• Ambitious new environmental targets
• 30 % reduction in CO2 emissions during the period from 2006 to 2015
• Emissions plan of below 120 grams of CO2/km for the first time in 2015
• More than two-thirds of the 62.4 billion euro investment program for the period to 2016 is to be spent on more efficient vehicles, powertrains and technologies, as well as environmentally friendly production.
• Every new generation model will be on average 10 to 15 % more efficient than its predecessor
• Group production is to become 25 % more environmentally friendly by 2018
• 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions associated with production-related energy supplies by 2020
• Approximately 600 million euros is to be invested in expanding the use of renewable energies such as wind, solar and hydroelectric power.

The Volkswagen Group is raising the bar for environmental protection higher and has set itself ambitious new sustainability targets. In light of this, the Group will be spending well over two thirds of its entire 62.4 billion euro investment program for the coming five years directly or indirectly in ever more efficient vehicles, new powertrains and technologies as well as environmentally friendly production at its plants worldwide. “Geneva 2012 marks the start of a fundamental ecological restructuring of the Volkswagen Group”, Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Volkswagen Group Board of Management, announced on Tuesday at the Geneva International Motor Show. “Our declared goal is to make Volkswagen the leading automaker in ecological terms, too.”

Volkswagen stands for responsible conduct towards employees, society and the environment. “That is the fundamental element and core of our Strategy 2018. To take pole position and to sustain that lead over the long term, you have to understand all these dimensions of our business and to practice them convincingly at every level,” Winterkorn said, and continued: “We are raising the bar much higher when it comes to the environment.”

In this context, he stated that the Group would be reducing CO2 emissions by its European new vehicle fleet by some 30 % during the period 2006 to 2015. “As a result, emissions by the Volkswagen Group fleet in 2015 will be below the important threshold of 120 grams CO2 per kilometre for the first time,” Winterkorn announced. He went on to say that every new model generation would on average be 10 to 15 % more efficient than its predecessor.

Modular Transverse Toolkit: Efficiency technologies available as standard in all new models

According to Winterkorn, the “Modular Transverse Toolkit” (MQB) would make significant improvements in efficiency and alternative powertrain technologies accessible across all brands and segments. “Based on the MQB, the Volkswagen Group’s efficiency technologies will be available as standard in all new models over the coming years. The next big milestones this year are the Audi A3 and our best-selling model, the Golf”, Winterkorn said. He declared 2013 the “year of e-mobility” for Volkswagen, starting with the e-up!, which would then be followed by further all-electric or partially-electric vehicles from many Group brands.

25 % improvement in environmental compatibility of production
Environmentally friendly production and sustainable energy resources represent a further focus of the multi-billion investment program. According to Winterkorn: “Volkswagen is not only working on developing the most environmentally-friendly vehicles, but also on building them with the greatest possible sustainability. That is why we have set ourselves the target of making production in the Volkswagen Group 25 % more environmentally compatible by 2018.”

He also announced that the Group was aiming for a 40 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions associated with production-related energy supplies by 2020: “To that end, we will be investing some 600 million euro in expanding the use of renewable energies such as wind, solar and hydroelectric power.”

Overview of the Volkswagen Group’s targets:

• The Volkswagen Group will be investing 62.4 billion euro worldwide plus an additional 14 billion euro in China during the period to 2016. Well over two-thirds of this investment program will be spent directly or indirectly on ever more efficient vehicles, powertrains and technologies as well as environmentally friendly production at Group plants worldwide.
• CO2 emissions by the European new vehicle fleet will be reduced by some 30 % during the period from 2006 to 2015 – emissions will be below the threshold of 120 grams CO2/km for the first time by 2015.
• Every new model generation will on average be 10 to 15 % more efficient than its predecessor.
• There is to be a 25 % improvement in the environmental compatibility of production in the Volkswagen Group by 2018. In specific terms, that means 25 % less energy and water consumption, waste and emissions.
• 40 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions associated with production-related energy supplies by 2020.
• To that end, some 600 million euro is to be invested in expanding the use of renewable energies such as wind, solar and hydroelectric power.