Volkswagen Group

{{Short description|German multinational automotive manufacturing corporation}} {{about|the German multinational automotive group|the flagship marque of this company|Volkswagen}} {{Use British English|date=April 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox company | name = Volkswagen AG | logo = Volkswagen Group Logo 2023.svg | logo_class = logo-nobg skin-invert | logo_size = 250 | image = Wolfsburg VWHochhaus.jpg | image_size = 250 | image_caption = Headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany | type = Public | traded_as = {{FWB|VOW|isin=DE0007664005}}, {{FWB|VOW3|isin=DE0007664005}} DAX component (VOW3) | ISIN = {{ISIN|sl=n|pl=y|DE0007664005}} | area_served = Worldwide | key_people = Hans Dieter Pötsch (chairman of the supervisory board)<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web|url=https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/press-releases/extensive-revision-of-volkswagen-group-management-structure-decided-443 |title=Extensive revision of Volkswagen Group management structure decided|website=Volkswagen Media Services|language=en-GB|access-date=12 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413043610/https://www.volkswagen-media-services.com/en/detailpage/-/detail/Extensive-revision-of-Volkswagen-Group-management-structure-decided/view/6821211/7a5bbec13158edd433c6630f5ac445da?p_auth=OUOY3Rd3|archive-date=13 April 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Oliver Blume (chairman of the board of management)<ref name="Oliver_Blume">{{Cite web|url=https://www.volkswagenag.com/en/news/2022/07/oliver-blume-follows-herbert-diess-as-chairman-of-the-board-of-m.html|title=Oliver Blume follows Herbert Diess as Chairman of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Group|website=Volkswagen News|language=en|date=22 July 2022|access-date=1 September 2022|archive-date=1 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901044546/https://www.volkswagenag.com/en/news/2022/07/oliver-blume-follows-herbert-diess-as-chairman-of-the-board-of-m.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.volkswagenag.com/en/news/stories/2022/08/interview-oliver-blume.html|title="Team spirit, fairness and passion are key"|website=Volkswagen News|language=en|date=1 September 2022|access-date=1 September 2022|archive-date=15 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015120632/https://www.volkswagenag.com/en/news/stories/2022/08/interview-oliver-blume.html}}</ref> | industry = Manufacturing | products = Automobiles, commercial vehicles, internal combustion engines, motorcycles, turbomachinery | production = {{decrease}} 9.03M (2024)<ref name="AR21a">{{cite web|url=https://www.volkswagen-group.com/en/press-releases/volkswagen-group-with-9-million-deliveries-after-strong-fourth-quarter-18965|title=Volkswagen Group with 9 million deliveries after strong fourth quarter |website=Volkswagen Group |date=14 January 2025 |access-date=24 February 2025}}</ref> | services = Banking, financing, fleet management, insurance, leasing{{Sfn|Volkswagen AG|2012|p=110}} | revenue = {{decrease}} €321.913B (2025)<ref name="AR2024">{{Cite web|url=https://uploads.vw-mms.de/system/production/documents/cws/003/212/file_en/41966a4270c8a0a41|title=Annual Report 2025|publisher=Volkswagen AG|access-date=29 March 2025}}</ref> | operating_income = {{decrease}} €8.868B (2025)<ref name="AR2024"/> | net_income = {{decrease}} €6.904B (2025)<ref name="AR2024"/> | assets = {{increase}} €644.467B (2025)<ref name="AR2024"/> | equity = {{increase}} €203.054B (2025)<ref name="AR2024"/> | owners = * Porsche SE: 31.9% of equity, 53.3% of votes ({{as of|2024|12|31|lc=y|df=UK}})<ref name="AR24">{{Cite web |title=Shareholder structure |url=https://annualreport2024.volkswagen-group.com/group-management-report/shares-and-bonds/shareholder-structure.html |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Volkswagen Group Annual Report 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref> * State of Lower Saxony: 11.8% of equity, 20% of votes ({{as of|2024|12|31|lc=y|df=UK}})<ref name="AR24" /> * QIA: 10.4% of equity, 17% of votes ({{as of|2024|12|31|lc=y|df=UK}})<ref name="AR24" /> | num_employees = {{increase}} 682,724 employees (average during 2024)<ref name="AR21a"/> | brands = {{Collapsible list|title='''Automotive''':{{Sfn|Volkswagen AG|2012|pp=U60-U73}}|Audi Bentley Cupra Ducati Jetta Lamborghini Porsche Scout SEAT Škoda Volkswagen Cars}}{{Collapsible list|title='''Commercial''':|IC Bus International Motors MAN Neoplan Scania VW Commercial Vehicles VW Truck & Bus}}{{Collapsible list|title='''Design''':|Italdesign Giugiaro}} | subsidiaries = {{Collapsible list|title='''Transportation''':{{Sfn|Volkswagen AG|2012|pp=U60-U73}}|Traton (89.7%) Porsche Holding Volkswagen Marine}} {{Collapsible list|title='''Financial services''':|Lamborghini Financial Services Bentley Financial Services Volkswagen Financial Services AG Volkswagen Leasing GmbH Porsche Financial Services Volkswagen Immobilien}} {{Collapsible list|title='''Logistics''':|Volkswagen Group Fleet International Volkswagen Group Supply Volkswagen Air Service}} {{Collapsible list|title= '''Industrial''':|Volkswagen Industrial Motor}} {{Collapsible list|title='''International''':|Volkswagen Group China Volkswagen Group Japan Volkswagen Group India Volkswagen Group of America Volkswagen Argentina Volkswagen Australia Volkswagen Group Canada Volkswagen Group Malaysia Volkswagen de México Volkswagen do Brasil Volkswagen Group Ireland Volkswagen Group Italia Volkswagen of South Africa Volkswagen Group Taiwan Volkswagen Group United Kingdom Audi}} | footnotes = | founded = {{Start date and age|1937|05|28|df=yes}}, in Berlin, Germany | founder = German Labour Front | hq_location_city = Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony | hq_location_country = Germany | num_locations = 100 production facilities across 27 countries | website = {{URL|volkswagen-group.com}} }} '''Volkswagen AG''',{{efn|{{IPA|de|ˈfɔlksˌvaːɡn̩|lang|de-Volkswagen.ogg}}}} or '''Volkswagen Group''', is a German multinational conglomerate automotive manufacturer headquartered in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. Since the late 2000s, it has been a publicly traded family business owned by Porsche SE, which in turn is half-owned but fully controlled by the Austrian-German Porsche-Piëch family.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.volkswagen-group.com/en/about-us-16013 |title=About Us |publisher=Volkswagen Group |access-date=20 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.volkswagen-group.com/en/history-15914 |title=History |date=17 December 1999 |publisher=Volkswagen Group |access-date=20 January 2025}}</ref> The company also offers financing, leasing, and fleet management services. In 2024, it was the world's second-largest automaker by sales. It has maintained the largest market share in Europe for over two decades.<ref name="ACEA2012">{{cite web |title=New Passenger Car Registrations By Manufacturer European Union (EU) |url=http://www.acea.be/images/uploads/files/20130116_PRPC-FINAL-1212.xls |format=XLS |publisher=ACEA|date=16 January 2013 |access-date=15 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203181621/http://www.acea.be/images/uploads/files/20130116_PRPC-FINAL-1212.xls |archive-date=3 February 2013}}</ref> It ranked 11th in the 2024 ''Fortune'' Global 500 list of the world's largest companies.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://fortune.com/ranking/global500/ | title=Global 500 2023 |access-date=2026-06-01|website=Fortune.com}}</ref> In 2024, Volkswagen Group was the largest company in the European Union and the largest car manufacturer in the world by revenue.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://fortune.com/ranking/global500/search/ | title=Fortune Global 500 |access-date=2026-06-01|website=Fortune.com}}</ref>

The Volkswagen Group sells passenger cars under the Audi, Bentley, Cupra, Jetta, Lamborghini, Porsche, SEAT, Škoda and Volkswagen brands, motorcycles under the Ducati name, light commercial vehicles under the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand, and heavy commercial vehicles via the marques of the listed subsidiary Traton (International Motors, MAN, Scania and Volkswagen Truck & Bus).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.volkswagen-group.com/en/brands-and-brand-groups-15811 |title=Brands & Brand Groups |publisher=Volkswagen Group |access-date=20 January 2025}}</ref> Software and techstack under CARIAD. It is divided into two primary divisions: the Automotive Division and the Financial Services Division. As of 2008, it had about 342 subsidiary companies.{{Sfn|Volkswagen AG|2009}} Volkswagen also has three joint ventures in China, FAW-Volkswagen, SAIC Volkswagen and Volkswagen Anhui. The company has operations in roughly 150 countries, and it has 100 production facilities across 27 countries.

Volkswagen was founded in Berlin in 1937 and incorporated in Wolfsburg to manufacture the car that would become known as the Beetle. The company's production grew rapidly in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1965, it acquired Auto Union, which subsequently produced the first postwar Audi models. Volkswagen launched a new generation of front-wheel drive vehicles in the 1970s, including the Passat, Polo and Golf; the latter became its bestseller. Volkswagen acquired a controlling stake in SEAT in 1986, making it the first non-German marque of the company, and acquired control of Škoda in 1994, of Bentley, Lamborghini, and Bugatti in 1998, Scania in 2008 and of Ducati, MAN, and Porsche in 2012. The company's operations in China have grown rapidly in the 2010s, with the country becoming its largest market. However, sales in China have declined significantly in the 2020s.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Waldersee |first=Victoria |date=22 April 2025 |title=VW Group pitches comeback in China with new models, in-house assisted driving |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/vw-group-pitches-comeback-china-with-new-models-in-house-assisted-driving-2025-04-22 |access-date=18 May 2025 |work=Reuters}}</ref>

In 2015, Volkswagen was discovered to have used defeat devices to deceive environmental regulators about how much NOx its cars were emitting. The company was fined over {{FXConvert|USA|30|b|cur=USD|cursign=US$|lk=off|year=2019|to=EUR|r=1|showdate=no}}.

Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft is a public company and has a primary listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, where it is a constituent of the Euro Stoxx 50 stock market index, and secondary listings on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and SIX Swiss Exchange. It has been traded in the United States via American depositary receipts since 1988, currently on the OTC Marketplace. Volkswagen delisted from the London Stock Exchange in 2013.<ref name=investorfactsheet>{{cite web|title=Volkswagen AG Factsheet|url=https://www.volkswagenag.com/en/InvestorRelations/shares/fact-sheet.html|date=14 February 2017 |publisher=Volkswagen AG|access-date=14 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215214534/https://www.volkswagenag.com/en/InvestorRelations/shares/fact-sheet.html|archive-date=15 February 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=listedexchanges>{{cite web|title=Volkswagen AG Investor Relations FAQ|url=https://www.volkswagenag.com/en/InvestorRelations/FAQs.html|date=14 February 2017 |publisher=Volkswagen AG|access-date=14 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215210939/https://www.volkswagenag.com/en/InvestorRelations/FAQs.html|archive-date=15 February 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The government of Lower Saxony holds 12.7% of the company's shares, granting it, by law, 20% of the voting rights.<ref name=interim2011>{{cite web|title=Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Interim Report January – September 2011|url=http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/content/en/misc/ir/ir-webcasting.bin.html/downloadfilelist/downloadfile/downloadfile/file/Q3_2011_e.pdf|date=27 October 2011 |publisher=Volkswagen AG|access-date=5 November 2011|page=39|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507080017/http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/content/en/misc/ir/ir-webcasting.bin.html/downloadfilelist/downloadfile/downloadfile/file/Q3_2011_e.pdf|archive-date=7 May 2012}}</ref>

==History==

===1937 to 1945=== [[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-H06734, Grundsteinlegung für Werk des KdF-Wagens.jpg|thumb|left|150px|26 May 1938: Laying the foundation stone of the first Volkswagen plant by Adolf Hitler. In the front right is Ferdinand Porsche.]]

