn. The city of Wolfsburg is also to receive further medical material. -
Volkswagen brand suspends production on Thursday due to corona crisis
The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand is gradually suspending production at its European plants. This will also affect Volkswagen Group Components plants. This is the brand's response to the impending rapid decline in demand on the automotive markets. Risks in connection with suppliers’ supply chains are also increasing. This is due to the significantly accelerated rate of infection by coronavirus and the resulting measures taken by the authorities. Initially, the factories are therefore expected to remain closed for two weeks. For the affected German sites, the measures are to apply from the end of the late shift on Thursday. -
Volkswagen pays performance-related bonus of €4,950
For 2019, the employees of Volkswagen AG covered by collective bargaining agreements are to receive a performance-related bonus of €4,950 gross. The CEO of Volkswagen AG, Dr. Herbert Diess, and the Chairman of the General Works Council, Bernd Osterloh, praised the team performance of Volkswagen employees last year. -
Students from seven nations: Volkswagen starts the second generation of Faculty 73
On March 2, 2020, 100 students started their “Faculty 73” qualification program at the AutoUni. During a full-time two-year course, they will be trained as junior software developers for the automotive industry. The Volkswagen Group Academy launched its innovative concept with the first generation of students beginning of March 2019 and is doubling the number of students in 2020 up to two generations. The third generation is due to start on September 1, 2020 and internal and external IT talents can apply for a place on the courseup to March 8 2020. -
Volkswagen looking for IT talents for third generation of Faculty 73
The second generation of Faculty 73 begins the qualification program at the AutoUni in Wolfsburg on March 1, 2020. The application phase for the third generation closes on March 8, 2020, with training scheduled to commence on September 1, 2020. -
Matthias Rabe CTO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand
Dr. Matthias Rabe, Head of the Technical Development Operations area at the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand, is to take on additional responsibilities in Technical Development at the brand effective February 1, 2020. Under the leadership of Dr. Frank Welsch, Board Member for Technical Development, he will be responsible for steering the Technical Development departments and for the transformation of Technical Development in his role as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Volkswagen Passenger Cars. Rabe takes over these responsibilities from Welsch, who heads Technical Development at the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand and also leads Group Research and Development in his role as CTO of Volkswagen AG. At the brand, Welsch will concentrate on design, concepts and strategy at Technical Development. -
Volkswagen Group Refugee Aid: Package of measures helps 5,000 people in need
In Wolfsburg today, Frank Witter, Group Board Member for Finance and IT and Volkswagen Group Refugee Aid sponsor, welcomed the participants of the third intake under the “Train-ing Perspectives for Refugees” project. They will take part in an entry-level qualification program at Volkswagen tailored specifically to their requirements that includes an intensive language course and practical and theoretical vocational preparation as well as an internship at the company where they are training. -
Volkswagen Group honors its best apprentices
The Volkswagen Group today presented its “Best Apprentice Awards 2019” to its best apprentices from all over the world, honoring their outstanding performance and professional competence. The prizes for the 49 young talents with 19 vocations were presented by the Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, Dr. Herbert Diess, the Member of the Board of Management with responsibility for Human Resources, Gunnar Kilian, and the President of the Global Group Works Council, Bernd Osterloh. -
Double debut at the GTI gathering: Apprentices from Wolfsburg and Zwickau present self-developed Golf showcars Aurora and FighteR
Double the pleasure at Wörthersee! The 29th of May is the big day for two teams of apprentices at Volkswagen. At the 38th GTI gathering, they will be presenting the showcars they developed and built themselves for the first time to tens of thousands of automobile fans attending the legendary event in 2019. The spotlight will be on the Golf GTI Aurora from Wolfsburg and the Golf Estate FighteR from Zwickau – and both Volkswagens will absolutely delight the fans. -
Cutaway model “eGon” offers insights into vehicle technology at IdeenExpo
