Volkswagen Scores High in Global Sustainability & Named Top Global Green Brand

Commended for its leadership in innovation, environmental sustainability, and fuel efficient vehicles, Volkswagen has been named one of the world’s Best Global Green Brands for 2012 by leading brand consultant, Interbrand. Volkswagen climbed from sixth to fourth place, making it the most environmentally compatible German automaker as well as Germany’s greenest company.

According to Interbrand, the automotive brands’ investment in developing and marketing fuel-efficient and alternative fuel vehicles is paying off in terms of both performance and perception.

The rankings of the Interbrand consultancy, which also publishes the renowned Best Global Brands Report, have appeared annually since 2011. Interbrand analyses the efforts of leading brands in the fields of environmental protection and sustainability as well as the perception of “green” activities by a total of more than 10,000 consumers in the world’s 10 major industrialized countries. Volkswagen was cited in the report for its sustainable environmental investments and goals, such as incorporating sustainability into its value chain, increasing fuel efficiency for every new vehicle generation by 10 to 15 percent, pushing hybrid and electric vehicles and investing more than $700 million in the expansion of renewable energy plants.

According to Interbrand, in comparison to some of its competitors, Volkswagen also had the edge in reality. The study shows that Volkswagen is already greener than consumers’ perception on the basis of specific brand performance data. Interbrand explains the improved result of Volkswagen by stating that the brand is oriented towards the ambitious group goal of becoming the world’s most sustainable automobile company by 2018. The study states that this goal is ‘constantly substantiated’ and has ‘“measurable proof points.”

“As a company that places sustainability at the core of our brand, our vehicles, and our operations, we are especially proud of Volkswagen’s position on Interbrand’s 2012 green ranking,” said Tim Mahoney, chief product and marketing officer, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “We are committed to not only reducing our environmental footprint, but also communicating our efforts to consumers in a meaningful, engaging, and innovative way.”

Think Blue®, Volkswagen’s holistic approach to sustainability, has provided an effective platform for taking its environmental strategy global. Recently launched in the U.S., Think Blue unifies all of the company’s environmental efforts and fuel-efficiency technologies under one strategic umbrella.

Volkwagen offers consumers a broad range of fuel efficient vehicles, including the recently introduced Passat TDI® Clean Diesel. The all-new 2013 Jetta Hybrid will be introduced to North America later this year. Be one of the first to know by following us on Twitter and connecting with our Facebook community.