VW says local people matter
Volkswagen Group China said the people are the focus of all its activities in the country, its biggest market worldwide.
“Volkswagen focuses on creating a livable future for all the people here in China,” said Jochem Heizmann, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group China.
“We want to provide the best mobility solutions for people for now and the future,” he added.
The German company was one of the first international carmakers to come to China and is the best-selling one in the country. Last year, it delivered more than 4 million cars to Chinese customers.
Heizmann said Volkswagen’s achievement is not limited to car manufacturing and sales, but it also tries its best to contribute to the sustainable development of China’s society.
“Volkswagen aims to be a really responsible and reliable partner of society in China, where we are living,” he said.
In 2014 the carmaker set up a 100 million yuan ($15.9 million) fund for corporate social responsibility programs, to help improve the welfare of local people.
Heizmann said what Volkswagen is concerned about is how efficient its efforts are in that area of endeavor.
“It doesn’t make sense to invest a lot of money in a few people. Efficiency means really reaching as many people as possible and doing something for them.”
He said the overarching topic in Volkswagen’s corporate social responsibility programs was young people “because they are the future.”
Based on its resources and advantages, the company focuses on the four pillars of road safety, environmental protection, sports development and cultural exchanges.
Volkswagen started its child safety initiative in 2013 with its two Chinese joint ventures: SAIC Volkswagen and FAW-Volkswagen.
By the end of 2017, the company had built experience centers in 13 Chinese cities where it had manufacturing facilities, and attracted more than 360,000 children and parents to learn about child safety.
Heizmann said this was an example of how its programs were efficiency oriented.
He said donating safety seats might be a more direct means to promoting child safety, but it would benefit fewer people.
Starting from 2016, Volkswagen began organizing a program to raise awareness of environmental protection among kindergarten, primary and middle-school students.
But to maximize the impact, the program trains teachers instead.
So far, some 6,000 teachers from across the country have participated in the effort, who then have shared what they have learnt with nearly 3 million students.
Volkswagen adopted a similar approach to its youth football program which started in 2015.
Leveraging its resources in the sport back in Germany, the project is designed to promote the development of football among the young, the carmaker said.
In addition to organizing football camps for children, it has invited German coaches to share methods with Chinese counterparts on how to train young footballers.
Volkswagen has also compiled China’s first book on nutrition and injury prevention for young footballers.
Starting in 2016, the company also launched a cultural project called PACE, which stands for participation, connection, education and exchange.
Within its framework, Volkswagen has been organizing the Artistic Engagement Program-China campaign with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra.
The event has attracted some 50,000 participants so far. Volkswagen said AEP-China not only helps and educates young musicians but also ignites the interest of more people in art. Via social media, it has reached more than 10 million people in the country, according to the company.
Through these programs, Volkswagen said it wants to make its contribution in promoting Chinese society’s sustainable development and progress. “We are not only producing good cars, but are also a responsible company caring for the environment and caring for society,” said Heizmann.
Volkswagen aims to be a really responsible and reliable partner of society in China.”
Jochem Heizmann, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group China