The Volkswagen Timeline

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1990s

1990

JanJanuary

The Volkswagen Group restructures its transport business by forming "V.A.G Transport GmbH & Co. OHG", which now takes over functions previously carried out by Volkswagen AG, Audi AG and V.A.G Transport GmbH. Volkswagen has an 81% interest in the company and Audi has 19%. V.A.G Transport GmbH carries out management responsibilities.

In 1990 Klaus Volkert was elected Chairman of the General and Group Works Council. He was initially elected Chairman of the Works Council for Volkswagen AG and was also a founding member as Chairman of the Volkswagen European Group Works Council, and became president in 1992. He was also a founding member of the Volkswagen Group Global Works Council, of which he was president in 1999. As council chairman, his main aim was to secure employment with new contracts, which attracted nationwide attention. In 1993 he introduced the "four-day week" where all parties agreed that VW employees would accept a reduction of approximately 15% of their wages, and thus 30,000 jobs were secured. In 2001, Volkswagen and IG Metall (the German engineering union) agreed on the so-called '5,000 by 5,000' wage scheme as a result of which production of the new VW Touran remained in Germany.

FebFebruary

SEAT S.A. acquires SEAT concessionaires (UK) Limited from Lonrho, renaming it SEAT (UK) Limited.

MarMarch

AprApril

MayMay

JunJune

The renaming of the V.A.G Kredit Bank GmbH into "V.A.G Bank GmbH" signals the move into the direct banking business, which takes its place next to the classic dealership and customer financing activities. In November 1990, it offers in conjunction with the Volkswagen/Audi Card System for the first time in Germany both leading credit cards, EUROCARD and VISA, in a single package. The product portfolio of Volkswagen's financial services subsidiary, which is renamed "Volkswagen Bank GmbH" on December 14, 1994 and is successively expanded to include installment plans for external customers and AutoCredit, which would be introduced in 1995. The low monthly payment plan carries the option of returning the vehicle at the end of the contract period, making the final payment of contract or renewal. In 1999, Volkswagen Bank expands its operations further providing mortgages and investment fund services.

Klaus Volkert is elected Chairman of the General and Group Works Council.

JulJuly

AugAugust

The Volkswagen Group sets up a European Works Council, which is made up of employee representatives from Volkswagen AG, Audi AG, SEAT S.A. and Volkswagen Bruxelles S.A. The contract between the employee representatives and the Group's management is signed on February 7, 1992. The European Works Council is an innovation in the automobile industry.

SepSeptember

OctOctober

NovNovember

DecDecember

To establish an efficient production location in former East Germany Volkswagen IFA-PKW GmbH becomes "Volkswagen Sachsen GmbH". The company is responsible for expanding capacity in Mosel and bringing the technical standards of the East German factories up to the level required for efficient mass production.

The Czech government awards Volkswagen AG the rights to acquire 100% of "Skoda, automobiloví a.s.", an automobile manufacturer rich in tradition, which provides Volkswagen with excellent access to the automobile markets in Central and Eastern Europe. Skoda, which is located in Mladá Boleslav, has a highly qualified workforce and a yearly capacity of 190,000 vehicles. On April 16, 1991, it joins the Volkswagen Group as its fourth independent brand.

1990

1991

JanJanuary

The organisational structure of the Volkswagen Group is adapted to reflect the brand alliance. New brand management boards whose chairmen are integrated in the Group management body, are responsible for day-to-day operations at the four brands of Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT and Skoda.

In 1991 the Mk III GTI is launched, bringing with it a new 2.0-litre eight-valve engine and improved aerodynamics over the previous Mk I and Mk II models. In 1993 the GTI came fitted with a 2.0-litre 16-valve engine, raising the power output from 115 PS in the eight-valve model up to a more substantial 150 PS and 133lbs ft of torque to drop the 0-60 mph time to 8.3 seconds and raise the top speed to 133 mph.

The Jetta name was dropped in Europe and the car was renamed the Vento, although Jetta was retained in North America. The 2-door model was dropped and improved aerodynamics and more environmentally friendly use of recycled plastics and other materials featured in this edition. It incorporated a high level of safety features in order to comply with both European and North American requirements.

