January

January 6 Volkswagen builds new plant in Ningbo in southern China
The Volkswagen Group expands its production capacity in China and signs the contracts to build a new plant in Ningbo. The facility is scheduled for completion by 2014 and should produce approximately 300,000 vehicles every year.

Audi presentation (photo)

January 9 North American International Auto Show
Volkswagen Passenger Cars kicks off the new automotive year in Detroit with the world premiere of the Jetta Hybrid and the E-Bugster concept car. Bentley unveils two new models – the Continental GT and the Continental GTC.

January 11 What Car? Awards 2012
The Volkswagen Group takes seven out of 13 categories in the British industry awards with its Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Audi and Seat brand vehicles. The jury of experts names the up! city car “Car of the Year”, making it the overall winner.

January 19 Golden Angel 2012
In 2012, Volkswagen is again among the winners of this renowned ADAC award, with prizes in the “Car”, “Innovation and Environment”, “Car of the Future” and “Quality” categories. The ADAC is Germany’s largest automobile club.

January 26 The Best Cars of 2012
The Volkswagen Group is voted the most successful company in the poll by readers of the German specialist journal “auto motor und sport”, coming first in numerous categories. Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Audi, SEAT and ŠKODA brand vehicles take the top honors.

February

February 21 up! wins gold iF product design award
The up! is a trendsetter in terms of design, too, winning a prestigious “iF product design award 2012” in gold for its innovative exterior.

March

March 2 Reader poll chooses the “Best brands in all classes”
The Volkswagen Group receives 23 awards in the new trend barometer, the “Best brands in all classes” reader poll, of the German magazine “AUTO BILD”.

March 6 International Motor Show, Geneva
The Volkswagen Group presents a large number of new models and concept cars in Geneva. The Group also kicks off a fundamental environmental restructuring effort that aims to make Volkswagen the leading automobile manufacturer from an ecological perspective as well.

March 23 Production milestone in Wolfsburg
A Golf TSI BlueMotion car is the 40-millionth vehicle to roll off the production line at the Wolfsburg plant.

March 28 Double win in the “AUTO BILD Allrad” reader poll
More than 120,000 “AUTO BILD Allrad” readers vote on their favorite vehicles. Two Volkswagen models are awarded the title of “Four-Wheel-Drive Car of the Year 2012”: the Passat Alltrack and the Touareg Hybrid.

April

Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, and representatives of Chinese partner SAIC Motor Corporation sign a contract to build a new plant in Urumqi in western China in the presence of Chinese premier Wen Jiabao and German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel (photo)

April 5 The up! is named “World Car of the Year 2012”
The up! receives the coveted award at the New York International Auto Show.

April 23 Volkswagen Group plans to expand its presence in China
Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, and representatives of Chinese partner SAIC Motor Corporation sign a contract to build a new plant in Urumqi in western China in the presence of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel.

May

May 31 Volkswagen and IG Metall conclude wage negotiation round
Volkswagen and IG Metall successfully conclude negotiations on the company collective agreement. Basic pay rises by 4.3% as of June 1, 2012.

June

June 2 Volkswagen Group makes extensive structural and management changes
Following the strong growth seen in recent years, the Volkswagen Group implements extensive restructuring measures at an organizational and management level in response to the increased demands, giving its Strategy 2018 additional momentum.

Press conference held by Volkswagen AG in Wolfsburg (photo)

June 6 Volkswagen Group increases its share of voting rights in MAN
Effective June 6, 2012, Volkswagen increased its share of voting rights in MAN SE to 75.03%, thus strengthening the alliance between MAN, Scania and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

June 13 2012 International Engine of the Year Award
Volkswagen’s 1.4 TSI engine is presented with the “International Engine of the Year Award” for the seventh time in a row in June in the 1.0 to 1.4 liter category.

June 28 Fifty million engines from the Salzgitter plant
The 50-millionth engine rolls off the production line at the Volkswagen plant in Salzgitter.

July

July 4 Best Company Car 2012
Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Audi, SEAT and ŠKODA claim a total of five first places at the German “Best Company Car 2012” awards.

The Volkswagen Group opens a new vehicle plant in Yizheng in eastern China (photo)

July 26 Volkswagen Group opens new plant in China
The Volkswagen Group opens a new vehicle plant in Yizheng in eastern China. The production facility, which is part of the Shanghai-Volkswagen joint venture, has an annual capacity of around 300,000 vehicles.

August

August 1 Volkswagen and Porsche create integrated automotive group
The creation of the integrated automotive group comprising Volkswagen and Porsche is completed on August 1. The accelerated integration of Porsche AG into the Volkswagen Group allows extensive synergy effects to be captured more quickly. Porsche will retain its own identity and operational independence under the Volkswagen Group umbrella.

August 31 Volkswagen Group builds new gearbox plant in China
The foundation stone is laid for a new gearbox plant in the city of Tianjin in China. This adds a new location to the Volkswagen Group’s Chinese production network.

September

September 3 Volkswagen Germany sets vocational training record
A total of 1,708 young people – more than ever before – begin their vocational training or an integrated degree and traineeship scheme.

World premiere of the new golf in Berlin (photo)

September 4 World premiere of the new Golf in Berlin
The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand unveils the new Golf to the public. Around 1,000 invited guests experience the world premiere of the seventh generation of this classic car.

September 20 IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Hanover
A key focus of the largest commercial vehicles show in the world is on efficient and environmentally-friendly transport solutions. The Volkswagen Group is represented by the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Scania and MAN brands.

September 27 Mondial de l’Automobile in Paris
The Volkswagen Group presents a large number of new models and concept cars at the Paris International Motor Show. The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand’s new Golf is the highlight.

October

October 22 São Paulo International Motor Show
Volkswagen’s Taigun – a newly developed compact SUV concept car – is given its world premiere at the 2012 São Paulo International Motor Show in Brazil.

November

November 20 Auto Trophy 2012
The Volkswagen Group wins major prizes at the “Auto Trophy 2012” awards. Readers of the German “Auto Zeitung” magazine vote 14 models as top of their classes.

December

Volkswagen Group lays foundation stone for new engine plant in Russia (photo)

December 11 Volkswagen Group lays foundation stone for new engine plant in Russia
Starting in 2015, the Group will supply its vehicle production facility in Kaluga and its contract manufacturing operations at the GAZ plant in Nizhny Novgorod with state-of-the-art, locally-produced engines.

December 27 eco up! and Passat TSI EcoFuel top eco-ranking
“AUTO TEST” magazine and the “ÖKOTREND” institute crown Volkswagen’s eco up! and Passat 1.4 TSI EcoFuel as two of the most environmentally-friendly cars.

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