Volkswagen is on a mission to be the world’s largest automaker while maintaining a commitment to being environmentally and socially conscious. Since 1995, when the automaker set out a set of principles that it wanted to achieve, VW has worked diligently to achieve those goals. In summary, VW as a company has committed to:

  • keep your impact on the environment as small as possible
  • offer high-quality cars that are compatible with the environment, efficient, safe and comfortable
  • research and development of environmentally efficient products, processes and concepts for individual mobility
  • continually improve its policies, cars and production sites to be more environmentally friendly
  • follow its stated environmental policy
  • maintain a dialogue with customers, distributors, political authorities and the public
  • train your employees in environmental practices

VW Think Blue Commitment to ecology in action

In a field that relies on significant amounts of energy to make a product that relies on a continuous supply of energy to function, VW is a recognized leader in its green efforts.

Here are some examples of how the company continually brings its written policies to life:

  • In 2006, JD Powers included the Volkswagen Golf, Jetta and New Beetle on its list of green cars based on fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions. Since then, Volkswagen has been committed to offering fuel-efficient, low-emission “BlueMotion” vehicles that are the most economical models in their class. VW vehicles that offer Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) in diesel models, the Golf, Jetta and Polo, represent BlueMotion in action. VW’s TSI technology for gasoline engines aims to to maximize power from a smaller displacement while limiting fuel consumption.
  • Once criticized in Europe for the levels of CO2 emissions emitted by its cars, Volkswagen carried out an ecological restructuring in 2012 that commits the company to reduce the exhaust gas emission and fuel consumption of its entire European fleet of new cars. to 95 g/km by 2020. The company announced major planned investments to help it achieve these goals, along with its goal of improving environmental sustainability at each of its facilities worldwide by 25%.

Think blue, factory

  • With the announcement of its “Think Blue” slogan in 2012, VW committed to making cars 25% more environmentally friendly by 2018 in factories that follow green manufacturing practices. For employees, “Think Blue, Factory” is an opportunity to get involved as the company plans to honor workers who come up with ideas to reduce energy use at work.
  • VW’s production plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, was awarded the EPA’s 2013 Green Power Leadership Award for its use of renewable energy at the plant. As EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy points out, “By investing in green energy on-site, Volkswagen Chattanooga is generating cleaner electricity and reducing harmful carbon pollution, and providing a shining example of an organization that thrives on innovation and The sustainability”.

think blue future

  • The company is always testing the next best green option. It is currently producing a small number of the VW XL1, a hybrid powered by an 800cc diesel engine, electric motor and battery pack that will deliver 313 miles per gallon. Priced at nearly $150,000, the vehicle isn’t intended for mass production, but it does show how a commitment to green vehicles could work. The company is also working on its 7-seat CrossBlue SUV to introduce strong ecology to the large car market.

Volkswagen’s commitment to the environment is serious and ongoing, even as it aspires to be the number one car manufacturer in the world.