FebFebruary

Volkswagen AG acquires a second base in China. "FAW-Volkswagen Automotive Company, Ltd." is formed in Changchun, a joint venture which has grown out of the cooperation with the "FAW-Volkswagen Automotive Company, Ltd." after 1988. Volkswagen AG has a 40% interest in the new firm, with which the Group intends to improve its position in China and to assure it of an economical production base in Asia. The Jetta is initially assembled from imported parts, but by the end of 1994 a newly constructed plant with an annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles begins producing the Jetta. Two years later, transmission and engine production go into operation which supplies the Group within China and also exports to Germany.

MarMarch

Volkswagen restructures its financial services and combines them to form a single firm, "Volkswagen Finanz GmbH". The amalgamation of the leasing and banking business lies at the core of this reorganisation, which is aimed at achieving synergy in external services. The capital of both companies is transferred to Volkswagen Finanz GmbH, which now assumes all responsibilities previously undertaken by the V.A.G Leasing GmbH as well as the sales and marketing activities of the V.A.G Bank. The Volkswagen Group becomes Europe's leading provider of financial services and generates 25% of the Group's total income.

In the course of streamlining its overseas operations, the Volkswagen Group groups its production and sales activities by combining sites in the United States, Canada and Mexico to form the "North American Region" (NAR). In 1993, the "South America/Africa Region" is formed and regional management carries out day-to-day operations, while the accountable board members are in charge of reorganisation and the strategic coordination of the regions.

AprApril

MayMay

Volkswagen AG puts the finishing touches to its involvement in the Czech and Slovakian Federal Republic. An agreement concerning cooperation with the automobile manufacturer "Bratislavské automobilové závody" concluded with the Slovakian government on March 12, 1991 leads to the establishment of "Volkswagen Bratislava, spol. s. r. o.". Volkswagen takes over the production complex with a fully developed infrastructure and starts producing Passat models there in December 1991. Sole production of the Golf syncro is transferred to Volkswagen Bratislava in 1995 following expansion of production capacity and construction of a gearbox plant, with the start-up of the Golf 4 production in 1997. On January 1, 1999 the Slovakian subsidiary merges with "Volkswagen Slovakia, a.s." established on December 7, 1998.

JunJune

JulJuly

Volkswagen starts with the production of the third generation Golf. The new Golf sets higher safety standards, with side protection, reinforced door sills, an additional safety traverse below the dashboard and mash seam welding on the chassis rails. The Golf Mk III also sets new, pioneering environmental standards in terms of recycling. Environmentally harmful materials are banned from the production process and nearly all plastic components in the Golf are recyclable. The economical and low-emission engines, from the 1.4-litre, 60 hp entry-level engine to the 2.0-litre, 115 hp version, protect the environment and save resources.

Volkswagen starts production of the third generation Golf with a more rounded design. The flowing lines make the car body appear more dynamic and the silhouette more elegant. The new Golf sets higher safety standards and marks new, pioneering environmental standards in terms of recycling. The economical and low-emission engines protect the environment and save resources.

About 13 million Golfs had been sold since the first model was introduced in 1974 (including 63 percent going for export) and now it was time for the Golf III to show what it was capable of. Launched in 1991, the new top-selling compact model was scarcely in showrooms before it was named "European Car of the Year 1992". Although the Golf gave its name to a whole class of similar cars, it had to justify its position continually in a hotly contested market segment; yet each succeeding generation would have no difficulty in raising the standards significantly higher.

Volkswagen AG and the Ford Motor Company enter into a capital and risk sharing joint venture in Portugal. In Setubal they establish "AutoEuropa Automóveis Lda." to carry out a product concept designed especially for the European market, to be developed under Volkswagen's overall control. After a 3-year development plan, production of the Volkswagen Sharan begins in the Palmela plant in April 1995. Volkswagen acquires Ford's shares in the Portuguese company in January 1991, which produces the SEAT Alhambra and Ford Galaxy.

AugAugust

SepSeptember

OctOctober

Salzgitter experiences the onset of the TDI era. The first turbo diesel with direct injection and 1.9 litres and 66 kW goes into production. Characteristic features of the TDI engines are fuel economy, low emissions, high pulling power (torque) and outstanding power efficiency. The engine is first used for the Audi 80 and then for the Passat.

Salzgitter experiences the onset of the TDI era. The first turbo diesel with direct injection, 1.9 litres and 66 kW goes into production. The engine is first used for the Audi 80 and then for the Passat.