Volkswagen ({{xlat|"People's car"}}; {{lit|People's wagon}}) was founded in Berlin as the ''Gesellschaft zur Vorbereitung des Deutschen Volkswagens mbH'' ('Limited Liability Company for the preparation of the German People's Car', abbreviated to ''Gezuvor'') by the National Socialist ''Deutsche Arbeitsfront'' (German Labour Front) and incorporated in the ''Stadt des KdF-Wagens bei Fallersleben'', (''"''City of the Strength Through Joy car at Fallersleben) on 28 May 1937.{{Sfn|Volkswagen AG|2008a|p=1}}<ref name="porsche-75">{{cite web|url=http://www.porsche.com/international/aboutporsche/pressreleases/archive2009/quarter2/?pool=international-de&id=2009-06-16|title=Seventy-Five Years Ago: Porsche Receives the Order to Construct the Volkswagen|date=16 June 2009|work=porsche.com|publisher=Porsche AG|access-date=22 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028201216/http://www.porsche.com/international/aboutporsche/pressreleases/archive2009/quarter2/?pool=international-de&id=2009-06-16|archive-date=28 October 2010|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="sloniger">{{cite book|last=Sloniger|first=Jerry|title=The VW Story|publisher=Patrick Stephens|year=1980|isbn=0-85059-441-3}}</ref> The purpose of the company was to manufacture the Volkswagen car, originally referred to as the Porsche Type 60, then the Volkswagen Type 1, and commonly called the Volkswagen Beetle.<ref name=VW-intl-hist>{{cite web |url=http://www.volkswagen.vn/vn/en/company/history.html |publisher=Volkswagen AG |title=Volkswagen Makes Automotive History |work=volkswagen.vn |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729014948/http://www.volkswagen.vn/vn/en/company/history.html |archive-date=29 July 2012 |access-date=8 August 2012 }}</ref> This vehicle was designed by Ferdinand Porsche's consulting firm, and the company was backed by the support of Adolf Hitler.<ref name=SmallWonder>{{cite book|last=Nelson|first=Walter|title=Small Wonder|year=1967|publisher=Little, Brown & Company|page=333}}</ref> On 16 September 1938, Gezuvor was renamed ''Volkswagenwerk GmbH'' ('Volkswagen Factory GmbH').{{Sfn|Volkswagen AG|2008a|p=1}}

Shortly after the factory at Fallersleben was completed World War II started, and the plant primarily manufactured the military Kübelwagen (Porsche Type 82) and the related amphibious Schwimmwagen (Type 166), both of which were derived from the Volkswagen. Only a small number of Type 60 Volkswagens were made during this time. The Fallersleben plant also manufactured the V-1 flying bomb, making the plant a major bombing target for the Allied forces.

Slave labour was utilised in the Volkswagen plant, e.g. from the Arbeitsdorf concentration camp. The company would admit in 1998 that it used 15,000 slaves during the war effort. German historians estimated that 80% of Volkswagen's wartime workforce consisted of slave labour.<ref>{{Cite book |last=James |first=Lowellyne |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nUhaDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT17 |title=Management Systems and Performance Frameworks for Sustainability: A Road Map for Sustainably Managed Enterprises |date=2018-05-08 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-23450-0 |pages=17 |language=en}}</ref> Many of the slaves were reported to have been supplied from the concentration camps upon request from plant managers. A lawsuit was filed in 1998 by survivors for restitution for the forced labour.<ref>{{cite news|title=Volkswagen Faces Suit Over Jewish Slave Labor |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/06/13/world/world-news-briefs-volkswagen-faces-suit-over-jewish-slave-labor.html |access-date=18 May 2011 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=13 June 1998|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103234241/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/06/13/world/world-news-briefs-volkswagen-faces-suit-over-jewish-slave-labor.html |archive-date=3 November 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> Volkswagen would set up a voluntary restitution fund.<ref>{{cite news |title=World: Americas German firms face slave labor case |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/162126.stm |access-date=18 May 2011 |work=BBC News |date=1 September 1998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529224344/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/162126.stm |archive-date=29 May 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===1945 to 1970=== [[File:VW Export, Bj. 1951.jpg|thumb|right|A 1951 Volkswagen Beetle]]

After the war in Europe, in June 1945, Major Ivan Hirst<ref name=VW-intl-hist/> of the British Army Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) took control of the bomb-shattered factory for use in repairing British Army vehicles, pending the expected disposal of the plant tooling and equipment as war reparations. However, no British car manufacturer was interested. A British report on the car said that "the vehicle does not meet the fundamental technical requirement of a motor-car … it is quite unattractive to the average buyer … To build the car commercially would be a completely uneconomic enterprise."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2000/mar/18/guardianobituaries |title=Obituaries – Ivan Hirst |work=The Guardian |date=18 March 2000 |access-date=3 February 2012 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204072755/http://www.theguardian.com/news/2000/mar/18/guardianobituaries |archive-date=4 December 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1948, the Ford Motor Company of USA was offered Volkswagen, but Ernest Breech, a Ford executive vice president, said he did not think either the plant or the car was "worth a damn."<ref>Ford: The Times, the Man, the Company by Allan Nevins and Frank Ernest Nevins 1954</ref> Breech later said that he would have considered merging Ford of Germany and Volkswagen, but after the war, ownership of the company was in such dispute that nobody could possibly hope to be able to take it over. As part of the Allies' industrial plans for Germany, large parts of German industry, including Volkswagen, were to be dismantled. Total German car production was set at a maximum of 10% of 1936 car production numbers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/marshall/large/documents/index.php?pagenumber=10&documentid=22&documentdate=1947-03-24&studycollectionid=mp&nav=OK |title=Harry S. Truman – Library & Museum – Draft, The President's Economic Mission to Germany and Austria, Report 3, March, 1947; OF 950B: Economic Mission as to Food...; Truman Papers |work=Trumanlibrary.org |access-date=3 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211032355/http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/marshall/large/documents/index.php?pagenumber=10&documentid=22&documentdate=1947-03-24&studycollectionid=mp&nav=OK |archive-date=11 February 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> The company survived by producing cars for the British Army, and in 1948 the British Government handed the company back over to the German state, to be managed by former Opel chief Heinrich Nordhoff.

[[File:Audi 75 in Rothenburg.jpg|thumb|right|The Audi F103, in production from 1965 to 1972]]

Production of the Type 60 Volkswagen (re-designated Type 1) started slowly after the war due to the need to rebuild the plant and because of the lack of raw materials, but production grew rapidly in the 1950s and 1960s. The company began introducing new models based on the Type 1, all with the same basic air-cooled, rear-engine, rear-drive platform. These included the Type 2 in 1950, the Karmann Ghia in 1955, the Type 3 in 1961, the Type 4 in 1968, and the Type 181 in 1969.

In 1960, upon the flotation of part of the German federal government's stake in the company on the German stock market, its name became ''Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft'' (usually abbreviated to ''Volkswagenwerk AG'').

On 1 January 1965, Volkswagenwerk acquired Auto Union GmbH from its parent company Daimler-Benz. The new subsidiary went on to produce the first post-war Audi models, the F103-series, shortly afterwards.<ref name="chronicle">{{cite book|title=Volkswagen Chronicle|editor1=Manfred Grieger|editor2=Ulrike Gutzmann|editor3=Dirk Schlinkert|publisher=Volkswagen AG|year=2008|series=Historical Notes|volume=7|isbn=978-3-935112-11-6|url=http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2010/05/chronicle.bin.html/binarystorageitem/file/HN7e_www2.pdf|access-date=31 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055559/http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2010/05/chronicle.bin.html/binarystorageitem/file/HN7e_www2.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>

Another German manufacturer, NSU Motorenwerke AG, was merged into Auto Union on 26 August 1969, creating a new company, Audi NSU Auto Union AG (later renamed AUDI AG in 1985).<ref name="chronicle"/>

===1970 to 1999===

[[File:VW Golf I Facelift front 20081209.jpg|thumb|right|A Golf Mk1 - the Golf is the third-bestselling car of all time, selling over 30 million up to 2013.]]

From the late 1970s to 1992, the acronym '''V.A.G.''' was used by Volkswagen AG as a brand for group-wide activities, such as distribution and leasing. Contrary to popular belief, "V.A.G." had no official meaning, and was never the formal name of the Volkswagen Group.<ref name=TTAC.com>{{cite web|title=VW/Porsche: Auto Union? What the NSFW?|url=http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/vwporsche-auto-union-what-the-nsfw/|last=Schmitt|first=Bertel|date=16 May 2009|work=TheTruthAboutCars.com|access-date=15 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090519202627/http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/vwporsche-auto-union-what-the-nsfw/|archive-date=19 May 2009}}</ref>

On 30 September 1982, Volkswagenwerk made its first step expanding outside Germany by signing a co-operation agreement with the Spanish car manufacturer SEAT, S.A.<ref name="chronicle"/>

To reflect the company's increasing global diversification from its headquarters and main plant (the ''Volkswagenwerk'' in Wolfsburg), on 4 July 1985, the company name was changed again—to ''Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft'' (Volkswagen AG).

On 18 June 1986, Volkswagen AG acquired a 51% controlling stake in SEAT, making it the first non-German subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group. On 23 December the same year, it became the Spanish company's major shareholder by increasing its share up to 75%.<ref name="chronicle"/>

In 1990—after purchasing its entire equity—Volkswagen AG took over the full ownership of SEAT, making the company a wholly owned subsidiary, and on 28 March 1991, another step to the expansion of the group's activities was made through the signing of a joint-venture partnership agreement with Škoda automobilová a.s. of Czechoslovakia, accompanied with the acquisition of a 30% stake in the Czech car manufacturer on 16 April 1991.<ref name="chronicle"/>

On 19 December 1994, the group began the acquisition of Škoda Auto by raising its share to 60.3%. Later, on 11 December 1995, it became the Czech company's largest and controlling shareholder by increasing its share up to 70%.<ref name="Skoda Auto ownership chronicle">{{cite web |url= http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/de/talks_and_presentations/2004/10/eastern_europe_investor.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/20041006_mlada_boleslav.pdf |title= Skoda Auto ownership chronicle |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101216033527/http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/de/talks_and_presentations/2004/10/eastern_europe_investor.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/20041006_mlada_boleslav.pdf |archive-date= 16 December 2010 |df= dmy-all |access-date=2026-06-01}}</ref>

Three prestige automotive marques were added to the Volkswagen portfolio in 1998: Bentley, Lamborghini, and Bugatti.<ref name="chronicle"/>

===2000 to present=== [[File:2009 Skoda Superb Elegance CRTDi Automatic 2.0 Front.jpg|thumb|The Škoda Superb B6, in production from 2008 to 2015]]

On 30 May 2000, after having gradually raised its equity share, Volkswagen AG took over the full ownership of Škoda Auto, making the company a wholly owned subsidiary.<ref name="chronicle"/>

