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Press Releases
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Production failure of supplier due to corona: Volkswagen has to cut back production at main
The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand is cutting back production in some areas at the Wolfsburg plant from next Monday (night shift). Component supply sections of the Volkswagen Group Components plant at Brunswick are also affected. -
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. -
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. -
Volkswagen hands over first phase of Covid-19 temporary medical facility
Seven weeks after the initial announcement of the company’s plans to provide a temporary medical facility for Covid-19 patients, Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) today handed over the first phase of this project to the Eastern Cape Department of Health. -
All Volkswagen plants back to production with effect from today
Today, production resumes at the Puebla plant in Mexico. All 16 plants of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand throughout the world have therefore returned to production. Andreas Tostmann, Member of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand Board of Management responsible for Production and Logistics, said: “We have succeeded in resuming production with priority on maximum health protection. Not a single part has been missing in production. Thank you very much to our team – and also to our suppliers and logistics contractors.” For the European plants of the brand alone, Volkswagen purchases about 100,000 different parts from its suppliers. -
Volkswagen prolongs worldwide new vehicle and extended warranties by three months
The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand is extending the warranty period for new vehicles by three months. This applies to all vehicles produced in Europe or for the European market with a two-year new vehicle warranty or an extended warranty that expires between March 1, 2020 and May 31, 2020. The prolongation is valid for three months after the expiry of the original new vehicle or extended warranty. -
Volkswagen Brand – First-quarter sales revenue and profit down on previous year due to impact of Covid-19
Volkswagen Passenger Cars experienced a substantial impact on its business in the first three months of 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite a solid start to the year, deliveries to customers by the core Volkswagen brand decreased by around 25 percent to 1.1 million vehicles over the January to March period of 2020. In the same quarter, sales revenue fell by some EUR 2.6 billion (-11.9 percent) to around EUR 19 billion. The core brand’s operating profit remained positive. Standing at around EUR 481 million, it fell by 50 percent in comparison to the previous year’s figure before special items. The operating return on sales in the first quarter of 2020 was 2.5 percent (4.3 percent in previous year before special items). -
Volkswagen Group’s business substantially impacted by Covid-19 pandemic in first quarter
The Volkswagen Group recorded a substantial impact on its business as a result of the global Covid-19 pandemic following the first three months of the current fiscal year. Deliveries to customers decreased by 23.0 percent compared to the same period of the previous year to 2.0 (2.6) million vehicles. Sales revenue fell by 8.3 percent from January to March to EUR 55.1 (60.0) billion. Operating profit before special items decreased significantly by 81.4 percent to EUR 0.9 (4.8) billion. In the previous year, special items as a result of the diesel crisis reduced profit by EUR –1.0 billion. There were no special items in the first quarter of 2020. The operating return on sales in the first quarter of 2020 was 1.6 percent (6.4 or 8.1 percent before special items). In addition to the fall in unit sales due to the drop in customer demand, turbulence in the commodity and capital markets caused the fair value measurement of commodity hedges to have a negative effect and also led to negative currency effects. Earnings before tax fell to EUR 0.7 (4.1) billion. -
Together with its cultural partners Volkswagen is striking out into new creative online channels
Due to the corona crisis Volkswagen and its cultural partners have changed joint real-world events into digital formats. The respective second joint issues of the new online editions of Volkswagen ART4ALL together with the Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg and Hamburger Bahnhof – Museum für Gegenwart – Berlin have since moved to the Facebook and Instagram channels of the partners. -
Production at Volkswagen in Wolfsburg begins again today
The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand resumed vehicle production at its Wolfsburg plant today with the early shift beginning at 6:30 a.m. Initially, Golf production will recommence on a one-shift basis — with reduced capacity and longer cycle times. Today, some 8,000 employees are returning to the production halls. Production of the Volkswagen Tiguan and Touran models as well as the SEAT Tarraco begins on Wednesday. Multi-shift operation is to get underway again the following week. At the same time, some 2,600 suppliers, the majority of them located in Germany, have resumed production for Volkswagen’s main plant. Measures to protect the health of the workforce have been significantly expanded. -
Medical supplies for doctors and hospitals: More than 5 million masks have already arrived