NovNovember

Production of the Vento begins in Mexico and South Africa. This visually and technically redesigned model takes the place of the Jetta.

DecDecember

1991

1992

JanJanuary

Volkswagen raises safety standards by offering air bags for driver and passenger in the Golf, Vento and Passat. Airbags work with the seatbelts to reduce the risk of severe head and chest injuries in the event of an accident. If the crash sensors register an impact that exceeds the value needed to trigger the airbags, the airbag control ignites the gas generator. This inflates the airbags, located in the steering wheel and the dashboard in front of the front-seat passenger, within 30 to 40 milliseconds. When inflated, these airbags cushion the head and upper body and distribute the resulting loads over as large an area as possible. Other passive safety measures introduced in its vehicles include a side protection beam integrated in the door, reinforced door sills and cross members.

David Carter, Director for Parts and Service in the UK ensures that the logistics of bringing cars and parts into the UK runs more efficiently. Dealers no longer have to hold large numbers of cars and can now choose the specifications they want from the national stock held at the ports.

The Golf Mk III is voted European Car of the Year 1992. The first Volkswagen to win this award

FebFebruary

MarMarch

AprApril

MayMay

JunJune

JulJuly

AugAugust

SepSeptember

OctOctober

NovNovember

DecDecember

1992

1993

JanJanuary

FebFebruary

MarMarch

AprApril

MayMay

JunJune

JulJuly

AugAugust

SepSeptember

OctOctober

NovNovember

DecDecember

1993

1994

JanJanuary

FebFebruary

MarMarch

AprApril

MayMay

JunJune

JulJuly

AugAugust

SepSeptember

OctOctober

NovNovember

DecDecember

1994

1995

JanJanuary

FebFebruary

MarMarch

AprApril

MayMay

JunJune

JulJuly

AugAugust

SepSeptember

OctOctober

NovNovember

DecDecember

1995

1996

JanJanuary

FebFebruary

MarMarch

AprApril

MayMay

JunJune

JulJuly

AugAugust

SepSeptember

OctOctober

NovNovember

DecDecember

1996

1997

JanJanuary

FebFebruary

MarMarch

AprApril

MayMay

JunJune

JulJuly

AugAugust

SepSeptember

OctOctober

NovNovember

DecDecember

1997

1998

JanJanuary

FebFebruary

MarMarch

AprApril

MayMay

JunJune

JulJuly

AugAugust

SepSeptember

OctOctober

NovNovember

DecDecember

1998

1999

JanJanuary

FebFebruary

MarMarch

AprApril

MayMay

JunJune

JulJuly

AugAugust

SepSeptember

OctOctober

NovNovember

DecDecember

1999

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The Volkswagen Timeline

Click to hide a category

V.A.G Transport GmbH & Co. OHG formed

01 Jan 1990

Klaus Volkert

01 Jan 1990

SEAT S.A. acquires SEAT Consessionaires (UK) Limited

07 Feb 1990

V.A.G Kredit Bank moves to direct banking business

14 Jun 1990

Klaus Volkert elected Chairman of the General and Group Works Council

26 Jun 1990

Volkswagen Group's European Works Council

31 Aug 1990

East German factories improved

01 Dec 1990

Skoda becomes fourth independent brand for Volkswagen Group

10 Dec 1990

Brand management boards created

01 Jan 1991

Golf GTI Mk III

01 Jan 1991

Vento

01 Jan 1991

Volkswagen AG acquires second Chinese base

06 Feb 1991

Volkswagen Group, Europe's leading financial services provider

01 Mar 1991

North American region formed

01 Mar 1991

Volkswagen Bratislava, spol. s. r. O established

30 May 1991

Golf Mk III sets new safety and environmental standards

01 Jul 1991

Third generation Golf in production

01 Jul 1991

Golf Mk III

01 Jul 1991

Volkswagen AG and Ford's joint venture: the Sharan

15 Jul 1991

The TDI at Saltzgitter

01 Oct 1991

The TDI era

01 Oct 1991

Vento production begins in Mexico

01 Nov 1991

Volkswagen enhances safety with the airbag

01 Jan 1992

UK logistics improved

01 Jan 1992

European Car of the Year - Volkswagen Golf

01 Jan 1992