Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Volkswagen means the Peoples car in German. Its slogan is Das Auto (the Car). Volkswagen is Europes largest automaker. It has a market share of over 20 per cent. In 2010, Volkswagen had a total global market share of 11.4 per cent and it is the third largest manufacturer behind GM and Toyota. 50 per cent of Volkswagen is held by Porsche Automobil Holdin, 2.37 per cent by Porsche Holding GmbH, 20.25 per cent by State of Lower Saxony, 10% miacellaneous, 17 % by the Emirate of Qatar. From the first quarter of 2011 the Group operates 62 production plants in fifteen European countries and a further seven countries in the Americas, Asia and Africa. Around the world, nearly 400,000 employees produce about 30,000 vehicles or are involved in vehicle-related services each working day. The Volkswagen Group sells its vehicles in 153 countries.
Company History
The companys name was "Gesellschaft zur Vorbereitung des Deutschen Volkswagens mbH." This name was changed to Volkswagen AG in 1938. During the Second World War, Volkswagen production is switched to armanments. Some 20,000 workers work at the plant to produce armaments. Volkswagen established a humanitarian fund. The British Military Government takes responsibility of the company. Volkswagen production of the Beetle has started. Volkswagen Bully creates rising demand. In 1956, a separate manufacturing plant for the Transporter is established. The one millionth Volkswagen is produced - the Volkswagen Beetle. In 1972, Volkswagen breaks world car production record with 15,007,034 units assembled. The Beetle goes ahead of the Ford Model T. In 1973, the Volkswagen Passat goes into production.
Company Founder(s)
Volkswagen was founded in 1937 by the Nazi trade union. The German couldnt afford anything except for a motorcycle. Bela Barenyi created the basic design in the middle 1920s. Josef Ganz developed the Standard Superior. In 1933 when these projects were being developed, Adolf Hitler decided to sponsor a Volkswagen program. Hitler needed a basic vehicle for transporting two adults and three children and he called it a peoples car. Hitler started a new factory and named Ferdinand Porsche as the engineer who would design the new car. Dr. Ferdinand Porsche agreed to create the Peoples car for Hitler in 1934. Erwin Komenda developed the car that is known as the Beetle today. It is used in Germany since the 1920s. He helped design the bodies of VW Beetle and various Porsche sports cars. He was born in Weyes, in Upper Austria near Steyr. He worked as a car body designer in the Steyr factories. He met Ferdinand Porsche in 1929. He then managed most cases in Mercedes. He then became the chief engineer and leader of the Porsche cars. He developed the VW Beetle. Komeda also designed the Porsche 550 Spyde
Management Team
Martin Winterkorn is the Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG. Dr. Francisco Garcia has the Functional Responsibility of Procurement. Dr. Jochem Heizmann has the responsibility for Group Commerical Vehicles. Christian Klinger is responsible for sales. Michael Macht is responsible for production, Horst Neumann is responsible for human resources, Hans Dieter Potsch is responsible for Finance and Controlling and Rupert Stadler is the Chairman of the Board. Top Manufacturing Facilities
Manufacturing Facilities
Since 2011 Vokswagen operates 62 production plants in fifteen European countries and a further seven countries in the Americas, Asia and Africa. Around the world, nearly 400,000 employees produce about 30,000 vehicles or are involved in vehicle-related services each working day. The Volkswagen Group sells its vehicles in 153 countries. The company has a production plant located in Aurangabad in West India. This plant employs about 954 people and the cars that it produces are: Skoda Fabia, Skoda Octabia, Skoda Yeti, Volkswagwen Jetta, Vokswagen Passat, Audi A4, Audi A6 and Audi Q5. Volkswagen also has a plant in Pune with 3,505 employees. The cars it produces are: Skoda Fabia, Volkswagen Polo and Volkswagen Vento.
Technology
The Direct Shift Gearbox technology is made up of two gearboxes. Clutch one serves the first gearbox unit with 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and reverse gear and clutch two the second gearbox unit with 2nd, 4th and 6th gear. This helps the car get more fuel efficiency. The clutches and gearboxes are controlled by a combination of mechanics and electronics. This uses information such as the engine speed, the road speed, the accelerator position to set optimum gear. DSG allows for fast, smooth gear changes, live handling, safe driving, and improved fuel economy. When you want to park your car, you use the Park Assist Button and it will scan to see whether you have enough space or not to park. You can then stop the car, select reverse gear and let go of the steering wheel. It goes automatically into its space.
International Operations
Volkswagen has set up its global research and development operations in India which will make Volkswagen vehicles for all markets worldwide. There is a technical center in Pune for the same. Volkswagen has global operations, but its primary market is Europe. Volkswagen Passenger Cars is its mainstream brand and its other brands include SEAT, Audi, Skoda, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Bentley, Scania and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. The second largest market globally of Volkswagen is China, where Volkswagen Group China is the largest joint venture automaker selling more than one million vehicles in 2009. The Volkswagen Golf is the third largest selling automobile in the world. Volkswagen has also contributed to sports sponsorships. In 2011, Volkswagen and Porsche are expected to merge together.
Future Plans
Volkswagen plans to make engines in India. The company will also manufacture a range of small cars in India. It already took out the Jetta Sedan and plans to introduce the Phaeton in India soon. It will also supply engines to foreign markets. The company is also looking at local vendors to increase sales locally, maintain low costs in service. Volkswagen will invest Rs. 2,400 crore in India and is also expected to set up a plant in Chakan in Maharasthra that will produce 1.1 lakh units of cars initially. Volkswagen wants to increase its sales in India to one million cars by 2018. They plan to duplicate the success they had in China in India. The company will need to sell large volumes of cars to survive in India. Volkswagen India is speaking to Suzuki Motors India to come up with an India specific Volkswagen car in the future. The two companies are also wanting to source small diesel engines as diesel cars are gaining popularity in India.