Volkswagen Group recently held its 21st annual award ceremony, recognizing outstanding performance and long-term collaboration within its supplier network. Prior to the awards, Volkswagen AG hosted around 120 key suppliers at the Autostadt in Wolfsburg for a Supplier Management Conference. The event, themed "Mission: Possible," focused on upcoming sourcing projects and new cooperation models aimed at enhancing transparency and strengthening collaboration in an increasingly complex environment.
The Volkswagen Group emphasizes strategic collaboration within its supply chain to connect with external expertise in development, operations, and innovation. This approach aims to drive efficiency and improve resilience by combining global scale with local flexibility.
Dirk Große-Loheide, Member of the Extended Executive Committee and Member of the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management responsible for Procurement, stated: “The coming years will bring both challenges and significant opportunities for the Volkswagen Group and for our partners. The Volkswagen Group Award highlights our focus on operational excellence, strategic alignment across the supplier network and commitment to performance-driven, future-ready partnerships.” He added that with more than 30 models planned in 2025 alone across various regions, brands, platforms, and technologies, close collaboration remains essential.
The awards were presented across ten strategic categories reflecting the priorities of Volkswagen's Procurement Strategy. These included effective risk management systems, rapid solutions deployment, strategic support in global projects, or transitioning to electrified product lines.
Magna International Inc. received the "Product" category award for developing a complex battery cover solution rapidly. Texas Instruments Incorporated was recognized under "Operational Excellence" for resilient semiconductor supply strategies. Astemo Ltd. was awarded in the "Transformation" category for shifting from combustion engines toward electromobility.
Gestamp Automoción S.A., Huizhou Desay SV Automotive Co., Ltd., Quality Plated Plastics, Aptiv PLC, Vodafone Group Plc., Steel Dynamics Inc., and Valeo S.A. were also honored across various categories including “People & Organization,” “Costs,” “Local Hero,” “Resilient Supply Chains,” “Brands & Regions,” “Sustainability,” and “Supplier Management.”