In Hanover today, Volkswagen Passenger Cars and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles unveiled details of the multifaceted program in store for visitors at IdeenExpo in Hanover from June 15 to 23. eGon, the cutaway model of an e-Golf, is one of Volkswagen’s highlight projects to be showcased at Germany’s largest youth event for science and technology. -
Double premiere at GTI meeting – apprentices from Wolfsburg and Zwickau present the Golf show cars they have developed
Tomorrow, on May 9, the day they have been waiting for will finally arrive for two teams of Volkswagen apprentices. The double premiere of the special unique Golf show cars they have developed and built themselves as to take place at the 37th GTI meeting. Each year, tens of thousands of automobile fans come to Lake Wörthersee for the legendary event. Volkswagen’s budding specialists will be presenting their show cars to a large audience there: the Golf GTI Next Level (from Wolfsburg) and the Golf Estate TGI GMOTION (from Zwickau). -
Second workshop visit on the way to the Wörthersee: Apprentices reveal – Wörthersee GTI 2018 will appear at GTI meeting with White Silver metallic paintwork
The first secret is out of the bag: the Wörthersee GTI 2018 will travel to the 37th GTI meeting (May 9 to 12) with White Silver metallic paintwork. The 15 apprentices and on the team still have about seven weeks’ time, after which their Wörthersee showcar must be ready to travel on its wide wheels before being covered up and loaded. Seven women and eight men from eight different vocations are currently working on a unique Golf GTI in line with their own ideas. The world premiere is to take place on May 9 in Maria Wörth, in the Austrian state of Carinthia. The sporty GTI family, consisting of the Golf GTI, Polo GTI und up! GTI, has many fans throughout the world. Each year, tens of thousands of them come to Lake Wörthersee for the legendary GTI meeting. -
First workshop visit on the way to the Wörthersee: Apprentices from Wolfsburg and Zwickau make show cars for the 2018 GTI meeting
In Zwickau and Wolfsburg, apprentices from Volkswagen are currently making two show cars for the 37th GTI meeting to be held at Lake Wörthersee. The double premiere is due to take place at Maria Wörth in Austria on May 9 and will be watched by many thousands of automobile fans. At the start of the project, the 30 or so young people discussed their ideas and concepts at a "Meeting before the GTI meeting". Discussions focused on technical implementation, especially using CAD and 3-D printer systems. The budding specialists were also interested in digitalization and networking within the vehicle, for example using app control systems they had programmed themselves and a mobile Internet connection. -
Start of 2017 pay negotiations at Volkswagen
The negotiating committees of the company and the IG Metall trade union met today in Hanover for the start of pay negotiations for Volkswagen AG. The leader of the Volkswagen committee, Martin Rosik, Head of Human Resources of the Volkswagen Passenger Car brand, said: "Volkswagen faces tremendous challenges. The future of Volkswagen is at stake. Digitalization and e-mobility call for huge investments. The company needs to earn these funds. A reasonable pay settlement is therefore more important than ever before." -
Wolfsburg apprentices present first GTI that also features electric drive system at Wörthersee meeting
Tomorrow, a very special Golf GTI is to make its world debut at the Wörthersee meeting. 13 apprentices from Volkswagen and Sitech are waiting anxiously as they will be presenting the first GTI that also features electric propulsion: the Golf GTI First Decade. The name indicates that this show car is the 10th apprentices' GTI to be presented by talented young people from Wolfsburg at the traditional GTI fans' meeting in Austria. The Golf GTI First Decade was created in slightly less than nine months on the basis of ideas provided by apprentices in six vocations. In the interior and exterior design, the five women and eight men were inspired by the many and varied blue tones of water and sky on the Wörthersee. -
Wörthersee GTI 2017, preview, part 2: 10th apprentices' GTI is "seaworthy" for Wörthersee premiere
Volkswagen plant Wolfsburg, Quality Assurance, Final Vehicle Inspection. 13 apprentices from Volkswagen and Sitech are really wired up: this is the final quality audit for their Wörthersee GTI 2017. Experts are closely scrutinizing their unique Golf GTI. The budding skilled workers from six training vocations have equipped the car with optical and technical refinements selected in line with their own tastes – for example with an intuitive app control feature for the driver's seat using a tablet PC. The apprentices with project manager Holger Schülke are relieved and rather proud when the quality assurance people raise their thumbs appreciatively. The apprentices' GTI 2017 is "seaworthy" for its premiere on the Wörthersee on Wednesday, May 24. -