From 2002 to 2007, the Volkswagen Group's automotive division was restructured so that two major "Brand Groups" with different profiles would be formed. The ''Audi Brand Group'' included Audi, SEAT and Lamborghini, while the ''Volkswagen Brand Group'' consisted of Volkswagen, Skoda, Bentley and Bugatti.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/gb2006/content/en/Divisions/Business_Lines_and_Markets.html |title=Volkswagen Group – Business lines and markets |publisher=Volkswagen AG |access-date=3 February 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/gb2007/content/en/divisions/business_lines_and_markets.html |title=Volkswagen Group – Brands and business fields |publisher=Volkswagen AG |access-date=3 February 2012 }}</ref>{{New archival link needed|date=April 2026}}

Volkswagen Group revealed on 24 October 2009 that it had made an offer to acquire long-time partner and German niche automotive manufacturer Wilhelm Karmann GmbH out of bankruptcy protection.<ref name="bbg_20091024">{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601100&sid=axvsfzNQEYqg |title=Volkswagen May Take Over Carmaker Karmann, Spiegel Reports |work=Bloomberg |date=24 October 2009 |access-date=2026-06-01}}</ref> In November 2009, the supervisory board of Volkswagen AG approved the acquisition of assets of Karmann, and planned to restart vehicle production at their Osnabrück plant in 2012.<ref name="pr-karman">{{cite web|url=http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/news/2009/11/Karmann.html|title=Volkswagen Supervisory Board lays foundation for car manufacture at Karmann site in Osnabrück|date=20 November 2009|publisher=Volkswagen AG|work=VolkswagenAG.com|access-date=21 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720053822/http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/news/2009/11/Karmann.html|archive-date=20 July 2011}}</ref>

In December 2009, Volkswagen AG bought a 49.9% stake in Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG (more commonly known as Porsche AG) in a first step towards an 'integrated automotive group' with Porsche.<ref name=VWAG_merger>{{cite press release|url=http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/news/2009/08/Volkswagen_Aufsichtsrat_stimmt_Grundlagenvereinbarung_fuer.html|title=Volkswagen Supervisory Board approves Comprehensive Agreement for an Integrated Automotive Group with Porsche|publisher=Volkswagen AG|date=13 August 2009|access-date=22 November 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720053631/http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/news/2009/08/Volkswagen_Aufsichtsrat_stimmt_Grundlagenvereinbarung_fuer.html|archive-date=20 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/08/volkswagen-takes-49-9-percent-stake-in-porsche-ag|title=Volkswagen takes 49.9 percent stake in Porsche AG|date=8 December 2009 |publisher=Autoblog.com|access-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024142444/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/08/volkswagen-takes-49-9-percent-stake-in-porsche-ag/|archive-date=24 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Volkswagen takes 49.9 percent stake in Porsche AG|url=http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/news/2009/12/Porsche_Beteiligung.html|publisher=Volkswagen AG|work=VolkswagenAG.com|date=7 December 2009|access-date=15 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720053916/http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/news/2009/12/Porsche_Beteiligung.html|archive-date=20 July 2011}}</ref> The merger of Volkswagen AG and Porsche SE was scheduled to take place during the course of 2011. On 8 September 2011, it was announced that the planned merger "cannot be implemented within the time frame provided for in the Comprehensive Agreement". As reasons, unquantifiable legal risks, including a criminal probe into the holding's former management team were given. Both parties "remain committed to the goal of creating an integrated automotive group with Porsche and are convinced that this will take place".<ref>{{cite news|title=Porsche loses investment appeal as VW merger skids AG|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-volkswagen-porsche-idUSTRE7884RP20110909|work=Reuters|agency=Reuters|date=9 September 2011|access-date=12 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110910033611/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/09/us-volkswagen-porsche-idUSTRE7884RP20110909|archive-date=10 September 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Merger of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft and Porsche Automobil Holding SE no longer expected within the time frame laid down in the Comprehensive Agreement|url=https://www.volkswagen-media-services.com/medias_publish/ms/content/en/pressemitteilungen/2011/09/08/merger_of_volkswagen.html;jsessionid=1b22b28e-aa93-af45-85d5-67a780d167bf?actionID=ms|publisher=Volkswagen AG|date=8 September 2011|access-date=12 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320172503/https://www.volkswagen-media-services.com/medias_publish/ms/content/en/pressemitteilungen/2011/09/08/merger_of_volkswagen.html;jsessionid=1b22b28e-aa93-af45-85d5-67a780d167bf?actionID=ms|archive-date=20 March 2012}}</ref>

On 4 July 2012 Volkswagen group announced they would wrap up the remaining half of Porsche shares for €4.5 billion ({{US$|5.6}}B) on 1 August 2012 to avoid taxes of as much as €1.5B, which would have to be paid if the wrap up happened after 31 July 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/feedarticle/10321020 |title=Volkswagen aims to wrap up Porsche purchase on Aug 1 |website=TheGuardian.com |date=4 July 2012 |access-date=13 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016051844/http://www.theguardian.com/business/feedarticle/10321020 |archive-date=16 October 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 1 August 2012, Volkswagen AG purchased the remaining stake in Porsche AG equalling 100% of the shares in Porsche Zwischenholding GmbH, thus making Porsche the second German wholly owned subsidiary of the group after Audi.<ref name="VolkswagentoBuyPorsche">{{cite news|last1=Scott|first1=Mark|title=Volkswagen to Buy Remaining Stake in Porsche|url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/07/05/volkswagen-to-buy-remaining-stake-in-porsche/|work=The New York Times|date=5 July 2012|access-date=7 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508054155/https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/07/05/volkswagen-to-buy-remaining-stake-in-porsche/|archive-date=8 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

Volkswagen AG completed the purchase of 19.9% of Suzuki Motor Corporation's issued shares on 15 January 2010.<ref>{{cite web|title=Volkswagen completes Suzuki tieup|date=15 January 2010|work=The Japan Times|url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nb20100116a4.html|access-date=16 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100119174845/http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nb20100116a4.html|archive-date=19 January 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Volkswagen and Suzuki agreed to establish a comprehensive partnership|url=http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/news/2009/12/Suzuki.html|publisher=Volkswagen AG|work=VolkswagenAG.com|date=9 December 2009|access-date=15 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605165648/http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/news/2009/12/Suzuki.html|archive-date=5 June 2010}}</ref> Suzuki invested part of the amount received from Volkswagen into 1.49% of Volkswagen.<ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-12/suzuki-executives-to-discuss-ending-capital-alliance-with-volkswagen.html Suzuki Seeks 'Divorce' From Volkswagen as Their 20-Month Alliance Crumbles] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121184014/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-12/suzuki-executives-to-discuss-ending-capital-alliance-with-volkswagen.html |date=21 January 2015 }}. Bloomberg. Retrieved on 16 July 2013.</ref> In 2011, Suzuki filed a lawsuit at an arbitration court in London requesting that Volkswagen return the 19.9% stake.<ref>{{Cite news |title=VW Expects Suzuki Decision Mid-2013 at Earliest - WSJ.com |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20130314-703432.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20140306230301/http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20130314-703432.html |archive-date=2014-03-06 |access-date=2026-06-01 |language=en}}</ref>

On 25 May 2010, it was announced that Volkswagen Group, through its subsidiary Lamborghini Holding S.p.A., had acquired a 90.1% stake in the Italian automotive design house Italdesign Giugiaro.<ref name="vw-italdesign">{{cite web|title=Volkswagen Group takes majority shareholding in Italdesign Giugiaro |url=http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/themes/2010/05/Volkswagen_Group_takes_majority_shareholding_in_Italdesign_Giugiaro.html |work=volkswagenag.com|publisher=Volkswagen AG |date=25 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110111104826/http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/themes/2010/05/Volkswagen_Group_takes_majority_shareholding_in_Italdesign_Giugiaro.html |archive-date=11 January 2011}}</ref> In less than three months, the transaction had been completed making the Italian firm a member of the Volkswagen Group.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/news/2010/08/Volkswagen_Group_completes_acquisition_of_majority_shareholding_in_Italdesign_Giugiaro.html |title=Volkswagen Group completes acquisition of majority shareholding in Italdesign Giugiaro |publisher=Volkswagen AG |date=9 August 2010 |access-date=3 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110109180833/http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/news/2010/08/Volkswagen_Group_completes_acquisition_of_majority_shareholding_in_Italdesign_Giugiaro.html |archive-date=9 January 2011 }}</ref> Since 2013 the Volkswagen Group has held a 89.7% stake in Traton.

In 2015 research showed a security flaw in the keyless ignition of Volkswagen and other carmakers' vehicles. Volkswagen spent two years trying to keep the research from the public domain.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-08-14/vw-has-spent-two-years-trying-to-hide-a-big-security-flaw|title=VW Has Spent Two Years Trying to Hide a Big Security Flaw|author=Olivia Solon|date=14 August 2015|work=Bloomberg.com|access-date=25 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924225823/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-08-14/vw-has-spent-two-years-trying-to-hide-a-big-security-flaw|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>{{undue weight inline|date=August 2015}} On 3 August 2015, Nokia announced that it had reached a deal to sell its Here digital maps division to a consortium of three German automakers—BMW, Daimler AG, and Volkswagen Group, for €2.8B.<ref name="cnet-heresale">{{cite web|title=Nokia sells Here maps business to carmakers Audi, BMW and Daimler|url=https://cnet.com/news/nokia-sells-here-maps-business-to-carmaker-consortium-of-audi-bmw-and-daimler/|website=CNET|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=3 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805002355/http://www.cnet.com/news/nokia-sells-here-maps-business-to-carmaker-consortium-of-audi-bmw-and-daimler/|archive-date=5 August 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> This was seen as an indication that the automakers were interested in automated cars. Volkswagen held a 19.9% non-controlling shareholding in Suzuki between 2009 and 2015. An international arbitration court ordered Volkswagen to sell the stake back to Suzuki.<ref>{{cite news|title=VW and Suzuki settle four-year dispute|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-34103944|publisher=BBC|date=30 August 2015|access-date=21 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627062635/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-34103944|archive-date=27 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> On 17 September 2015, Suzuki paid {{FXConvert|USA|3.8|b|cur=USD|cursign=US$|lk=off|year=2015|to=EUR|r=1|showdate=no}} to complete the stock buy-back just hours prior to a major scandal about emissions violations engulfing Volkswagen. Suzuki had wished to buy Fiat diesel engines.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Badshah |first=Nadeem |date=2026-05-31 |title=6789 |url=https://6789.is/ |access-date=2026-06-01 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name="bbcSuzuki">{{cite news |title= Suzuki buys back Volkswagen's stake for $3.8bn |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/business-34275917 |publisher= BBC |date= 17 September 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160723230010/http://www.bbc.com/news/business-34275917 |archive-date= 23 July 2016 |url-status=live |quote= The deal between the carmakers soured soon after it was formed in 2009. The companies had agreed to work together on fuel-efficient cars, but Suzuki accused Volkswagen of withholding information it had promised to share. Volkswagen, meanwhile, had objected to a deal Suzuki made to buy diesel engines from Italian carmaker Fiat. |df= dmy-all |access-date=2026-06-01}}</ref> In 2021, Volkswagen sold their 55% stake in Bugatti to Rimac Group while transferring the remaining 45% to Porsche AG, forming a joint venture company called Bugatti Rimac.<ref name="rimac">{{Cite web |title=Bugatti and Rimac begin cooperation |url=https://www.bugatti.com/media/news/2021/bugatti-and-rimac-begin-cooperation/ |access-date=2022-01-27 |website=www.bugatti.com |language=en |archive-date=6 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106160616/https://www.bugatti.com/media/news/2021/bugatti-and-rimac-begin-cooperation/ }}</ref>

