Student Name:: Akhilesh

Student ID: S2217202 Volkswagen’s CSR Strategy

Volkswagen : Strategy with Volkswagen alignment with Assessment based on ISO
CSR CSR 26000 Area of Improvements

Volkswagen is world’s largest Automotive
manufacturer.
Volkswagen claims that CSR has been
embedded in company’s DNA. The
company’s CSR strategy is intrinsically
linked with 06 | ESG, Decarbonization
and Integrity (Volkswagen, 2022) .
Volkswagen Long-Term Mission –
Sustainable Mobility
Volkswagen can close alignment across CSR ISO 26000 certifies organization whether Volkswagen is currently way behind its
initiatives, but the company has been caught they embrace social responsibility. targets on both financial and non-financial
previously of greenwashing Volkswagen is not ISO 26000 certified. terms. For example, the company is currently
But Volkswagen as part of Sustainability 50% electrification target of its fleet, which
report 2022 mentions initiatives across Fair means it will take another 10 years for
operating policies, environment, Labour achieving 100 % shifting to EVs. Other
practices, Climate Change and Human competitors such a Tesla, BYD, Volvo are
Rights. This covers several principals of much ahead. This leads to both business
ISO 26000 (ISO, 2023). sustainability risk but also leading to
environmental risk and reputational risk
According to Global CSR rankings, (Carey & Waldersee, 2023).
Volkswagen ranks at lower level with median
score of 26.4 indicating Medium Risk level
Volkswagen was embroiled in ‘Dieselgate’
scandal, where it was caught lying on its Lack of ISO 26000 certification of
CO2 emissions. Volkswagen means there is still areas where
the company doesn’t adhere to CSR
standards (Gambetta, 2015).
Volkswagen needs to increase its
transparency and allow 3 party audits of its
rd

CSR initiatives and claims that can ensure

that genuine progress is made.
Volkswagen has undertaken 800 projects Volkswagen must adhere to standards CSR
across the world under social Volkswagen has taken several steps for taking
reporting such as Triple Bottom Line, and
responsibility. Company plans to reduce Since then, Volkswagen has undertaken comprehensive CSR initiatives for a holistic
GAAP standards, so that the performance
CO2 emissions by 50% by 2030 course correction, with moving towards EV CSR strategy. The major challenge is to
according to competitors is measured
(MorningStar, 2023) centric future (Hotten, 2015). ensure authenticity of the claims.
(Rogmans & El-Jisr, 2022).

Carey, N. & Waldersee, V., 2023. Volkswagen sticks to EV targets, pricing despite Rogmans, T. & El-Jisr, K., 2022. Designing Your
Gambetta, V. P., 2015. The VW scandal: A view on corporate self-regulation
knock to demand. [Online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/business/autos- Company’s Sustainability Report. [Online]
References and the law. [Online] Available at: Volkswagen, 2022. Sustainability Report
transportation/volkswagen-lags-behind-profitability-targets-q3-2023-10-26/ Available at: https://hbr.org/2022/01/designing-your- 2022, s.l.: Volkswagen.
https://blogs.eui.eu/maxweberprogramme/the-vw-scandal-a-view-on-
[Accessed 2023]. companys-sustainability-report [Accessed 2023].
corporate-self-regulation-and-the-law/ [Accessed 2023].