Large quantities of the medical supplies which the Volkswagen Group has been organizing in China for doctors, care facilities and hospitals since the end of March are now arriving in Germany. About 5 million face masks have now been delivered and many of them have already been distributed. Over the next few days, many other consignments are expected, bringing the total number of equipment items to 13 million, in addition, 750,000 liters of disinfectant, which will be arriving from May onwards, have been ordered. The total value of the supplies being donated by the Volkswagen Group to support medical and care facilities is about €40 million. In addition, the Group is also organizing and delivering medical supplies ordered by the German government under a framework agreement with the Federal Ministry of Health. Further deliveries of several million masks are expected over the next few weeks. On Sunday afternoon, Bernd Althusmann, Minister of Economic Affairs of Lower Saxony, Gunnar Kilian, HR Board Member of Volkswagen, and the Chairman of the Group Works Council Bernd Osterloh welcomed an aircraft with a further consignment from China at Hanover airport. Among other items, this consignment included temperature scanners which are being donated by Volkswagen to the German government and the State of Lower Saxony, as well as masks ordered by the German government. -
Zwickau vehicle plant resuming production of the ID.3 slowly and gradually
The Volkswagen plant in Zwickau is gradually restarting production of electric cars. Production of the all-electric ID.3 resumes today (Thursday), initially with reduced capacity and significantly slower cycle times. Numerous additional measures to protect the health of the workforce are being implemented, and the restart is also oriented to the gradual stabilization of international supply chains. “We all have a historic task to accomplish. That task is to protect the health of our employees - and at the same time get business back on track responsibly”, said Thomas Ulbrich, Volkswagen Brand Board Member for E-Mobility and Speaker of the Management Board of Volkswagen Sachsen. -
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. -
Resumption of business by car dealerships: Volkswagen launches “JumpStart” program
The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand has launched comprehensive online training for German car dealers in order to boost the resumption of business activities. About 70 percent of dealerships have now reopened. In addition to practical check lists for the implementation of the hygiene precautions required and new service offerings, dealers are also receiving specific tips on the use of digital tools and ideas for their social media channels. Volkswagen also offers customers attractive packages for. -
Volkswagen AG withdraws 2020 full-year outlook due to business impacts from covid-19 pandemic
The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has also had a significant impact on Volkswagen Group’s business. As a result, the automobile retail network has largely came to a standstill. The resulting decline in customer demand and supplier bottlenecks led to production stops within the Volkswagen Group. The aforementioned developments have a negative impact on the expected financial results of the Volkswagen Group. -
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. -
Sharan serves as an office on wheels
People all over Europe are working from home, which can be complicated: They’re in a video conference team meeting, the phone starts ringing and children are yelling through the living room, all at the same time. Working from the car could be the best solution for anyone needing a few hours a day to concentrate on completing some tasks for their job in peace. As a result, the working environment is relocated to nearby places with a nice view. -
Volkswagen Group China: Clear signs of business recovery
Volkswagen Group China’s operations are showing clear signs of business recovery. All 2,000 Volkswagen brand dealerships are now open again, with showroom traffic during the last weekend of March comparable to the same period last year. Over 95% of the dealerships of the other locally producing brands Audi and ŠKODA have also reopened. The SAIC VOLKSWAGEN joint venture plant in Changsha also resumed operations this week. The total number of Group facilities that have resumed operations has thus risen to 32 of the 33 car and component plants. -
Clear rules to protect employees
For the resumption of production at Volkswagen, health takes priority over speed. For this reason, company management and the General Works Council have laid down clear rules and measures for the protection of employees in a works agreement. Volkswagen HR Board Member Gunnar Kilian says: “We are taking comprehensive precautions so that our employees can work safely. We also appeal to each and every employee: continue to act in a disciplined way over Easter, keep your distance, stay at home and help to limit the spread of coronavirus. For Volkswagen, one thing is clear: the federal and state governments have our full support in their fight against coronavirus.” As regards the resumption of production, it has only been decided that a few units of Components, which have continued operation to some extent, will extend their operations to safeguard the supply of components to plants in China from the Tuesday after Easter. This will concern a total of 1,700 employees at the Brunswick, Kassel, Salzgitter, Chemnitz and Hanover Components plants. They will be informed by their line managers. Apart from these operations, production at the Components and vehicle plants continues to be suspended. Further details of the mode of operation are expected after Easter. The objective of the new works agreement is to take precautions against coronavirus at an early stage in order to prevent infections. Production processes are being optimized and consistent minimum distances and strict hygiene standards will apply in all areas. Where minimum distances of 1.5 meters are not possible, all employees will receive appropriate protective equipment. -
Corona pandemic: Volkswagen donates one million euros for immediate aid and emergency relief in refugee camps