In early 2024, Volkswagen Group began looking for partners among international technology corporations to create AI labs, new digital prototypes of products and functions using artificial intelligence.<ref>{{Cite web|language=en|url=https://www.autonews.com/china/vw-founds-ai-lab-it-talks-potential-tech-partners|title=VW founds AI lab, in talks with potential partners|website=Autonews|access-date=2024-02-08|archive-date=2024-02-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240208010635/https://www.autonews.com/china/vw-founds-ai-lab-it-talks-potential-tech-partners?__cf_chl_rt_tk=4szavfGcWRi3ZzypUV9OaDJQU61L1uLa4JI2nbe8CLw-1707354395-0-zQ17}}</ref> In October 2024, Volkswagen plans to close at least three plants in Germany and cut jobs, facing challenges from delayed EV investments and a drop in Chinese sales.<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 October 2024|title=Exclusive: China's Xi pressed Biden to alter language on Taiwan|newspaper=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/chinas-xi-pressed-biden-alter-language-taiwan-sources-say-2024-10-29/ |access-date=29 October 2024}}</ref>

====Emissions scandal, 2015====

On 18 September 2015, the US EPA announced that Volkswagen had installed a "defeat device" software code in the diesel models sold in the US from 2009 to 2015.<ref name="yosemite.epa.gov">{{cite web|url=https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-california-notify-volkswagen-clean-air-act-violations-carmaker-allegedly-used|title=09/18/2015: EPA, California Notify Volkswagen of Clean Air Act Violations / Carmaker allegedly used software that circumvents emissions testing for certain air pollutants|work=epa.gov|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911191545/https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-california-notify-volkswagen-clean-air-act-violations-carmaker-allegedly-used|archive-date=11 September 2016|access-date=25 September 2015}}</ref> The code was intended to detect when an emissions test was being conducted, and altered emissions controls for better compliance. Off the test stand, the controls were relaxed, and emissions jumped 35 to 40 times regulatory levels according to investigators at West Virginia University and the California Air Resources Board. About 482,000 vehicles are under the recall order, a potential {{FXConvert|USA|18|b|cur=USD|cursign=US$|lk=off|year=2015|to=EUR|r=1|showdate=no}} —{{FXConvert|USA|37500||cur=USD|cursign=US$|lk=off|year=2015|to=EUR|r=-2|showdate=no}} per violation— in fines are pending, and news accounts speculate a criminal indictment for the deception is certain.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://huffingtonpost.com/entry/volkswagen-executives-prosecution_55fd9749e4b00310edf74f5d|title=The Justice Department Pledge To Prosecute White-Collar Criminals Is About To Face A Major Test|author=Bloomberg/Getty Images|date=19 September 2015|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=25 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923115647/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/volkswagen-executives-prosecution_55fd9749e4b00310edf74f5d|archive-date=23 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2015/09/epa-accuses-volkswagen-cheating-emissions-testing-482000-cars/|title=EPA Accuses VW of Cheating Smog Testing on 482,000 Cars|date=18 September 2015|magazine=WIRED|access-date=25 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923141416/http://www.wired.com/2015/09/epa-accuses-volkswagen-cheating-emissions-testing-482000-cars/|archive-date=23 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

The VW Group CEO, Martin Winterkorn, said he was "deeply sorry" and ordered an external investigation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2015/09/20/volkswagen-ceo-martin-winterkorn-apologizes-epa-clean-air-act-emissions-violations/72519678/|title=Volkswagen CEO apologizes, orders external probe on emissions allegations|date=20 September 2015|work=USA TODAY|access-date=25 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924121232/http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2015/09/20/volkswagen-ceo-martin-winterkorn-apologizes-epa-clean-air-act-emissions-violations/72519678/|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> The software code was only revealed when the EPA refused to certify VW's 2016 models for sale in the US unless the corporation provided full disclosure.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-19/volkswagen-emissions-cheating-found-by-curious-clean-air-group|title=VW's Emissions Cheating Found by Curious Clean-Air Group |newspaper=Bloomberg.com|date=19 September 2015 |access-date=17 March 2019}}</ref> On Sunday, 20 September 2015, VW Group announced it was halting the sale of its four-cylinder diesel models in the US.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/volkswagen-investigate-breach-u-environment-rules-130056470--finance.html|title=Volkswagen to halt U.S. sales of some 2015 diesel cars|date=20 September 2015|work=Yahoo News|access-date=25 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925143955/http://news.yahoo.com/volkswagen-investigate-breach-u-environment-rules-130056470--finance.html|archive-date=25 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> The US EPA press release on its Notice of Violation,<ref name="yosemite.epa.gov" /> and the California Air Resources Board letter<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/in_use_compliance_letter.htm|title=ARB Letter to VW|work=ca.gov|access-date=25 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924171219/http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/in_use_compliance_letter.htm|archive-date=24 September 2015}}</ref> dated 18 September 2015 contain significant chronological detail of the agencies interaction with VW on the issue.

On 22 September 2015, VW AG admitted that 11 million cars worldwide had been fitted with software intended to deceive emissions testing. The company issued a profit warning, saying it had set aside {{FXConvert|USA|7|b|cur=USD|cursign=US$|lk=off|year=2015|to=EUR|r=1|showdate=no}} to fix the fraud.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/23/business/international/volkswagen-diesel-car-scandal.html|title=Volkswagen Says 11 Million Cars Worldwide Are Affected in Diesel Deception|first=Jack|last=Ewing|newspaper=The New York Times|date=22 September 2015|access-date=17 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304002510/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/23/business/international/volkswagen-diesel-car-scandal.html|archive-date=4 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> On 23 September 2015, Martin Winterkorn announced his resignation from the CEO position after a crisis meeting of the company board.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/volkswagen-ceo-steps-down-takes-160222605.html|title=Volkswagen CEO steps down, takes responsibility for scandal|date=24 September 2015|work=Yahoo Finance|access-date=25 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925085824/http://finance.yahoo.com/news/volkswagen-ceo-steps-down-takes-160222605.html|archive-date=25 September 2015}}</ref> On 25 September 2015 Matthias Müller was named CEO.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/26/business/volkswagen-namesmuller-an-insider-as-chief-executive.html|title=Volkswagen Names Matthias Müller, an Insider, as Chief Executive|first1=Jack|last1=Ewing|first2=Bill|last2=Vlasic|newspaper=The New York Times|date=25 September 2015|access-date=17 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127234450/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/26/business/volkswagen-namesmuller-an-insider-as-chief-executive.html|archive-date=27 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Müller was the head of the Porsche marque within the VW corporate umbrella.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/report-volkswagen-ceo-is-out-2015-9|title=Volkswagen's CEO is staying at the company - Business Insider|date=22 September 2015|work=Business Insider|access-date=25 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924223828/http://www.businessinsider.com/report-volkswagen-ceo-is-out-2015-9|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 21 April 2017, a US federal judge ordered Volkswagen "to pay a {{FXConvert|USA|2.8|b|cur=USD|cursign=US$|lk=off|year=2017|to=EUR|r=1|showdate=no}} criminal fine for rigging diesel-powered vehicles to cheat on government emissions tests". The "unprecedented" plea deal formalised a punishment that Volkswagen AG agreed to earlier in 2017.<ref name=wsj-vk-plea>{{cite news |last=Rogers |first=Christina |date=21 April 2017 |title=Judge Slaps VW With $2.8 Billion Criminal Fine in Emissions Fraud |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/judge-slaps-vw-with-2-8-billion-criminal-fine-in-emissions-fraud-1492789096 |work=Wall Street Journal |access-date=23 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170423232735/https://www.wsj.com/articles/judge-slaps-vw-with-2-8-billion-criminal-fine-in-emissions-fraud-1492789096 |archive-date=23 April 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition, the plea deal includes a {{FXConvert|USA|1.5|b|cur=USD|cursign=US$|lk=off|year=2017|to=EUR|r=1|showdate=no}} settlement for various environmental, customs and financial violations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/volkswagen-ag-agrees-plead-guilty-and-pay-43-billion-criminal-and-civil-penalties-six|title=Volkswagen AG Agrees to Plead Guilty and Pay $4.3 Billion in Criminal and Civil Penalties; Six Volkswagen Executives and Employees are Indicted in Connection with Conspiracy to Cheat U.S. Emissions Tests|date=11 January 2017|access-date=23 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018050709/https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/volkswagen-ag-agrees-plead-guilty-and-pay-43-billion-criminal-and-civil-penalties-six|archive-date=18 October 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

Overall, Volkswagen will pay more than {{FXConvert|USA|30|b|cur=USD|cursign=US$|year=2019|to=EUR|r=1|showdate=no}} in penalties and lawsuit settlements related to the scandal.<ref name="charges">{{cite news |url=https://phys.org/news/2019-01-grand-jury-audi-emissions-case.html |title=Grand jury charges four Audi managers in emissions case |publisher=Phys.org |date=18 January 2019 |access-date=23 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023183015/https://phys.org/news/2019-01-grand-jury-audi-emissions-case.html |archive-date=23 October 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Huge debt==== In its own financial report for 2023 Volkswagen Group estimated its long, medium and short term debt at €155,6B.<ref>{{cite web|title=Annual financial report 2023|url=https://annualreport2023.volkswagen-group.com/group-management-report/volkswagen-ag/net-assets-and-financial-position.html|access-date=2024-11-25}}</ref> It is unclear how Volkswagen group plans to pay off that massive debt considering its falling global vehicle deliveries,<ref>{{cite web|title=Volkswagen deliveries down - Reuters|website=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/volkswagen-q3-deliveries-down-confirming-challenges-european-auto-sector-2024-10-11/|access-date=2024-11-25}}</ref> planned closure of at least three factories in Germany<ref>{{cite web|title=Historic moment for Volkswagen: Automaker plans to close 'at least' 3 German plants and cut thousands of jobs - CNN|date=28 October 2024 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/28/business/volkswagen-factory-closures-layoffs/index.html|access-date=2024-11-25}}</ref> after it previously closed two factories in Russia<ref>{{cite web|title=Volkswagen stops production of vehicles in Russia and suspends export|date=3 March 2022 |url=https://www.volkswagen-group.com/en/press-releases/volkswagen-stops-production-of-vehicles-in-russia-and-suspends-export-16813/|access-date=2026-06-01}}</ref> as well as 64% drop in profit for the three months to the end of September 2024.<ref>{{cite news|title=Volkswagen profit plunges 64% as China sales slide - Financial times|newspaper=Financial Times |date=30 October 2024 |url=https://www.ft.com/content/b5d916ad-2fda-46cb-838a-070c092861af|access-date=2024-11-25 |last1=Inagaki |first1=Kana |last2=Pitel |first2=Laura |last3=Nilsson |first3=Patricia }}</ref> German Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticised Volkswagen's plan to close factories in Germany.<ref>{{cite news |title=Volkswagen plant closures 'not the right way', Germany's Scholz says |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/volkswagen-plant-closures-not-right-way-germanys-scholz-says-2024-12-07/ |work=Reuters |date=7 December 2024|access-date=2026-06-01}}</ref> He proposed a European subsidy program for electric vehicles.<ref>{{cite news |title=Germany's Scholz calls for Europe EV subsidy plan |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20241210-germany-s-scholz-calls-for-europe-ev-subsidy-plan |work=France 24 |date=10 December 2024|access-date=2026-06-01}}</ref>

Latest setback for Volkswagen came on 21 November 2024, when Swedish battery producer Northvolt filed for bankruptcy, Volkswagen previously invested €1.4B in their failed business.<ref>{{cite news|title=Volkswagen wrote down majority of its stake in Northvolt over past year - Financial Times|newspaper=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/5f5acae6-8c97-499c-a2c3-35671f658f28|access-date=2024-11-25 |last1=Inagaki |first1=Kana |last2=Novik |first2=Mari |last3=Nilsson |first3=Patricia }}</ref> On 27 November 2024, Volkswagen announced sale of its Xinijang factory in China partly because "demand for combustion engine vehicles is going down".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cooban |first=Anna |date=2024-11-27 |title=Volkswagen sells its car plant in Xinjiang, citing 'economic reasons' |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/27/business/volkswagen-china-xinjiang-plant-sold-intl/index.html |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>

====Electrification strategy 2025==== [[File:Volkswagen ID.3 at IAA 2019 IMG 0779.jpg|thumb|VW Group has invested in a wide-ranging electrification strategy in Europe, North America and China, with its electric "MEB" platform.]]

