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With the inclusion of the EU taxonomy into its new Green Finance Framework (GFF) the Volkswagen Group makes investments in Green Debt Instruments issued by the company more attractive, transparent and reliable for sustainability investors. The GFF links the Group’s decarbonization goals with its financing strategy. Only capital expenditures (capitalized development costs and additions to property plant and equipment) for battery electric vehicles (BEV) that are aligned with the EU taxonomy are taken into account under the new GFF. The investments are audited in connection with the annual report by the Groups independent auditor on a reasonable assurance basis. Investors can thus obtain a high level of transparency and verification for the use of proceeds.

Dr. Arno Antlitz: ”With the new Green Finance Framework we strengthen the position of the Volkswagen Group as an issuer of sustainable finance instruments and our contribution to the sustainable development of our company. To support our increasing investments in electrification we simultaneously aim to increase the share of Green Debt Instruments in our funding mix. In doing so we contribute to the development of the sustainable financing market.”

The Volkswagen Group is continuing its way to focus in its GFF on all electric vehicles only. Capital expenditures in relation to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) or to vehicles with combustion engines are fully excluded. By that, the company continues the way it has started back in March 2020, when the first Green Finance Framework was published. Volkswagen has issued Green Bonds totaling EUR 3.5 billion under the old framework. The new GFF will allow the Volkswagen Group to issue different Green Debt Instruments, including Green Senior Unsecured Bonds, Green Junior Subordinated Bonds, Green Schuldscheindarlehen, and obtain Green Loans.

The Volkswagen Group will report at least once per year on allocation of the net proceeds from debt instruments that are issued on the basis of the GFF as well as on the environmental impact of the BEVs where capital expenditures have been spent in accordance with the GFF. This will be demonstrated via the results from external certified Life Cycle Assessments which analyses the environmental impact of BEVs over their entire life cycle and all stages of the value chain. This includes the extraction of raw materials, the production of materials, the processes at its suppliers and its own production at its sites, the use phase with vehicle emissions and the necessary provision of energy and eventually the recycling of the vehicle at the end of its life cycle.

Sustainalytics as a renowned independent rating institute has given a second party opinion in order to verify compliance with the Green Bond Principles (2021) of the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) and the Green Loan Principles (2021) of the Loan Market Association (LMA).

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

Volkswagen is focusing its development activities for autonomous and highly automated driving. In the area of autonomous driving as a service (MaaS/TaaS), the Group is consolidating its development partnerships. Volkswagen will no longer invest in Argo AI. In individual mobility, Cariad is continuing to drive forward the development of highly automated and autonomous driving together with Bosch and, in the future, in China with Horizon Robotics.

Oliver Blume, CEO Volkswagen AG: "Especially in the development of future technologies, focus and speed count. Our goal is to offer our customers the most powerful functions at the earliest possible time and to set up our development as cost-effectively as possible."

The development of autonomous driving is a core component of the Volkswagen NEW AUTO strategy. Within the Group, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is responsible for implementing this development specifically for the Mobility and Transportation as a Service (MaaS / TaaS) areas, while the technology company Cariad is responsible for developing partially and highly automated driving functions (up to SAE Level 4) for the Group's passenger car brands. Together with development partners, the two companies are continuing to drive forward the development of autonomous driving technologies.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles further expands cooperation

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWN) is further expanding its cooperation to develop technology for its autonomous driving mobility fleets with a partner. This will be announced shortly. Correspondingly equipped ID. Buzz prototypes are already on the road with this partner in a test program.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles' goal for autonomous driving remains: In 2025, customers are expected to be able to use MOIA to book the autonomously driving ID. Buzz in Hamburg in 2025.

Christian Senger, member of the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand board of management responsible for MaaS/TaaS and AD (Mobility and Transport as a Service; Autonomous Driving) explains, "In the course of the cooperation with another partner, the collaboration within the group to develop highly automated and autonomous driving will also be strengthened."

Cariad continues to drive development on Level 3 driving functions for passenger car Group brands with partners

Cariad will continue to drive the development of automated driving for individual mobility in the Automated Driving Alliance with Bosch. The companies aim to make partially and highly automated driving suitable for mass use and available to everyone.

