At Group level, the company's political representation of interests toward governments, parliaments, authorities, associations, institutions and society is coordinated worldwide in order to ensure concerted action and uniform communication between the brands and companies. Responsibility lies with the Public Affairs steering committee, which reports regularly to the Group Executive Board. Principles such as integrity, openness and traceability as well as guidelines for contact with politicians are set out in a Group-wide guideline, as are rules on transparency. This is the basis for, e.g., the entries made by Volkswagen AG in the lobby transparency registers of the Federal Republic of Germany and the European Union, as well as the disclosure of our positions vis-à-vis politicians in the reporting year, for example on decarbonization, digitalization or human rights.
The guideline obliges the company's political decision-makers in associations to continue to bring the Volkswagen Group's positions into discussions within the scope of what is permissible under competition and antitrust law.
As a matter of principle, the Volkswagen AG does not support political parties and politicians through donations or sponsorships.
Our Principles and “Guidelines for Public Affairs” and further information on “Volkswagen Public Affairs” can be accessed online.