In 2016, Volkswagen Group announced a corporate "Strategy 2025" that focuses on electrification of its portfolio.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Boston |first=William |date=2016-06-16 |title=VW CEO's Strategy Overhaul Focuses on Electric Vehicles |url=http://www.wsj.com/articles/vw-ceos-strategy-overhaul-focuses-on-electric-vehicles-1466073807 |access-date=2026-04-23 |work=Wall Street Journal |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref> The VW Group developed the Volkswagen Group MEB platform chassis that will be utilised in a range of various cars and light utility vehicles across several VW Group marques due to its flexibility and floor-mounted battery.<ref>{{Cite web |title=VW weighs second EV platform |url=https://www.autonews.com/article/20160528/OEM05/305309989/vw-weighs-second-ev-platform/ |access-date=2026-04-23 |website=www.autonews.com |language=en}}</ref>

As of May 2018, the VW Group has committed {{FXConvert|USA|48|b|cur=USD|cursign=US$|lk=off|year=2018|to=EUR|r=0|showdate=no}} in car battery supplies<ref name="fortune 3 May 2018">{{Cite web |last=Bloomberg |title=VW Just Ordered $48 Billion in Electric Car Batteries. That's About What Tesla Is Worth Right Now |url=https://fortune.com/2018/05/03/vw-tesla-electric-car-batteries/ |access-date=2026-04-23 |website=Fortune |language=en}}</ref> and plans to outfit 16 factories to build electric cars by the end of 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Etherington |first=Darrell |date=2018-03-13 |title=Volkswagen has locked down $25B in battery supplies for its electric vehicle push |url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/03/13/volkswagen-has-locked-down-25b-in-battery-supplies-for-its-electric-vehicle-push/ |access-date=2026-04-23 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref> According to VW Group CEO Dr. Herbert Diess, the company will offer 25 electric models and 20 plug-in hybrids by 2020.<ref name="fortune 3 May 2018"/>

==== Production in Xinjiang ==== Volkswagen Group came under pressure for cooperating with the Chinese government in the region of Xinjiang. In that same region, western-funded NGOs accused the Chinese government of having committed human rights abuses against the Uyghur minority group, which included mass surveillance, incarceration, and forced labour. After these accusations emerged, Volkswagen responded, "We do not assume any of our employees are forced laborers."<ref name="DW-2019">{{Cite news |author=Jon Shelton |work=Deutsche Welle |title=Volkswagen defends presence in China's Xinjiang amid uproar over Uighur abuses |date=26 November 2019 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/volkswagen-defends-presence-in-chinas-xinjiang-amid-uproar-over-uighur-abuses/a-51427056 |access-date=16 December 2020 |language=en-GB}}</ref> ''Süddeutsche Zeitung'' claimed that Volkswagen was operating a plant in Xinjiang at a loss in order to curry favour with the Chinese government to set up more lucrative plants in other parts of China, which Volkswagen denied, saying that the decision to set up the plant in 2012 was purely based on economics.<ref name="DW-2019" /> In November 2024, Volkswagen announced it would sell the plant to Shanghai Motor Vehicle Inspection Certification.<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 April 2025 |title=VW buckles after years of pressure to sell up in Xinjiang |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/vw-exit-xinjiang-operation-with-sales-local-plant-test-track-sources-say-2024-11-27/ |access-date=27 November 2024 |work=Reuters |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==== New Auto ==== In 2021, Volkswagen Group released their ''New Auto'' strategy. The strategy was based on transitioning to electric cars, and building a shared platform, battery systems, software and mobility solutions to use across all their brands.<ref name="2021-03-16-vw-pr">{{cite news |title=Volkswagen Group set to use platform model for issues of the future |url=https://www.volkswagenag.com/en/news/2021/03/VolkswagenGroup_set_platform_model.html |access-date=16 July 2021 |work=www.volkswagenag.com |date=16 March 2021 |archive-date=16 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716112252/https://www.volkswagenag.com/en/news/2021/03/VolkswagenGroup_set_platform_model.html }}</ref><ref name="2021-07-14-ars">{{cite news |last1=Gitlin |first1=Jonathan M. |title=VW Group's 10-year plan: A single EV platform across all its brands |url=https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/07/vw-groups-10-year-plan-a-single-ev-platform-across-all-its-brands/ |access-date=15 July 2021 |work=Ars Technica |date=14 July 2021 |language=en-us}}</ref> This involves creating the Scalable Systems Platform, as well as developing software under a new subsidiary CARIAD.<ref name="2021-03-16-vw-pr" /><ref name="2021-07-14-ars" /> Volkswagen Group aims by 2024 to transition to selling mostly electric cars.<ref name="2021-07-13-ft">{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Joe |title=VW lifts profit targets as it outlines battery production plans |url=https://www.ft.com/content/cf53d51f-bcb2-46e1-a0e3-e86e9eeba13c |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/cf53d51f-bcb2-46e1-a0e3-e86e9eeba13c |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |access-date=16 July 2021 |work=Financial Times |date=13 July 2021}}</ref> It aims to have six battery factories in Europe by 2030.<ref name="2021-07-13-ft" /> In 2023, Volkswagen Group announced plans to cut costs by €10 billion ({{US$|11.1}}B).<ref>{{cite news |title='A very serious situation': Volkswagen could close plants in Germany for the first time in history |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/02/investing/volkswagen-factory-closure-germany/index.html |work=CNN |date=2 September 2024|access-date=2026-06-01}}</ref> In February 2024, Volkswagen Group and Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer XPeng signed a technology cooperation and joint development agreement on platform and software.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-29 |title=Ready for next EV push: Volkswagen enters into agreement with XPENG for fast joint development of two smart e-cars |url=https://www.volkswagen-group.com/en/articles/ready-for-next-ev-push-volkswagen-enters-into-agreement-with-xpeng-for-fast-joint-development-of-two-smart-e-cars-18246 |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=Volkswagen Group |language=en}}</ref>

==Operations== [[File:Kraftwerk Volkswagen VW.JPG|thumb|150px|Part of the Wolfsburg Volkswagen Plant in Wolfsburg, Germany, its largest worldwide]]

Rooted in Europe, the Volkswagen Group operates in 153 countries.<ref name=fortune20120723>{{cite journal|last=Taylor III|first=Alex|title=Das Auto Giant|journal=Fortune|date=23 July 2012|volume=166|issue=2|pages=150–155|url=http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2012/07/10/global-500-volkswagen/|access-date=28 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716020205/http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2012/07/10/global-500-volkswagen/|archive-date=16 July 2012}}</ref> Volkswagen Passenger Cars is the Group's original marque, and the other major subsidiaries include passenger car marques such as Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, Porsche, SEAT, and Škoda. Volkswagen AG also has operations in commercial vehicles, owning Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, along with controlling stakes in truck, bus and diesel engine manufacturers Scania AB and MAN SE.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/man-vw-idUSLDE76308S20110704|title=UPDATE 3-VW says secures majority stake in truckmaker MAN |work=REUTERS|access-date=12 July 2011|first=Edward|last=Taylor|date=4 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712172242/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/04/man-vw-idUSLDE76308S20110704|archive-date=12 July 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2026, the company was reported to be among the top 30 global investors in research and development (R&D) in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Martin Greenacre |date=8 January 2026 |title=Growth in EU private R&D investment slows |work=Science Business |url=https://sciencebusiness.net/news/eu-budget/growth-eu-private-rd-investment-slows |access-date=2026-04-02 |language=en}}</ref> As of the 24th of April, 2026, Porsche AG has sold Bugatti Rimac to HOF Capital.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 April 2026 |title=Porsche sells its stakes in Bugatti Rimac and Rimac Group to international consortium |url=https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/2026/company/porsche-bugatti-rimac-stakes-42221.html |url-status=live |access-date=1 May 2026 |website=Porsche Newsroom}}</ref>

===Subsidiaries and brands=== The Volkswagen Group comprises the following vehicle manufacturers and their corresponding brands:<ref group=note>Volkswagen Truck and Bus are renamed to TRATON AG.</ref> Here are the brands operated under the Volkswagen Group:<ref>{{cite web|title=Volkswagen Group Brands|url=https://www.volkswagen-group.com/en/brands-and-brand-groups-15811|access-date=2024-04-25}}</ref> * '''Audi AG''': 100% ownership{{Sfn|Volkswagen AG|2012|pp=U60-U73}} — The current company was formed through the acquisitions of Auto Union from Daimler-Benz on 30 December 1964, and NSU Motorenwerke on 9 March 1969 - Audi being the sole surviving marque from the Auto Union combine. ** Audi Sport GmbH — Audi's performance engineering and manufacturing subsidiary.{{Sfn|Volkswagen AG|2012|pp=U60-U73}} ** '''Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.''': 100% ownership{{Sfn|Volkswagen AG|2012|pp=U60-U73}} — acquired by AUDI AG in September 1998.{{Sfn|Volkswagen AG|2012a|p=68}} ***'''Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.''': 100% ownership{{Sfn|Volkswagen AG|2012|pp=U60-U73}} — bought on 19 July 2012. ** '''Bentley Motors Ltd''': 100% ownership.{{Sfn|Volkswagen AG|2012|pp=U60-U73}} Volkswagen purchased Rolls-Royce Motors and Bentley from Vickers on 28 July 1998,{{Sfn|Volkswagen AG|2012a|p=68}} however the purchase did not include the license to use the Rolls-Royce trademark on automobiles, which is controlled by Rolls-Royce Holdings plc.<ref name=bmwrolls>{{cite web |url=https://money.cnn.com/1998/05/08/deals/bmw/ |title=BMW 'Rolls' out ultimatum |date=8 May 1998 |access-date=10 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926065352/http://money.cnn.com/1998/05/08/deals/bmw/ |archive-date=26 September 2013 }}</ref> BMW outmaneuvered Volkswagen, succeeding in obtaining the rights to use the Rolls-Royce trademark on automobiles. From July 1998 until December 2002, BMW continued to supply engines for the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph and the Bentley division sold cars under both the Bentley and Rolls-Royce marques, under an agreement with BMW. In January 2022, Bentley became part of the Audi Group.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.audi-mediacenter.com/en/bentley-motors-ltd-14335|title=Bentley Motors Ltd|access-date=20 January 2022|archive-date=20 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120151741/https://www.audi-mediacenter.com/en/bentley-motors-ltd-14335}}</ref> [[File:Porsche headquarter Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen Werk II.jpg|thumb|upright|Porsche headquarters in Stuttgart]] * '''Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG''': 75% ownership — Volkswagen AG purchased 49.9% of the shares in Porsche Zwischenholding GmbH (the holding company of Porsche AG) in December 2009.<ref name="Porsche SE Holding Structure">{{cite web|title=Porsche SE – Holding Structure|url=http://www.porsche-se.com/pho/en/porschese/holdingstructure/|work=Porsche|access-date=11 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160901065434/http://www.porsche-se.com/pho/en/porschese/holdingstructure/|archive-date=1 September 2016}}</ref> Volkswagen AG purchased the remaining stake in Porsche AG equalling 100% of the shares in Porsche Zwischenholding GmbH, effectively becoming its parent company as of 1 August 2012.<ref name="VolkswagentoBuyPorsche" /> 25% of shares sold in an IPO of Porsche AG in 2022. * '''Jetta''': Joint venture with First Automotive Works created in 2019. * '''Scout Motors Inc.''': 100% ownership — founded in 2022. * '''SEAT, S.A.''': 100% ownership{{Sfn|Volkswagen AG|2012|pp=U60-U73}} — initially in 1982 a co-operation agreement with AUDI AG; 51% and 75% ownership in 1986, and full ownership in 1990. SEAT was the first non-German subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group.<ref name="chronicle"/> ** '''Cupra''': 100% ownership by SEAT. In 2018, SEAT's motorsport division SEAT Sport was renamed Cupra Racing and at the same time, Cupra was launched as an independent brand alongside SEAT. * '''Škoda Auto a.s.''': 100% ownership{{Sfn|Volkswagen AG|2012|pp=U60-U73}} — initially in 1991 a co-operation agreement and 30% ownership;<ref name="chronicle"/> 60.3% and 70% ownership in 1994 and 1995 respectively, 100% ownership since 2000<ref name="Skoda Auto ownership chronicle"/> * '''TRATON SE''': 87.5% ownership — Formerly ''Volkswagen Truck and Bus'', TRATON is the holding company for Volkswagen Group's heavy commercial vehicle operations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.volkswagenag.com/en/news/stories/2018/08/traton-transforms-the-transport-business.html|title=TRATON is a company for a new era of transportation. An Interview with Andreas Renschler.|access-date=2 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902151818/https://www.volkswagenag.com/en/news/stories/2018/08/traton-transforms-the-transport-business.html|archive-date=2 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> ** '''MAN Truck & Bus SE''': 100% ownership — Transferred to TRATON SE after it merged with MAN SE in August 2021. ** '''International Motors, LLC''': 100% ownership — produces heavy trucks under the International brand. Wholly owned by TRATON SE since July 2021. Volkswagen Truck and Bus (now TRATON) took an initial 16.6% stake in Navistar in February 2017. ** '''Scania AB''': 100% ownership — wholly owned by TRATON SE since 15 January 2015. Volkswagen acquired a controlling stake in July 2008, making Scania the 9th marque of the Volkswagen Group.<ref name="100% of Scania shares held by VW AG">{{cite web |title=Volkswagen pays SEK 200 per share to noncontrolling interest shareholders of Scania|url=http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/news/2015/04/Scania.html|work=Volkswagen AG|access-date=29 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904031339/http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/news/2015/04/Scania.html|archive-date=4 September 2015}}</ref> **'''Volkswagen Truck & Bus''': 100% ownership — Volkswagen's Brazilian heavy truck and bus division. Sold by Volkswagen Group to MAN SE in December 2008 and from that point was also known as ''MAN Latin America''. In November 2011, Volkswagen acquired a majority of the shares in MAN SE, bringing Volkswagen Truck & Bus back into the group. Transferred to TRATON SE after it merged with MAN SE in August 2021. [[File:Volkswagen Nutzf Hannover.jpg|right|thumb|The Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles assembly plant in Hannover, Germany]] *'''Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles''' (Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge): 100% ownership{{Sfn|Volkswagen AG|2012|pp=U60-U73}} — Volkswagen's light commercial vehicle division started operations as an independent entity in 1995. * '''Volkswagen Passenger Cars''': 100% ownership — the founding and flagship marque of the company.{{Sfn|Volkswagen AG|2012|pp=U60-U73}} Other subsidiaries and shareholdings: * '''CARIAD''': 100% ownership * '''Diconium''': 100% ownership * '''Digiteq Automotive''': CARIAD SE owns 51% and Škoda Auto a.s. owns 49% .<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.digiteqautomotive.com/en/about-us|title=All about our company |website= Digiteq Automotive|access-date=2026-06-01}}</ref> * '''Everllence SE''': 100% ownership — formerly called MAN Energy Solutions and originally part of MAN SE. * '''Gotion''': 24% stake<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shepherd |first=Christian |date=May 29, 2020 |title=VW increases bet on China's slowing electric vehicle market |url=https://www.ft.com/content/43261447-84b7-4425-a55d-cfb77e56675b |access-date=2025-08-08 |website=Financial Times}}</ref> since 2022.<ref name=":02">{{Cite news |last=Carey |first=Nick |date=2024-12-20 |title=After Northvolt, Europe's battery hopes rely heavily on China |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/after-northvolt-europes-battery-hopes-rely-heavily-china-2024-12-20/ |access-date=2025-08-08 |work=Reuters |language=en}}</ref> * '''IAV''': 50% ownership * '''Italdesign Giugiaro S.p.A.''': 100% ownership — 90.1% acquired via Lamborghini S.p.A. in May 2010. Remaining shares transferred in July 2015. * '''MHP Management- und IT-Beratung''': 100% ownership * '''MOIA''': 100% ownership — new mobility services company.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MOIA – the Volkswagen Group's new mobility services company |url=https://www.volkswagenag.com/en/news/2016/12/MOIA_Neues_Unternehmen1.html |access-date=5 December 2016 |website=www.volkswagenag.com}}</ref> * '''Rivian Automotive, Inc''': 16% ownership. * '''Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies, LLC''': 50% ownership — joint venture with Rivian. * '''Xpeng Motors''': 4.99% ownership

The Group also owns five defunct marques which are managed through the companies Auto Union GmbH and NSU GmbH, both of which are 100% owned by AUDI AG:

*Auto Union — the Auto Union company, together with NSU Motorenwerke AG (NSU), were merged into "Audi NSU Auto-Union AG" in 1969. The name was shortened to "AUDI AG" in 1985, and the interlocked four-ring badge from Auto Union is still used by AUDI AG. *Dampf-Kraft-Wagen (DKW) *Horch *NSU Motorenwerke AG (NSU) – bought in 1969 by Volkswagen AG, and merged into "Audi NSU Auto-Union AG"; the NSU brand has not been used since 1977, while the former NSU manufacturing plant at Neckarsulm is still used for Audi assembly. *Wanderer {{Citation needed|date=May 2026}}

==Corporate affairs==

=== Business trends === {| class="wikitable floatright" |+Sales by business (2024)<ref name=":3" /> !Sector !Share |- |Passenger Cars and Light Commercial Vehicles |68.9% |- |Financial Services |16.7% |- |Commercial Vehicles |13.1% |- |Power Engineering |1.2% |} {| class="wikitable floatright" |+Sales by region (2024)<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Volkswagen AG: Shareholders Board Members Managers and Company Profile - DE0007664039 |publisher=MarketScreener |url=https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/VOLKSWAGEN-AG-436737/company/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=www.marketscreener.com |language=en}}</ref> !Region !Share |- |Europe/Other Markets |44.1% |- |Germany |19.5% |- |North America |18.6% |- |Asia Pacific |11.8% |- |South America |5.9% |} In April 2026, Volkswagen's market capitalisation was valued at €45.4B.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Volkswagen AG (VOW.DE) |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/VOW.DE/key-statistics |access-date=23 April 2026 |website=Yahoo Finance}}</ref> The key trends for the Volkswagen Group are (as at the financial year ending 3 March):<ref>{{Cite web |title=Volkswagen Vz Fundamentalanalyse - KGV - Kennzahlen |url=https://www.boerse.de/fundamental-analyse/Volkswagen-Vz-Aktie/DE0007664039 |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=boerse.de |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-01 |title=Financial Reports |url=https://www.volkswagen-group.com/en/financial-reports-18134 |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=Volkswagen Group |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Volkswagen Group |website=AnnualReports |url=https://www.annualreports.com/Company/volkswagen-group |access-date=2023-11-28}}</ref> {| class="wikitable float-left" style="text-align: center;" !Year !Revenue (€ B)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Volkswagen AG - Umsatz bis 2018 - Statistik |url=https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/30743/umfrage/umsatz-der-volkswagen-ag/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171221172229/https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/30743/umfrage/umsatz-der-volkswagen-ag/ |archive-date=21 December 2017 |access-date=1 November 2018 |website=Statista |language=de}}</ref> !Net income (€ B) !Employees (k)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Volkswagen Group - global number of employees 2018 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/272052/worldwide-number-of-volkswagen-group-employees/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726094508/https://www.statista.com/statistics/272052/worldwide-number-of-volkswagen-group-employees/ |archive-date=26 July 2019 |access-date=26 July 2019 |website=Statista |language=en}}</ref> !Deliveries (m) !Sources |- |1990 |34.8 |0.55 |261 |3.0 |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geschäftsbericht 1990 |publisher=Volkswagen Group |url=https://www.volkswagen-group.com/de/publikationen/unternehmensberichte/geschaeftsbericht-1990-2308 |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=www.volkswagen-group.com}}</ref> |- |2000 |81.8 |2.6 |322 |5.1 |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geschäftsbericht 2000 |publisher=Volkswagen Group |url=https://www.volkswagen-group.com/de/publikationen/unternehmensberichte/geschaeftsbericht-2000-2318 |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=www.volkswagen-group.com}}</ref> |- |2001 |87.3 |2.9 |324 |5.1 |<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Annual Report 2002 |publisher=Volkswagen Group |url=https://www.volkswagen-group.com/en/publications/corporate/annual-report-2002-2320 |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=www.volkswagen-group.com}}</ref> |- |2002 |85.2 |2.5 |324 |4.9 |<ref name=":0" /> |- |2003 |84.8 |1.0 |335 |5.0 |<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Annual Report 2004 |publisher=Volkswagen Group |url=https://www.volkswagen-group.com/en/publications/corporate/annual-report-2004-2322 |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=www.volkswagen-group.com}}</ref> |- |2004 |88.9 |0.69 |343 |5.1 |<ref name=":1" /> |- |2005 |93.9 |1.1 |345 |5.1 |<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Annual Report 2006 |publisher=Volkswagen Group |url=https://www.volkswagen-group.com/en/publications/corporate/annual-report-2006-2324 |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=www.volkswagen-group.com}}</ref> |- |2006 |104 |2.7 |324 |5.7 |<ref name=":2" /> |- |2007 |108 |4.1 |329 |6.1 | |- |2008 |113 |4.6 |369 |6.2 | |- |2009 |105 | 0.91 |368 |6.3 | |- |2010 |126 | 7.2 |399 |7.2 | |- |2011 |159 |15.7 |502 |8.3 | |- |2012 |192 |21.8 |550 |9.3 | |- |2013 |197 |9.1 |573 |9.7 | |- |2014 |202 |11.0 |593 |10.2 | |- |2015 |213 | −1.3 |610 |10.0 | |- |2016 |217 |5.3 |627 |10.2 | |- |2017 |230 |11.6 |634 |10.7 | |- |2018 |235 |13.9 |656 |10.8 | |- |2019 |252 |12.3 |671 |10.9 | |- |2020 |222 |8.3 |663 |9.3 | |- |2021 |250 |14.8 |673 |8.8 | |- |2022 |279 |14.9 |675 |8.2 | |- |2023 |322 |16.0 |679 |9.2 | |- |2024 |325 |12.6 |680 |9.0 | |- |2025 |321 |6.9 |663 |9.0 | |}

