Volkswagen Named Best Full-Line Corporation in Strategic Vision's Total Quality Index(TM)

Third consecutive year as Best Full-Line Corporation

HERNDON, Va., May 29 -- Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced today that they have been named the best-full line corporation by Strategic Vision for the third consecutive year in a row. Strategic Vision has also named Volkswagen's best selling U.S. nameplate, the Jetta, as the top vehicle in its category in their annual Total Quality Index(TM) (TQI), which offers a complete measure of a customer's new car ownership experience.

"We're thrilled that Volkswagen continues to do well in Strategic Vision's Total Quality Index," said Mark Barnes, chief operating officer, Volkswagen of America, Inc. "It reiterates that our vehicles provide a high standard of quality, are fun to drive, and that our owners are some of the most passionate drivers in the market, as well as wonderful brand advocates."

The Strategic Vision Total Quality Index offers a complete measure of new vehicle owner satisfaction. It asks customers to evaluate all aspects of their ownership experience, from purchasing and owning to performance and handling. It is much more than just counting problems, rather it provides an overall impression of how customers evaluate their new vehicle ownership experience.

To calculate TQI, Strategic Vision asks owners to evaluate their new car experience by measuring: The initial perception of quality, the overall perception of satisfaction, the willingness to be an advocate for the brand, emotional attachment to vehicle, future purchase intention associated with the brand and overall experience with the vehicle. Strategic Vision also asks the customers to evaluate the experience based on product attributes and their dealership experience as well.

Volkswagen of America, Inc.

Volkswagen of America, Inc. recently announced Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) as standard equipment on all its 2009 model year vehicles. As a result, Volkswagen is one of the only original equipment manufacturers to offer an electronic stabilization control system on its entire product line -- ahead of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) deadline requiring stabilization systems in the 2012 model year vehicles. Volkswagen's ESP technology works in conjunction with anti-lock brakes and helps reduce loss of control, rollovers and other types of crashes. NHTSA predicts nearly 10,000 lives could be saved each year if all vehicles had stabilization systems as standard equipment.

Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Rabbit, New Beetle, New Beetle convertible, GTI, Jetta, GLI, Passat, Passat wagon, Eos, and Touareg through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers.