Opportunities and risks from partnerships

As part of our future program TOGETHER – Strategy 2025, we are stepping up our efforts to forge collaborations, both for the transformation of our core business and for the establishment of the new mobility solutions business. By entering into partnerships at a local level, we aim to identify regional customer needs more precisely, establish competitive cost structures and develop and offer market-driven products. Going forward, we will concentrate to a greater extent than previously on partnerships, acquisitions and venture capital investments. This will enable us to generate maximum value for the Group and its brands and to expand our expertise, particularly in new areas of business.

Volkswagen owns a large number of patents and other industrial property rights and copyrights. Partnerships can lead to patent and licensing infringements and thus to the unauthorized disclosure of company-specific expertise. Volkswagen monitors the sales markets and will also protect its expertise with legal action if necessary.