===Ownership and Leadership=== {| class="wikitable floatright" |+Volkswagen (mbH, GmbH, AG) leaders !Tenure!!Leader(s) |- |align="left"|1937–1945||Bodo Lafferentz, Ferdinand Porsche, Jakob Werlin<ref>[http://www.verfolgte-schueler.org/1933-45.htm Chronik/Rückblick mit scheinbaren Analogien und ohne Anspruch auf Vollständigkeit] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420003513/http://www.verfolgte-schueler.org/1933-45.htm |date=20 April 2010 }}. Retrieved 22 October 2009.</ref> |- |align="left"|June 1945–December 1947||Ivan Hirst{{Efn|Major Ivan Hirst of the British Army Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME)}}<ref name=VW-intl-hist/> |- |align="left"|1 January 1948–April 1967||Heinrich Nordhoff<ref name="Chronicle">{{cite web|url=https://www.volkswagen-media-services.com/medias_publish/ms/content/en/broschueren/2008/09/16/hn07_volkswagen_chronicle.standard.gid-journalisten.html|title=Historical Notes 7: Volkswagen Chronicle – Becoming a Global Player|access-date=20 November 2011|year=2008}}{{Dead link|date=December 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> |- |align="left"|1 May 1968–September 1971||Kurt Lotz<ref name="Chronicle"/> |- |align="left"|1 October 1971–February 1975||Rudolf Leiding<ref name="Chronicle"/> |- |align="left"|10 February 1975–December 1980||Toni Schmücker<ref name="Chronicle"/> |- |align="left"|1 January 1982–December 1992||Carl Hahn<ref name="Chronicle"/> |- |align="left"|1 January 1993–16 April 2002||Ferdinand Piëch<ref name="Chronicle"/> |- |align="left"|16 April 2002–31 December 2006||Bernd Pischetsrieder<ref name="Chronicle"/> |- |align="left"|1 January 2007–23 September 2015||Martin Winterkorn<ref name="Chronicle"/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Moore|first1=Thad|title=Volkswagen CEO quits amid emissions cheating scandal|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/volkswagen-ceo-resigns-after-emissions-cheating-scandal-spreads/2015/09/23/6b09e540-6203-11e5-8e9e-dce8a2a2a679_story.html|access-date=23 September 2015|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923220627/http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/volkswagen-ceo-resigns-after-emissions-cheating-scandal-spreads/2015/09/23/6b09e540-6203-11e5-8e9e-dce8a2a2a679_story.html|archive-date=23 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Woodyard|first1=Chris|title=VW CEO resigns in cheating scandal|newspaper=The Detroit Free Press|page=1B|date=23 September 2015}}</ref> |- |align="left"|25 September 2015–12 April 2018||Matthias Müller<ref name="volkswagen-media-services.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/press-releases/matthias-mueller-appointed-ceo-of-the-volkswagen-group-2040 |title=Matthias Müller appointed CEO of the Volkswagen Group |date=25 September 2015 |work=volkswagen-media-services.com |access-date=25 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926034026/https://www.volkswagen-media-services.com/en/detailpage/-/detail/Matthias-Mller-appointed-CEO-of-the-Volkswagen-Group/view/2726856/7a5bbec13158edd433c6630f5ac445da?p_p_auth=rd5HndKL |archive-date=26 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> |- |align="left"|12 April 2018–31 August 2022||Herbert Diess<ref name="ReferenceA" /> |- |align="left"|From 1 September 2022 ||Oliver Blume<ref name="Chronicle"/> |}

Under the Volkswagen Law, no shareholder in Volkswagen AG could exercise more than 20% of the firm's voting rights, regardless of their level of stock holding.<ref>{{cite news|title=Top EU court finds against VW law|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6356787.stm|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=13 February 2007|access-date=15 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206031746/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6356787.stm|archive-date=6 December 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> This law was supposed to protect Volkswagen Group from takeovers.<ref name=MT>{{cite web|title=VW Law is a write-off|url=http://www.managementtoday.co.uk/channel/StrategyOperations/news/754256/vw-law-write-off|work=Management Today|date=23 October 2007|access-date=27 December 2009|quote=''State of Lower Saxony, VW's second biggest shareholder, whose premier Christian Wulff sits on the board'' |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080115034024/http://www.managementtoday.co.uk/channel/StrategyOperations/news/754256/vw-law-write-off |archive-date = 15 January 2008}}</ref> In October 2005, Porsche acquired an 18.53% stake in the business, and in July 2006, Porsche increased that ownership to more than 25%. Analysts disagreed as to whether the investment was a good fit for Porsche's strategy.<ref>{{cite news|title=Porsche cites need for changes at Volkswagen|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/07/business/worldbusiness/07iht-porsche.3816927.html|work=International Herald Tribune / nytimes.com|date=7 November 2006|access-date=15 December 2009|first=Mark|last=Landler|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150901232109/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/07/business/worldbusiness/07iht-porsche.3816927.html|archive-date=1 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 26 March 2007, after the European Union moved against the Volkswagen law, Porsche took its holding to 30.9%, triggering a takeover bid under German law. Porsche formally announced in a press statement that it did not intend to take over Volkswagen Group, setting its offer price at the lowest possible legal value, but intended the move to avoid a competitor taking a large stake, or to stop hedge funds dismantling Volkswagen Group, which is Porsche's most important partner.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6494593.stm|title=Porsche triggers a VW takeover bid|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=26 March 2007|access-date=15 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430193512/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6494593.stm|archive-date=30 April 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 16 September 2008, Porsche announced that the company had increased its stake in Volkswagen AG to 35%.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Schwartz|first=Nelson D.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/17/business/worldbusiness/17porsche.html|title=Porsche Takes a Controlling Interest in VW|date=16 September 2008|work=The New York Times|access-date=9 April 2020|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> By October 2008, Porsche held 42.6% of Volkswagen AG's ordinary shares, and held stock options on another 31.5%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.porsche-se.com/pho/en/press/newsarchive2008/?pool=pho%20%20&id=2008-10-26|title=Porsche heads for domination agreement|date=26 October 2008|access-date=6 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420042406/http://www.porsche-se.com/pho/en/press/newsarchive2008/?pool=pho%20%20&id=2008-10-26|archive-date=20 April 2016}}</ref> thus, effectively holding over 74%; 42.6% actual shares, and the rest as convertible options.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/30/porsche-admits-its-not-invincible-post-14-sales-decline|title=Porsche admits it's not invincible, posts 14% sales decline|date=30 January 2009 |publisher=Autoblog.com|access-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016051844/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/30/porsche-admits-its-not-invincible-post-14-sales-decline/|archive-date=16 October 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Volkswagen AG briefly became the world's most valuable company, as the stock price rose to over €1,000 per share as short sellers tried to cover their positions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7697082.stm|title=Hedge funds make £18bn loss on VW|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=29 October 2008|access-date=15 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125144950/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7697082.stm|archive-date=25 January 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> The substantial investment in Volkswagen left Porsche with huge financial burden with its debts accumulating up to €13B by 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/2009/03/31/porsche-volkswagen-options-markets-equity-automotive.html|title=Porsche Mired In Debt|work=Forbes|date=3 March 2009|access-date=15 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420062633/http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/31/porsche-volkswagen-options-markets-equity-automotive.html|archive-date=20 April 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Porsche would get emergency infusion of about {{FXConvert|USA|1|b|cur=USD|cursign=US$|lk=off|year=2009|to=EUR|r=1|showdate=no}} from Volkswagen.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2010/03/Annual_Report_2009.bin.html/binarystorageitem/file/Y_2009_e.pdf |title=Annual Report 2009 |publisher=Volkswagen AG |date=10 February 2010 |access-date=6 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235650/http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2010/03/Annual_Report_2009.bin.html/binarystorageitem/file/Y_2009_e.pdf |archive-date=3 March 2016 }}</ref>

In July 2012, Volkswagen completed takeover of Porsche ending the four-year saga and formed an integrated automotive group with Porsche. Porsche AG would become the 10th brand of Volkswagen. The holding company Porsche SE was left with 31% of the subscribed capital of Volkswagen AG, and 50.7% of the voting rights in the company.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Topham |first=Gwyn |date=2012-07-05 |title=Volkswagen swallows Porsche |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/jul/05/volkswagen-buys-porsche |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416070122/http://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/jul/05/volkswagen-buys-porsche |archive-date=16 April 2016 |access-date=2026-06-01 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

{{As of|2020|12|31}}, share ownership of Volkswagen AG is distributed as follows:<ref name=VWAG-shareholders>{{cite web |title=Shareholder Structure |url=https://www.volkswagenag.com/en/InvestorRelations/shares/shareholder-structure.html |website=www.volkswagenag.com |access-date=7 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107032127/https://www.volkswagenag.com/en/InvestorRelations/shares/shareholder-structure.html|archive-date=7 November 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{col-begin}} {{col-2}} {| class="wikitable" |+Subscribed capital: !Percentage!!Shareholder name |- |31.4%||Porsche Automobil Holding SE |- |25.9%||Foreign institutional investors |- |14.6%||Qatar Holding LLC |- |11.8%||State of Lower Saxony |- |12.9%||Private shareholders / Others |- |3.4%||German institutional investors |} {{col-2}} {| class="wikitable sortable" |+Voting rights: !Percentage!!Shareholder name |- |53.3%||Porsche Automobil Holding SE |- |20.0%||State of Lower Saxony |- |17.0%||Qatar Holding LLC |- |9.7%||Others |} {{col-end}}

===Stock market listings===

Volkswagen AG shares are primarily traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange,<ref name=VWAG-share-info>{{cite web|title=Volkswagen Group – Share Fact Sheet|url=http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/content/en/investor_relations/share/share_fact_sheet.html|publisher=Volkswagen AG|work=VolkswagenAG.com|access-date=22 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110111224631/http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/content/en/investor_relations/share/share_fact_sheet.html|archive-date=11 January 2011}}</ref> and are listed under the 'VOW' and 'VOW3' stock ticker symbols. First listed in August 1961, the shares were issued at a price of DM 350 per DM 100 share,<ref name=VWAG-share-info/> Volkswagen AG shares are now separated into two different types or classes: 'ordinary shares' and 'preference shares'.<ref name=VWAG-share-info/> The ordinary shares are now traded under the WKN 766400 and ISIN DE0007664005 listings, and the preference shares under the WKN 766403 and ISIN DE0007664039 listings.<ref name=VWAG-share-info/>

Volkswagen AG shares are also listed and traded on other major domestic and worldwide stock exchanges. In Germany's domestic exchanges, since 1961 these include those in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich and Stuttgart. International exchanges include those in Basel (listed in 1967), Geneva (1967), Zürich (1967), Luxembourg (1979), London (1988), and New York (1988).<ref name=VWAG-share-info/>

Since the start of trading in 1961, Volkswagen AG shares have been subjected to two stock splits – the first was on 17 March 1969 when they were split at a ratio of 2:1, from a DM 100 share to a DM 50 share. The second split occurred on 6 July 1998, the DM 50 share being converted into a share of no overall nominal value, at a ratio of 1:10.<ref name=VWAG-share-info/>

From 23 December 2009, Volkswagen AG preferred shares replaced its ordinary shares in the DAX index.<ref name=VWAG-share-DAX>{{cite web|title=Volkswagen preferred shares replace ordinary shares in DAX|url=http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/news/2009/12/dax.html|publisher=Volkswagen AG|work=VolkswagenAG.com|date=18 December 2009|access-date=27 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720053753/http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/news/2009/12/dax.html|archive-date=20 July 2011}}</ref>

