Volkswagen Honors Best Apprentices Worldwide

KASSEL/WOLFSBURG – October 31, 2008: The Volkswagen Group conferred the “Best Apprentice Award 2008” on its best apprentices at a ceremony in Kassel. This year, 20 young people from ten countries received the award. The Group currently trains over 9,600 young people worldwide.

The award certificates were presented by the Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, the Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG responsible for Human Resources, Dr. Horst Neumann, and the President of the Volkswagen Group Global Works Council, Bernd Osterloh. The ceremony took place at the VW plant in Kassel on the occasion of a joint meeting of the Group Global Works Council and the Group Board of Management.

Prof. Dr. Winterkorn emphasized that “training and supporting young people the world over remains a top priority for us. It represents a sustainable investment in the future of Volkswagen and gives young people a perspective.” Dr. Neumann said that “today’s vocational training defines tomorrow’s top team. That is why we are intensifying our training initiative and are, for example, introducing training standards valid across national borders. These standards are oriented to the philosophy of our vocational training: close to the product, close to our day-to-day work and close to the customer.”

Addressing the apprentices, Bernd Osterloh said: “It’s great to see how you put your whole heart into what you do. This Group with its nine brands offers the best career perspectives. There are so many doors open to you if you keep on showing such commitment. At the same time, though, the company has a responsibility to continue supporting you and to make the best use of your talents. Today, there’s already competition for skilled workers, so it’s only logical that we’re keen to keep you with us.”

The VW apprentices honored in Kassel have shown outstanding performance and social competence in very diverse fields. From the maintenance technician from Bratislava (Slovakia) to the development mechanic from Wolfsburg, the electronics technician from Györ in Hungary and the tool mechanic from Puebla in Mexico – these 20 young people will now embark on a special program individually developed by the relevant Group companies.

The itinerary arranged for the apprentices during their five-day stay in Kassel includes a day trip to Wolfsburg, and they will also tour Volkswagen plants and talk to instructors. In addition, the program features test drives, a visit to the Autostadt in Wolfsburg and Schloss Wilhelmshöhe in Kassel.