The Volkswagen Group is donating one million euros for immediate aid and emergency relief for refugees in Syria, Turkey and Greece menaced by the corona pandemic. The funds will be given to the German Red Cross (DRK), which is organizing and implementing support locally together with the national Red Cross and Red Crescent organizations. -
Volkswagen Group safeguards customer mobility with supply of genuine parts
Even during the coronavirus crisis, the Volkswagen Group continues to ensure supplies of genuine parts. In Germany, more than 95 percent of the about 3,500 service stations remain open so that customers can stay mobile. Throughout the world, about 60 percent of the 25,000 service stations remain active. The Original Parts Center in Kassel ensures that genuine parts for repair work reach the workshop rapidly despite coronavirus. The order level is around one third of the normal volume. In these activities, the top priority is to protect the health of employees and suppliers at Kassel. At the Genuine Parts Center, comprehensive measures have been taken to ensure adequate distances between the employees concerned and compliance with the appropriate hygiene requirements. This also includes reducing the number of people working on logistics operations at any time by about one half. At the service stations themselves, health protection is also the top priority. Many businesses offer customers the possibility of handing over and collecting their vehicle without any direct contact with service personnel. -
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. -
Volkswagen extends suspension of production
The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and Volkswagen Group Components are extending the suspension of production at their German plants for a further five working days especially as a result of the continued fall in demand for vehicles and the challenges still faced by the supply chain. For a total of about 80,000 employees of Volkswagen AG, it is planned to end the resulting short-time working with the night shift of April 19 to 20. The plants affected are Dresden, Emden, Osnabrück, Wolfsburg and Zwickau as well as the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles plant in Hanover, the plants of Volkswagen Group Components at Brunswick, Kassel, Salzgitter, Chemnitz and Hanover and the German plants of SITECH. At the same time, the company continues to prepare intensively for the resumption of production. In this context, the protection of employees will once again be significantly strengthened. -
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 postpones Annual General Meeting 2020
Volkswagen has decided to postpone the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders for fiscal year 2019 due to the spread of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and the measures in connection with containing the virus. Group CFO Frank Witter said: “The health of our shareholders, employees and service providers has top priority. For that reason, we will be arranging a new date for the Annual General Meeting originally scheduled for May 7.” -
Volkswagen releases medical personnel with full pay for voluntary work in the public health service
Volkswagen AG is releasing employees with medical qualifications for up to 15 working days with full pay if they volunteer for work in the public health service. The target group includes medical practitioners and paramedics of various categories as well as nursing and surgery personnel working at the German facilities of Volkswagen AG. In addition to people working in these areas for Volkswagen, employees with appropriate qualifications who work as paramedics on a voluntary basis, for example, will also be released if the need arises. -
TRATON SE postpones Annual General Meeting due to coronavirus outbreak
The Executive Board of TRATON SE has decided to postpone the Annual General Meeting for fiscal year 2019, previously scheduled for May 28, 2020, due to the strong spread of the coronavirus. -
Volkswagen extends suspension of production
The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and Volkswagen Group Components are extending the suspension of production at their German plants for four working days especially as a result of the continued fall in demand for vehicles and the challenges faced by the supply chain. An application for an extension of short-time working for a total of 80,000 employees of Volkswagen AG has been submitted. It is planned to end short-time working with the night shift of April 9 to 10. The plants affected are Dresden, Emden, Osnabrück, Wolfsburg and Zwickau as well as the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles plant in Hanover, the plants of Volkswagen Group Components at Brunswick, Kassel, Salzgitter, Chemnitz and Hanover and the German plants of SITECH. At the same time, the company is preparing intensively for the resumption of production. In this context, the protection of employees will once again be significantly strengthened. -
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 brand offers dealers extensive liquidity support
Together with Volkswagen Bank, the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand has created a comprehensive package of measures to strengthen the liquidity of its dealers. In addition to offering extended payment deadlines, temporary increases in credit lines and improved interest conditions, bonuses and incentives are to be brought forward and audits are to be suspended. -
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.
Stories
Volkswagen on LinkedIn
Andreas Tostmann
Wer ist eigentlich in der Volkswagen Produktion, wenn nicht produziert wird und kein Auto vom Band läuft? Mehr Menschen als man denkt!
In unterschiedlichen Bereichen der Fahrzeugproduktion sind Mitarbeiterinnen und Mitarbeiter im Einsatz, wie zum Beispiel im Presswerk, der Kunststofftechnik und den Zentralbereichen. Vor Allem stehen derzeit wichtige technischen Instandhaltungen oder auch vorbereitenden Maßnahmen zum Wiederanlauf des Werkes auf dem Plan.