===Sales and market share=== {| class="wikitable floatright" |+ Top 3 Automakers — Global and EU |- ! Group ! Units ! Share |- | colspan="3" | '''Global, by global volume (2018)<ref name="Reuters20190130">{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-automakers-sales-japan/renault-nissan-group-sold-most-cars-last-year-but-vws-no-1-including-trucks-idUSKCN1PO0R1 | title=Renault-Nissan group sold most cars last year, but VW's No.1 including trucks | work=Reuters | access-date=18 April 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418013439/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-automakers-sales-japan/renault-nissan-group-sold-most-cars-last-year-but-vws-no-1-including-trucks-idUSKCN1PO0R1 | archive-date=18 April 2019 | url-status=live }}</ref>''' |- | Volkswagen | 10,083,000 |— |- | Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi | 10,076,000 |— |- | Toyota | 10,059,000 |— |- | colspan="3" |'''EU, new passenger car volume (EU27, 2013)<ref name="ACEA2013" />''' |- | Volkswagen | 2,957,653 | 25.0 |- | PSA | 1,311,406 | 11.1 |- | Renault | 1,076,367 | 10.4 |}

In 2024, Volkswagen Group's largest single country market was China with 2.93 million units delivered, followed by Germany with 1.12M units. Divided by regions, Asia-Pacific was the second-largest market of the Volkswagen Group with 3.21M units in 2013, followed by Western Europe with 3.14M, and North America with 962,000 units delivered in 2024.<ref name="AR2018">{{cite web |title=Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2024 |url=https://annualreport2024.volkswagen-group.com/_assets/downloads/entire-vw-ar24.pdf |publisher=Volkswagen AG|access-date=2026-06-01}}</ref>

The European ranking of automakers is compiled monthly by the European Auto Manufacturers' Association (ACEA).<ref name="ACEA2013">{{cite web|title=New Passenger Car Registrations by Manufacturer – European Union (EU)|url=http://www.acea.be/press-releases/article/passenger-car-registrations-1.7-in-2013-13.3-in-december|publisher=ACEA|date=16 January 2014|access-date=27 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303184647/http://www.acea.be/press-releases/article/passenger-car-registrations-1.7-in-2013-13.3-in-december|archive-date=3 March 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Volkswagen has held the top spot in Europe uninterrupted for more than two decades.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acea.be/images/uploads/files/20101028_06_PC_90-10_By_Manufacturer_W_Europe.xls|title=Historical series: 1990–2010: New Passenger Car Registrations by manufacturer|publisher=ACEA|year=2011|access-date=13 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927060927/http://www.acea.be/images/uploads/files/20101028_06_PC_90-10_By_Manufacturer_W_Europe.xls|archive-date=27 September 2011}}</ref>

The company was again the top global automaker in 2018, for the fifth consecutive year, selling 10.083M vehicles in the year 2018, just 7,000 more than the Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance.<ref name="Reuters20190130"/>

=== Co-management === {{Main|Volkswagen worker organisations}}

All VW employees are represented by Works Councils and local trade unions in every country it operates with the exception of the United States. In Germany, the local trade union representing employees is IG Metall.<ref name="Whittall-2016">{{Cite web|last1=Whittall|first1=M.|last2=Lucio|first2=M. M.|last3=Mustchin|first3=S.|last4=Telljohann|first4=V.|last5=Sánchez|first5=F. R.|title=Workplace trade union engagement with European Works Councils and transnational agreements: the case of Volkswagen Europe|url=https://core.ac.uk/display/188183754|access-date=2026-06-01}}</ref>

In September 2024, in response to the threat of mass layoffs at Volkswagen, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said that the government would consider how it could help Volkswagen.<ref>{{cite news |title=Driving on empty: The German government has few options to help an ailing car industry |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-volkswagen-robert-habeck-electric-vehicle-bmw-plant/ |work=Politico |date=23 September 2023|access-date=2026-06-01}}</ref> In December 2024, tens of thousands of VW workers in Germany went on strike.<ref>{{cite news |title=Volkswagen strike: 'Still a long way from a viable solution' |url=https://www.euronews.com/business/2024/12/10/volkswagen-strike-still-a-long-way-from-a-viable-solution |work=Euronews |date=10 December 2024|access-date=2026-06-01}}</ref>

==Sponsorships==

Volkswagen is heavily involved in sports sponsorship, with investments having included the 2008 Summer Olympics, the 2014 Winter Olympics,<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://en.beijing2008.cn/03/84/article212048403.shtml|title=Ozone layer protection: Olympic sponsors in action|date=11 October 2008|publisher=Beijing 2008|access-date=25 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924135558/http://en.beijing2008.cn/03/84/article212048403.shtml|archive-date=24 September 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8263538.stm|title=VW to sponsor Sochi 2014 Olympics|date=18 September 2009|work=BBC News|access-date=25 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912104124/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8263538.stm|archive-date=12 September 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as the David Beckham Academy. Volkswagen AG wholly owns the Bundesliga football side VfL Wolfsburg;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=ahbNccCjfaq4&refer=europe-redirectoldpage|title=Wolfsburg, 'Special' City, Reels as Volkswagen Flounders|last=van Loon|first=Jeremy|date=22 July 2005|work=Bloomberg|access-date=25 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103020929/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=ahbNccCjfaq4&refer=europe-redirectoldpage|archive-date=3 November 2012}}</ref> the company is also the shirt sponsor of League of Ireland Premier Division Sligo Rovers and top level of the Mexican football league system Liga MX team Puebla F.C.

== Notes == {{notelist}}

== References == {{Reflist|colwidth=30em|group=note}} {{Reflist|30em}}

===Corporate documents===

*{{cite web |url = http://www.chronicle.volkswagenag.com/inc/pdf.php?year=1937&lang=en |title = 1937-1945 The Foundation of the Volkswagen Plant |year = 2008 |work = Volkswagen Chronicle |publisher = Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft |format = PDF |access-date = 8 August 2012 |ref = {{SfnRef|Volkswagen AG|2008a}} |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140808045514/http://www.chronicle.volkswagenag.com/inc/pdf.php?year=1937&lang=en |archive-date = 8 August 2014 |df = dmy-all }} *{{cite web |url = http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/content/en/investor_relations/corporate_governance/Annual_Document.bin.html/downloadfilelist/downloadfile/downloadfile_0/file/Satzung_August_2102_engl.pdf |title = VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT Articles of Association As at August 2012 |date = August 2012 |work = volkswagenag.com |publisher = VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140808045530/http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/content/en/investor_relations/corporate_governance/Annual_Document.bin.html/downloadfilelist/downloadfile/downloadfile_0/file/Satzung_August_2102_engl.pdf |archive-date = 8 August 2014 |access-date = 15 August 2012 |ref = {{SfnRef|Volkswagen AG|2012b}} |df = dmy-all }} *{{cite web |url = http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2008/03/Annual_Report_2007.bin.html/binarystorageitem/file/VW_AG_GB_2007_en.pdf |title = Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Annual Report 2007 |date = 13 March 2007 |work = volkswagenag.com |publisher = Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft |issn = 0944-9817 |id = 858.809.505.20 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140808045501/http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2008/03/Annual_Report_2007.bin.html/binarystorageitem/file/VW_AG_GB_2007_en.pdf |archive-date = 8 August 2014 |access-date = 8 August 2012 |ref = {{SfnRef|Volkswagen AG|2008}} |df = dmy-all }} *{{cite web |url = http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2009/03/GB_2008.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/Y_2008_e.pdf |title = Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Annual Report 2008 |date = 12 March 2009 |work = volkswagenag.com |publisher = Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft |issn = 0944-9817 |id = 958.809.512.20 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120722061829/http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2009/03/GB_2008.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/Y_2008_e.pdf |archive-date = 22 July 2012 |access-date = 8 August 2012 |ref = {{SfnRef|Volkswagen AG|2009}} |df = dmy-all }} *{{cite web |url = http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2010/03/Annual_Report_2009.bin.html/binarystorageitem/file/Y_2009_e.pdf |title = Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Annual Report 2009 |date = 11 March 2010 |work = volkswagenag.com |publisher = Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft |issn = 0944-9817 |id = 058.809.522.20 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140808045434/http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2010/03/Annual_Report_2009.bin.html/binarystorageitem/file/Y_2009_e.pdf |archive-date = 8 August 2014 |access-date = 8 August 2012 |ref = {{SfnRef|Volkswagen AG|2010}} |df = dmy-all }} *{{cite web |url = http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2011/03/Volkswagen_AG_Geschaeftsbericht_2010.bin.html/binarystorageitem/file/GB_2010_e.pdf |title = Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Annual Report 2010 |date = 10 March 2011 |work = volkswagenag.com |publisher = Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft |issn = 0944-9817 |id = 158.809.527.20 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140808045407/http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2011/03/Volkswagen_AG_Geschaeftsbericht_2010.bin.html/binarystorageitem/file/GB_2010_e.pdf |archive-date = 8 August 2014 |access-date = 8 August 2012 |ref = {{SfnRef|Volkswagen AG|2011}} |df = dmy-all }} *{{cite web |url = http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2012/03/Volkswagen_AG_Annual_Report_2011.bin.html/binarystorageitem/file/Y_2011_e.pdf |title = Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Annual Report 2011 |date = 12 March 2012 |work = volkswagenag.com |publisher = Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft |issn = 0944-9817 |id = 258.809.536.00 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120526072621/http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2012/03/Volkswagen_AG_Annual_Report_2011.bin.html/binarystorageitem/file/Y_2011_e.pdf |archive-date = 26 May 2012 |url-status = live |access-date = 8 August 2012 |ref = {{SfnRef|Volkswagen AG|2012}} |df = dmy-all }} *{{cite web |url = http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2012/03/navigator-2012---facts-and-figures.bin.html/binarystorageitem/file/Navigator_11_06_2012_en_WEB.pdf |title = Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Facts and Figures 2012 |date = 11 June 2012 |work = volkswagenag.com |publisher = Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft |id = 272.802.497.20 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131002114536/http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2012/03/navigator-2012---facts-and-figures.bin.html/binarystorageitem/file/Navigator_11_06_2012_en_WEB.pdf |archive-date = 2 October 2013 |access-date = 10 August 2012 |ref = {{SfnRef|Volkswagen AG|2012a}} |df = dmy-all }} *{{cite web |url = http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/content/en/the_group/production_plants.html |title = Volkswagen Group Production Plants |date = 31 December 2011 |work = volkswagenag.com |publisher = Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120722061539/http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/content/en/the_group/production_plants.html |archive-date = 22 July 2012 |access-date = 8 August 2012 |ref = {{SfnRef|Volkswagen AG|2011a}} |df = dmy-all }}

==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{Official website}} * {{PM20|FID=co/024290|TEXT=Clippings about|NAME=}}

Category:Volkswagen Group Category:Conglomerate companies of Germany Category:Emergency services equipment makers Category:Motor vehicle engine manufacturers Category:Diesel engine manufacturers Category:Multinational companies headquartered in Germany Category:Companies based in Lower Saxony Category:Conglomerate companies established in 1937 Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1937 Category:German companies established in 1937 Category:1960s initial public offerings Category:Companies in the Euro Stoxx 50 Category:Companies in the DAX index Category:Companies listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange Category:Companies formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange Category:Companies involved in the Holocaust Category:Government-owned companies of Germany Category:Research and development in Germany