Our goal is to run our business responsibly along the entire value chain. Everyone should benefit from this – our customers, our employees, the environment and society. We are also providing new, important and goal-oriented new impetus with the regenerate+ Group sustainability strategy presented in 2024.
The main financial performance indicators for the Volkswagen Group are described in the “Results of Operations, Financial Position and Net Assets” chapter. Non-financial key performance indicators also provide information on the efficiency of our Company’s value drivers. These include the processes in the areas of research and development, procurement, technology, production, marketing and sales, human resources, information technology and quality assurance. In all of these processes, we are aware of our responsibility towards our customers, our employees, the environment and society. In this chapter we provide examples of how we want to increase the value of our Company in a sustainable way. This chapter also includes descriptions of the key intangible resources.
Capitalization ratio
The capitalization ratio is defined as the ratio of capitalized development costs to total research and development costs in the Automotive Division. It shows the proportion of primary research and development costs subject to capitalization.
LNG is needed so that natural gas engines can be used in long-distance trucks and buses, since this is the only way of achieving the required energy density.
The modular system is for the manufacturing of electric vehicles. The MEB establishes parameters for axles, drive systems, high-voltage batteries, wheelbases and weight ratios to ensure a vehicle optimally fulfills the requirements of e-mobility. The production of the first vehicles based on the MEB started into series production in 2020.
As an extension of the modular strategy, this platform can be deployed in vehicles whose architecture permits a transverse arrangement of the engine components. The modular perspective enables high synergies to be achieved between the vehicles in the Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Audi, SEAT and Škoda brands.
Performance levels of hybrid vehicles. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) have a larger battery with a correspondingly higher capacity that can be charged via the combustion engine, the brake system, or an electrical outlet. This increases the range of the vehicle.
A new vehicle platform for all-electric premium, sport and luxury class vehicles. The components and functions of this platform are especially tailored to meet the high demands of this segment. This platform enables high synergies to be achieved particularly between the Audi, Porsche and Bentley brands.
Systematic assessment of companies in terms of their credit quality. Ratings are expressed by means of rating classes, which are defined differently by the individual rating agencies.
The Scalable Systems Platform (SSP) is a future-oriented and industry-leading mechatronics platform for all-electric and fully digitalized vehicles based on a standardized software architecture. Innovative technologies and scalability enable high synergies from the smallest vehicles all the way up to the premium segment with the necessary differentiation between the brand groups Volume, Premium and Sport & Luxury, while at the same time enabling low investment requirements.
Vehicles designed and developed with a focus on software. Highly digitalized with high-performance computers and modern, embedded computer systems. Their functions can be centrally controlled and updated and extended over the vehicle’s life. Their software docks flexibly with all kinds of hardware – from control units to sensors such as cameras and lidar. SDVs are considered the basis for safe, intelligently communicating vehicle fleets, a new customer experience in infotainment and highly automated driving functions.
Levels of fuel consumption and exhaust gas emissions for vehicles registered in Europe were previously measured on a chassis dynamometer with the help of the ”New European Driving Cycle (NEDC)“. Since fall 2017, the existing test procedure for emissions and fuel consumption used in the EU is being gradually replaced by the Worldwide Harmonized Light-Duty Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP). This has been in place for new vehicle types since fall 2017 and for all new vehicles since fall 2018. The aim of this new test cycle is to state CO2 emissions and fuel consumption in a more practice-oriented manner. A further important European regulation is the Real Driving Emissions (RDE) for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, which also monitors emissions using portable emission measuring technology in real road traffic.