The Wörthersee GTI 2017: Apprentices design unique car fast and efficiently using digital technologies
The Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg, Vocational Training, Hall 103. Screened off by partitions, Volkswagen and Sitech apprentices are completing their work on a unique vehicle: the Wörthersee GTI 2017. The 13 apprentices in six vocations have designed, developed and built the show car in accordance with their ideas using digital technologies. In a few days, they will be presenting it at the 36th GTI meeting, which is to be held at Maria Wörth on Wörthersee from May 24 to 27. -
40 years of the Golf GTI – 40 years of hearts beating faster: Volkswagen apprentices from Wolfsburg present their Golf GTI Heartbeat with 400 PS (295 kW) at Wörthersee meeting
40 years of the Golf GTI. World premiere on the Wörthersee. Hearts beating faster with anticipation: today, 12 trainees from Volkswagen and Sitech Sitztechnik are presenting their 400 PS (295 kW) Golf GTI Heartbeat in Austria at the international meeting of GTI fans. Fantastic sound, a contrasting color scheme, a honeycomb design and heartbeat symbols as well as a sound system with 1,360 watts from seven speakers make it quite clear: the interior and exterior design of the Golf GTI Heartbeat presented by the budding carmakers is inspired by the emotion of the GTI and the 40th anniversary of the Golf GTI. The unique GTI based on a standard Golf GTI Performance was created in slightly less than nine months on the basis of ideas developed by apprentices aged between 20 and 26 training in five different vocations.
Stories
Outstanding performance: Volkswagen celebrates the best apprentices of 2021
50 Volkswagen Group graduates have been presented with the “Best Apprentice” award. The winners come from 42 locations in 19 countries. The best in class from 22 apprenticeship trades, including the job families Industry and Electronics, Commercial Jobs and IT, Logistics, and Automotive Engineering, were celebrated.
“To work at the office or from home? Almost everyone wants to do both!”
How much will people work from home after coronavirus? With a new works agreement, Volkswagen is making preparations for the much discussed “new normal”. The first divisions, including Group logistics, are coming up with customised solutions for their future collaboration. Simon Motter, head of Group logistics, and works council member Dirk Wagner talk about hybrid working and the cultural shift.
Starting a career at Volkswagen: The number of trainees studying IT and electronics is growing
This year, 1,150 young men and women started their apprenticeship or dual course of study at Volkswagen AG sites in Germany. Application for 2022 is already possible. Christoph Görtz, head of vocational training at the Wolfsburg site, and Burcu Sicilia, chair of the education committee in the general works council, talk about studying during coronavirus and new career paths.
Volkswagen is Committed to Biodiversity
At Volkswagen, biodiversity and the sustainable use of resources play an important role. On the United Nation’s international biodiversity day, the group is launching a call to all of its employees.
Volkswagen experts continue to build the Industrial Cloud from the home office
In the future, a digital platform will network data from all Volkswagen Group plants. The aim is to make production more efficient. The expansion is continuing apace even during Corona times – with digital means.
“42 graduates have the software world open to them”
In 2021, a new location of the renowned programming school 42 will start operations in Wolfsburg. Volkswagen supports the school through the association “42 Wolfsburg e. V.”. In this interview, HR Director Gunnar Kilian and Max Senges, Managing Director of 42 Wolfsburg, talk about the digitalization of the automotive industry and the exceptional learning approach of 42.
“With the cloud, we’re really taking off”
Volkswagen relies on cloud computing and thus on Hischam Abul Ola. He is a cloud architect, and his team develops IT environments in such a way that they help users to work faster and more efficiently.
"We make the digital products intuitive to use"
Caroline Schalwat is head of Customer Focus & Design at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. There, the 36-year-old works with her team on a user experience for the digital age. A portrait.
ID.3: Volkswagen team focuses on digital project management
In the midst of the corona pandemic, the first e-car of a new era came onto the market: the ID.3. Since March, the project management has been functioning almost completely digitally. The new way of working has proven itself – and helps protect the climate.