The Volkswagen Group is committed to the Paris Climate Agreement and aims to become a CO2-neutral company by 2050. It will also be of great importance to include the retail and service locations worldwide on this path.
The Volkswagen Group's sales network with all its brands extends to more than 150 markets worldwide with more than 17,000 dealerships and service locations, causing corresponding CO2-emissions.
The multi-brand project goTOzero RETAIL focuses on the decarbonization of the entire distribution network and the improvement of a holistic environmental performance of the individual dealers.
The goTOzero RETAIL project was developed as part of the Volkswagen Group's sustainability strategy and aims to reduce the impact of the entire distribution network on the environment. Participating retailers are shown how they can measure their current environmental impact in order to improve their environmental footprint.
An important component of this is, among others, to promote the reduction of the corresponding CO2-emissions of all retail operations. Since its founding in 2021, the cross-brand team behind goTOzero RETAIL has already achieved important milestones: For example, a decarbonization trajectory has been defined and confirmed by the responsible committee. Accordingly, the CO2-footprint of the entire trading network is to be reduced by at least 30 percent by 2030, by at least 55 percent by 2040 and by at least 75 percent by 2050, based on 2020 as a baseline. These goals are to be achieved solely through appropriate reduction measures. In the final step, technically unavoidable CO2-emissions are compensated.
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. In order to assume responsibility in this area, the Volkswagen Group is pursuing ambitious environmental goals with its suppliers, dealers and customers. One of these goals is to reduce CO2-emissions and reduce environmental impacts across the entire value chain. The global dealer network also contributes to the achievement of these targets. The project film provides an overview of goTOzero RETAIL.
The CO2-footprint of the entire retail and service network has been recorded annually since 2022 and published in the Group Sustainability Report. A decarbonization trajectory has also been defined for the dealer network, with reduction targets for 2030, 2040 and 2050. In order to identify and successfully implement these goals and thus the right measures to decarbonize and reduce environmental impacts, manuals, training courses and marketing materials are available to retailers. A comprehensive guidebook shows where energy consumption, CO2 and costs can be reduced in retail operations. Extensive web-based training supports the employees of car dealerships around the world in implementing appropriate measures on site. Explanatory videos, which can be shown to the customer in the showroom or published on the websites of the dealerships, are available and offered to the dealers. An energy and resource consulting concept has been developed that will be available to all markets and partners from 2024. For newly constructed and existing buildings, the Volkswagen Group strives for the highest possible energy efficiency and the use of renewable energies as far as this is economically and technically feasible.
In order to align the entire dealer network of the Volkswagen Group holistically with the protection of the environment, a cross-brand certification system has been developed: the goTOzero RETAIL certification.
This is based on established environmental management systems such as the ISO 14001 standard, building certifications and rating systems. In addition, the certification methodology developed by the Volkswagen Group covers all relevant and specific environmental aspects of a car dealership's core business.
The certification is intended to motivate the retail and service partners of all Group brands worldwide to optimize and reduce their environmental impact in the long term.
The certification criteria are based on the four voluntary commitments of the Volkswagen Group's environmental strategy: 1) climate protection 2) conservation of resources 3) preservation of ecosystems 4) compliance with environmental regulations.
The progress of goTOzero RETAIL's project is communicated on a regular basis.
The following gallery shows just a few of many retailers from different countries that have successfully completed the goTOzero RETAIL certification.
More and more retail partners are taking part in this project and thus contributing to greater sustainability among the world's retailers.
Ignaszak Prosta Spółka Akcyjna, Poland
goTOtero RETAIL Bronze Certificate, from left: Carla Wentzel, Chairwoman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Group Poland, Michał Ignaszak, Owner of Ignaszak Prosta Spółka Akcyjna, Hilke Krause, Project Manager goTOzero RETAIL Volkswagen Group
Werner Bernheim S.A, Uruguay
goTOtero RETAIL Gold Certificate, from left: Germán Ferreño Vazquez, Julio Cesar Lestido S.A., Alejandro Bernheim, Werner Bernheim S.A and Ezequiel Vargas, Volkswagen Argentina
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Customer Center, Hanover
goTOzero RETAIL Silver Certificate, from left: Florian Pauleit goTOzero RETAIL Volkswagen Group, Janine Misensky Colaco Marques goTOzero RETAIL Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Ulrich Kilian (Energy Consultant Market Germany), Mathias Busse (Head of Market Germany), Petra Schreiber (Head of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Sustainability & External Relations), Dirk Strübe (Head of Customer Center)
Carbel Prado, Brazil
goTOzero RETAIL Platinum Certificate, from left:
Gilbert Freitas (Brazil National Retail Manager, Volkswagen do Brasil), Gustavo Ogawa (SAM After Sales Director, Volkswagen do Brasil), Humberto Alexandre da Silva (SAM Region Sustainability Coordinator, Volkswagen do Brasil), Thereza Oliveira (SAM Head of Dealer Development, Volkswagen do Brasil), Arthur Pentagna Guimarães (Director Shareholder of Carbel Auto Group), Roger Corassa (Brazil Vice President of Sales, After Sales, Marketing, Volkswagen do Brasil), Leonardo Tosello (Brazil Senior Sales Manager, Volkswagen do Brasil), Fernado Henrique Silva (Brazil Sales Director, Volkswagen do Brasil)
Sheehy Motors Group Naas, Ireland
goTOzero RETAIL Silver Certificate, from left: Robert Guy (Director Group Aftersales, Volkswagen Group Ireland), Joe Sinnott (Sustainability Champion, Audi Wexford), Diarmaid Boland (Dealer Principal, Audi Wexford), Damien O’Sullivan (Brand Director, Audi Ireland), Stephen Redmon (General Manager, Audi Wexford)
Volkswagen Group Spain, Barcelona
Skoda Bonaval, A Coruña
Audi Vilamòbil, Vilafranca del Penedès
Volkswagen Carhaus, Barcelona
goTOzero RETAIL Gold Certificate
From left: Hilke Krause, Bianca Balasch (Sustainability Coordinator for Volkswagen Group Spain), Toni Mora (Volkswagen Carhaus Owner), Albert Martínez (Audi Vilamòbil General Director), Mireia Vall (Sustainability Manager from Porsche Holding Group Spain), Eva André (Skoda Bonaval General Director), Paco Pérez Botello (President from Volkswagen Group Spain)
