Our Commitment
Our Commitment
NO STONE UNTURNED: A LOOK AT THE VOLKSWAGEN WAY TO ZERO PROGRAMME
“We’ve set out on the ‘Way To Zero’ and are consistently placing the environment at the focus of all our activities,” explains Ralf Brandstätter, CEO at Volkswagen.
So, what is “zero” and how will the business get there?
So, “zero” refers to Volkswagen’s pledge that it will be carbon-neutral by 2050 and within this programme it outlines how exactly it will get there. This is a manufacturer that appreciates it has to be a combined effort to hit that kind of target alongside a significant investment across the business.
This joint effort refers to both the driving of cars powered in a sustainable way, but also in the way that Volkswagen produces or manufactures cars.
Volkswagen’s CEO continues: “Our big electric offensive was just the start. We’re taking a holistic approach to decarbonization: from production through service life to recycling. And we’re the first car maker to support the expansion of renewable energies on an industrial scale.”
A joint effort
A key factor in achieving carbon-neutral e-mobility is to be able to charge vehicles consistently with electricity generated entirely from renewable sources. This alone would reduce CO2 emissions by almost half compared with the standard EU electricity mix.
Already today, Volkswagen offers its customers green electricity for charging at home (Volkswagen Naturstrom) and on the road (IONITY charging stations). The company is now going one step further. Volkswagen is the first car maker to directly support the expansion of renewable energy on a large scale. As a result, new wind farms and solar plants are to be constructed in several regions of Europe by 2025.
The idea being that customers drive electric cars that have been powered in a sustainable way.
Want to find out how you can play a role in this movement? Whether it’s a plug-in hybrid or a fully electric car, read about the product line up and organise your test drive by clicking here.
Targeting the production line
As well as ensuring the green use of its vehicles, Volkswagen is also working to decarbonize both production and supply chain – two other areas that are too easily ignored when businesses claim to be on a sustainability march.
Already today, the electricity used at all our European production sites comes from renewable sources. The pioneer here is the electric car factory in Zwickau, where the ID. family is produced. From 2030, all plants worldwide, other than in China, are to operate entirely on green electricity. In the future, the largest contributors to CO2 emissions in the supply chain will be systematically identified and reduced.
Some facts and figures:
- Volkswagen is committed to investing 14bn euros in decarbonisation by 2025
- The company aims to cut CO2 emissions in Europe by 17 tons (ave) per vehicle by 2030
- The CO2 emissions reduction in Europe will represent a 40% cut from 2018
- By 2030 plants in Europe and The Americas will be powered by renewable energy
It’s essential that, as a business, Marshall Volkswagen not only understands what’s behind Way to Zero but is committed to the journey and is able to demonstrate its commitment to customers and visitors to our showrooms.
“And we want everyone to participate in this movement – by being able to choose from innovative drive systems. We want to give you options that will help you on your personal path to lower emissions. Only by doing this will we all reach our common goal.”
Empowering customers to be able to choose from luxury, quality Volkswagen cars that are powered by electricity rather than petrol, is one way the business can make the change.
If you want to find out more about how you can make that switch, read about the ID family here.
Read more about Volkswagen’s Way to Zero campaign here.