Ralf Brandstätter
Raus aus der Corona-Krise und rein in die grüne Transformation
Warum wir jetzt ein Konjunkturpaket und neue staatliche Kaufanreize für Autos brauchen
Der deutsche und europäische Wirtschaftskreislauf muss jetzt dringend wieder Schwung aufnehmen. Klar ist: Ohne Konjunkturprogramme und kraftvolle Kaufanreize ist das nicht zu schaffen. Warum gerade in dieser Situation die Förderung von Autokäufen wirtschaftlich und auch ökologisch sinnvoll sein kann, erkläre ich in diesem Artikel.
Gunnar Kilian
Willkommen zurück! Nach 5 Wochen #Covid_19 Lockdown haben wir heute bei Volkswagen AG die Produktion schrittweise wieder aufgenommen. Zusammen mit Ministerpräsident Stephan Weil und Bernd Osterloh habe ich viele unserer Kolleg*innen an diesem besonderen Tag persönlich begrüßen dürfen. Insgesamt sind heute rund 8.000 Kolleg*innen wieder ins Werk Wolfsburg zurückgekehrt, um die Produktion des Golf aufzunehmen. Viele haben uns berichtet: Es ist für sie ein wichtiges Signal, dass es nun schrittweise – und unter Einhaltung sämtlicher Schutzvorkehrungen – weitergeht!
Ralf Brandstätter
Wolfsburg baut wieder Autos! Nach Wochen des Stillstandes ist heute die größte Automobilfabrik in Europa wiederangelaufen. Damit senden wir ein wichtiges Zeichen an unsere Belegschaft, den Handel, die Zulieferer und die Wirtschaft insgesamt. Wir machen deutlich: Es geht jetzt wieder los! Zusammen mit dem niedersächsischen Ministerpräsidenten Stephan Weil, Herbert Diess, Gunnar Kilian, Andreas Tostmann und Bernd Osterloh habe ich heute Morgen die Produktion in unserem Stammwerk besucht. Dabei haben wir mit vielen Kolleginnen und Kollegen gesprochen und die Maßnahmen zum Gesundheitsschutz an der Golf-Linie besichtigt. Ein wichtiges Thema war auch die Situation der Automobilindustrie.
Andreas Tostmann
Wir starten bei Volkswagen AG wieder durch: Nach rund fünf Wochen #COVID_19 Lockdown läuft unsere Autoproduktion in Deutschland wieder an – schrittweise und mit einem gut ausgearbeiteten Konzept für den Gesundheitsschutz unserer Kolleg*innen.
Andreas Tostmann
Volkswagen startet wieder mit der Herstellung von Fahrzeugen. Wie wir uns in der Produktion darauf vorbereitet haben und praktische Beispiele aus unserem 100 Punkte Plan, zum maximalen Schutz unserer Mitarbeiterinnen und Mitarbeiter, zeige ich in meiner Videobotschaft aus der legendären Halle 54 in Wolfsburg. Hier läuft endlich nächste Woche wieder der Golf vom Band.
Herbert Diess
Gestern war Gabor Steingart in Wolfsburg. Wir haben – mit nötigem Sicherheitsabstand – über die COVID 19 Krise und über einen möglichen Exit vom Shut-Down gesprochen.
Andreas Tostmann
Wer ist eigentlich in der Volkswagen Produktion, wenn nicht produziert wird und kein Auto vom Band läuft? Mehr Menschen als man denkt!
In unterschiedlichen Bereichen der Fahrzeugproduktion sind Mitarbeiterinnen und Mitarbeiter im Einsatz, wie zum Beispiel im Presswerk, der Kunststofftechnik und den Zentralbereichen. Vor Allem stehen derzeit wichtige technischen Instandhaltungen oder auch vorbereitenden Maßnahmen zum Wiederanlauf des Werkes auf dem Plan.
Herbert Diess: Unsere Disziplin rettet Menschenleben
Das Corona Virus breitet sich schnell und weltweit weiter aus
Die Regierungen versuchen, durch teilweise drastische und bisher unübliche Maßnahmen, die Ausbreitungsgeschwindigkeit des Corona Virus zu reduzieren, um möglichst vielen gefährdeten Personen eine bestmögliche Versorgung durch die Gesundheitssysteme zu ermöglichen.
