Volkswagen Group of America's Stefan Jacoby Talks Innovation and Responsibility at NVTC's Titans Series Event
Jacoby Notes that Northern Virginia's Entrepreneurial Culture Attracted Volkswagen to the Region
HERNDON, Va., Dec. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of the Volkswagen Group of America, spoke Friday to a group of 440 business and technology leaders at The Ritz-Carlton in Tysons Corner as part of the Northern Virginia Technology Council's (NVTC) 2009-2010 Titans series. In his speech, titled "Driving the Future through Innovation and Responsibility," Jacoby outlined the Volkswagen Group's long-term growth strategy in the U.S. and the important role sustainability will play in the automotive industry's future.
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As the largest technology council in the nation, NVTC invites technology and business leaders to address its members through its signature Titans series, covering a wide range of current business and technology topics. Jacoby joins a distinguished list of past presenters that includes Forbes Media's Steve Forbes, Microsoft's Bill Gates, Dell's Michael Dell, and the Consumer Electronics Associations' Gary Shapiro.
In discussing Volkswagen's move to Northern Virginia, Jacoby praised NVTC for being "instrumental in making Virginia the premier place to do business in the U.S." He explained that the atmosphere within the Volkswagen Group of America reflects the core values of this area - innovation, creativity and collaboration - and that the company plans to grow its U.S. business more than three-fold in the next ten years. "From our Herndon headquarters, we see a clear way forward," said Jacoby. When answering audience questions after his remarks, Jacoby addressed Volkswagen's desire to work with local suppliers as the company expands its U.S. brand.
While applauding the reliability of the combustion engine, Jacoby discussed the company's long-term focus on second-generation biofuels, electric cars, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and nanotechnology. He also described clean diesel, optimized gasoline engines, and advanced computer systems that will improve miles per gallon and emissions. According to Jacoby, "these technologies will eliminate the fuel-wasting gridlock that is regrettably all too familiar to the Northern Virginia commuter." Jacoby continued by stating that these types of innovations will put "cars on the road that get 50, 60 or 70 miles per gallon," within the next ten years. Jacoby also discussed the need for better infrastructure nationwide if plug-in vehicles are ever going to reach higher levels of popularity in the United States.
In closing his remarks, Jacoby described the Volkswagen group as leading the way to sustainable mobility, energy security and reduced emissions. "We are at the epicenter of a tectonic shift to a clean energy economy," concluded Jacoby. "The progress we're making today will lead us to tomorrow's breakthroughs."
About The Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC)
The Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC) is the membership and trade association for the technology community in Northern Virginia and is the largest technology council in the nation. NVTC has about 1,000 member companies representing more than 200,000 employees. Its membership includes companies from all sectors of the technology industry and the service providers that support these companies, as well as universities, foreign embassies, non-profit organizations and governmental agencies. NVTC is recognized as the nation's leader in providing its technology community with networking and educational events; specialized services and benefits; public policy advocacy; branding of its region as a major global technology center; initiatives in targeted business sectors and in the international, entrepreneurship, workforce and education arenas; the Equal Footing Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity that serves local area youth; and The Entrepreneur Center @NVTC which mentors new technology entrepreneurs. Visit NVTC at www.nvtc.org
About Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, the world's third largest automaker and the largest carmaker in Europe. It houses the U.S. operations of a worldwide family of distinguished and exciting brands including Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini and Volkswagen, as well as VW Credit, Inc. Founded in 1955, the company's headquarters are in Herndon, Va. Volkswagen Group of America brings to the U.S. vehicles that marry the science of engineering and the art of styling, with the goal of offering attractive, safe, and environmentally sound automobiles that are competitive and set world standards in their respective classes. The company has approximately 2,500 employees in the United States and sells its vehicles through an 800-strong dealer network. With increasing popularity for its brands in the U.S., the company has set the goal of reaching one million car sales in the country by 2018. For more information, please visit www.volkswagengroupamerica.com
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