The aim is to provide functions for vehicles of the Volkswagen Group's brand groups that allow drivers to explicitly take their hands off the steering wheel at times. These are advanced driver assistance systems, so-called level 2 systems, for city, countryside and highway, in which the driver is comprehensively supported by the vehicle, and a system in which the vehicle takes over the complete driving task on the highway (SAE level 3). The first functions are to be implemented in 2023.

For the Chinese market, Cariad additionally plans to cooperate with Horizon Robotics to drive forward the development of automated driving on a regional basis in one of the world's most important growth markets. In the area of hardware, the Group has also entered into a partnership with Qualcomm for high-performance chips for automated driving.

Continued employment of Argo AI employees

Volkswagen is working with Argo AI to provide continued employment for employees and to further develop the most promising projects in the field of autonomous driving.

All other collaborations with Ford remain unchanged.

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

The Volkswagen Group continued to drive forward its successful global electric offensive. The deliveries of all-electric vehicles were up 25 percent in the first nine months year-on-year. Despite ongoing supply constraints, 366,400 BEVs have been handed over to customers until the end of September, up from 293,000 in the prior-year period. The BEV share of total deliveries climbed to 6.0 percent in that timeframe, up from 4.2 percent in the same period of 2021. China remains the biggest driver with 112,700 BEVs – more than twice as many as at the end of Q3 2021.

On a regional basis, Europe clearly remained in the lead with 211,900 vehicles (58 percent of Group total) in the first nine months. Second biggest BEV market for the Group was China with 112,700 deliveries (31 percent of Group total). The USA corresponded to 8 percent of the Group’s global BEV deliveries with 28,900 vehicles.

By the end of September, the Volkswagen brand delivered 207,200 BEVs to customers (57 percent of Group total). This was followed by Audi with 77,000 vehicles (21 percent of Group total), ŠKODA with 36,900 vehicles (10 percent of Group total), Porsche with 25,100 vehicles (7 percent of Group total), and SEAT/CUPRA with 17,600 vehicles (5 percent of Group total).

The top selling BEV models in the first nine months of 2022 were as follows:

– Volkswagen ID.4/ID.5 122,600 units
– Volkswagen ID.3 45,500 units
– ŠKODA Enyaq iV (incl. Coupé) 36,900 units
– Audi e-tron (incl. Sportback) 36,400 units
– Audi Q4 e-tron (incl. Sportback) 29,700 units
– Volkswagen ID.6 27.500 units
– Porsche Taycan (incl. Cross Turismo) 25,100 units
– CUPRA Born 17,500 units

Articles source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

The Volkswagen subsidiary Elli is offering electric vehicle customers of the Group brands more comprehensive service. The wall boxes can now be purchased from the German Audi, SEAT, Cupra, ŠKODA Auto, Volkswagen and Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge dealerships. Through the new sales channel, Elli is continuing its strategy to offer a customer-friendly ecosystem for electric mobility. The new partner for in-store sales of the wall boxes is Volkswagen Original Teile Logistik GmbH & Co. KG (OTLG).

Until now, Elli has sold the wall charging stations exclusively on the Internet. The wall boxes are also available online in Italy, Sweden and Spain. Both the Connect and Pro wall charging stations can now be ordered from the German Audi, SEAT, Cupra and ŠKODA Auto, Volkswagen and Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge dealerships or configured as part of a new car purchase. Depending on what their offer includes, the local sales partner also provides an installation service.

Simon Löffler, CCO of Elli says: “We provide electric vehicle customers in Europe with everything they need to charge their vehicles quickly, conveniently and sustainably. We are now making our offer accessible on an even more individual basis through the dealerships. At the same time, we are reinforcing our local offering. In addition to the electric vehicle, dealerships can now also provide quality charging accessories from one provider.”

The wall box models are compatible with current and future electric vehicles of the Volkswagen brands as well as all cars from other manufacturers with a Type-2 connector. Other common features include a charging capacity of up to 11 kW and an integrated 4.5 or 7.5 metre long charging cable. Both the Connect and Pro charger models connect to the Internet via WiFi, optionally also via LTE, allowing users to also control the wall box when on the move. What’s more, these two models can also be activated via app or charging card for particular users. The starting price for the wall boxes in Germany is 769 euros including VAT – both in the Elli Internet shop and from the dealerships.

About Elli – a Volkswagen Group brand
The Volkswagen Group has made charging and energy part of its core business in its NEW AUTO strategy. Volkswagen is investing like no other car manufacturer in establishing a global open fast charging network. Together with partners, around 45,000 high-power charging points (HPC) are planned by 2025 in Europe, China and the US. The Volkswagen subsidiary Elli is responsible for all activities relating to these topics in Europe. The current range of products also includes the entire spectrum of charging solutions for private customers and companies – from the customers’ own wall box and the flexible quick-charging station to charging services and innovative, smart green-power rates. In the next step, Volkswagen plans to anchor the electric car as a mobile power bank in the energy system and create added value for electric car customers.

About Volkswagen Original Teile Logistik GmbH & Co. KG
Volkswagen OTLG, based in Baunatal, belongs to the Volkswagen Group and provides original parts, accessories and services to the service partners of the Volkswagen, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Audi, Seat and Škoda brands in Germany and Denmark. That makes OTLG the after sales backbone of the Volkswagen Groups in Germany and, as a full-range provider, it ensures that millions of customers stay mobile with their vehicles. OTLG employs more than 2,500 people at seven locations in Norderstedt, Cologne, Ludwigsburg, Munich, Dieburg, Ludwigsfelde and Baunatal.

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

Volkswagen has once again received a top score of five stars for the Golf in the Euro NCAP safety test (European New Car Assessment Programme). The European consumer protection institution awarded very high ratings in all areas examined. The compact Volkswagen model was particularly impressive when it came to the safety of adult occupants, children and vulnerable road users, as well as in terms of its assist systems. Its standard equipment now also includes the centre airbag for the front seats. The latest Golf thus comes equipped with a comprehensive safety concept that satisfies the new, more stringent test procedure. As such, the Golf remains among the best in its class.

The Golf has passed its latest safety inspection with flying colours. After Volkswagen’s most successful model was already awarded five stars in 2019 in line with the Euro NCAP standard valid at the time, it has now also had its impressive level of safety verified in the modified version of the test procedure, which has been in place since 2020. Even though its previous rating would have been valid for another three years, Volkswagen decided to bring the safety level of its most successful model up to date – and have it tested according to the new, significantly more stringent standards. Out of the 21 tests in total, 14 were newly carried out according to the updated procedure – and to great success. Euro NCAP’s Secretary General, Michiel van Ratingen, said: “Most vehicle manufacturers tend to ride it out, some may even consider safety cutbacks to maintain competitiveness. So it is excellent to see Volkswagen continually improving the safety of the Golf, to keep abreast of the latest developments and keep pace with competitors.”

One important safety feature here is its new centre airbag for the front seats, which is now included in the Golf’s standard equipment. In the event of a side collision, this helps to prevent possible contact between the heads of the people sitting in the first row of seats. An additional standard lap belt tensioner for the front row of seats enhances safety even further. In the category of “Protection of Adult Occupants”, the successful compact model scored an outstanding 88 percent out of the possible points available.

The Golf achieved a result of 87 percent for “Protection of Children”. This rating is based on three important aspects: In addition to the protection provided by child restraint systems in the event of a frontal or lateral impact, the focus here is also on the options for safe installation of child seats of various sizes, as well as the equipment that a vehicle offers for the safe transportation of children.

In the “Assist Systems” category, the Golf impressed with 79 percent of the maximum score. Among other things, the autonomous emergency braking system (AEB) performed well in tests involving a response to other vehicles. The driver warning system (Driver Alert) and oncoming vehicle braking when turning function – both of which are standard equipment – also made a positive contribution to the result.

In addition to occupant protection in vehicles, Euro NCAP also examines how well automatic emergency braking systems can protect vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists in the event of an impending collision. In this category, the Golf – which is equipped with Front Assist autonomous emergency braking as standard – received a score of 74 percent.

Volkswagen therefore underlines its high standards of safety and continues its run of success in the Euro NCAP: In March 2022, the ID.5, Polo and Taigo all received five-star ratings. Prior to this, the ID.4 and compact ID.3 achieved the highest ratings in the Euro NCAP in April 2021 and October 2020 respectively. In 2019, the T-Cross also received top marks alongside the Golf.

The Euro NCAP assessment programme has been a stringent benchmark for the safety level of new vehicle models in Europe since 1997. It provides car buyers with up-to-date information on the safety of popular new models.The test procedures and requirements for standard assist systems and passive safety are stepped up at regular intervals – around every two years. Details on the individual tests are publicly available at www.euroncap.com.

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

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