Volkswagen Group honours its best suppliers

The Volkswagen Group presented the Volkswagen Group Award 2012 to its best suppliers. Prof. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, and Dr. Francisco Javier Garcia Sanz, Member of the Group Board of
Management with responsibility for Procurement, presented the awards to a total of 18 premium suppliers during an event in Copenhagen, Denmark. The award ceremony was attended by some 200 guests.

This year's ceremony was held during the event in Copenhagen marking the launch of the new Audi A3, the first Group model based on the new modular transverse toolkit (MQB). Winterkorn praised the contribution made by all the award winners in implementing the new strategy: "Many of you have played a big part in getting the MQB up and running in the Volkswagen Group. I would like to thank you all for the successful and constructive cooperation in putting our modular toolkit strategy into practice."

Addressing the guests, Garcia Sanz set the scene for the upcoming challenges, said, "With the introduction of the modular toolkit strategy throughout the Group, your products will in future not only be used at different sites and in different brands, but will at the same time be fitted in several of the Group's vehicle classes around the world. Going forward, mastering this complexity and the associated growth will be crucial to our success."

The Volkswagen Group honours its best suppliers for their overall entrepreneurial performance with the Volkswagen Group Award. The award-winning companies excel in particular with regard to innovative strength, product quality, development expertise and competent project management. Initiatives to improve efficiency and environmental compatibility also rank as one of the main criteria in the selection process.

In total, 18 companies received the Volkswagen Group Award this year. AISIN AW CO., LTD. and Renesas Electronics Corporation, two companies from Japan, received a joint award. The major earthquake in Japan in March 2011 severely damaged production facilities at both firms. Thanks to joint efforts and transparent communications, the two companies nevertheless succeeded in meeting all delivery deadlines with the highest reliability.

The 18 winners of the Volkswagen Group Award 2012

Winner	Registered office	Country
GILDEMEISTER Aktiengesellschaft	Bielefeld	Germany
ASSMANN PLANEN + BERATEN GmbH	Brunswick	Germany
AISIN AW CO., LTD.	Anjo City	Japan
Renesas Electronics Corporation	Tokyo	Japan
Albert Handtmann Holding GmbH & Co. KG	Biberach a.d. Riß	Germany
ZF Friedrichshafen AG	Friedrichshafen	Germany
Bosch Mahle Turbo Systems GmbH & Co. KG	Stuttgart	Germany
ThyssenKrupp AG	Essen	Germany
Gonvarri Steel Industries	Madrid	Spain
Fonderia di Tobole S.p.A.	Torbole Casaglia	Italy
Kirchhoff Automotive GmbH	Attendorn	Germany
Fujikura Ltd.	Tokyo	Japan
TechniSat Digital GmbH	Daun	Germany
Hella KGaA Hueck & Co.	Lippstadt	Germany
Gentex Corporation	Zeeland	USA
ASAHI GLASS Co., Ltd.	Chiyoda	Japan
Industrialesud S.p.A.	Rome	Italy
Novem Car Interior GmbH	Vorbach	Germany

Posted in: Award,Dr. Francisco Javier Garcia Sanz,International,Prof. Martin Winterkorn,Volkswagen,Volkswagen Group,Volkswagen Group Award 2012