Effective engagement

The economic key figures from Audi’s investment speak for themselves: From its foundation to the present day, Audi México has created more than 5,000 jobs – a much higher number than planned before construction. In addition, more than 20,000 jobs have been created indirectly in the region since Audi established itself in Mexico. The population of San José Chiapa has grown annually by an average of just under three percent since the establishment of the Audi plant.¹ That is almost twice as much as the growth in the state of Puebla, to which the municipality of San José Chiapa belongs. The construction of a large training center in San José Chiapa also demonstrates Audi’s long-term and far-reaching commitment to training the local labor force. More than 1,500 training courses are held here every year, with some 80 Audi apprentices additionally completing a dual education in line with the German role model. This training offers prospects locally for people and helps to secure their livelihoods.

The Audi México plant is located in the developing region of San José Chiapa, where education is an important action area. Fewer than 25 percent of students at present complete their high school education. Similarly, a large percentage of the population still has no access to a computer or the Internet. Many social projects at Audi México therefore focus on raising the level of education and encouraging young people’s interest in school. For example, the two-year educational project “Enseña por México” was launched recently, which provides scholarships for a total of 200 high-school students. On successful completion, the students are given the opportunity to apply for the dual education program at Audi México. This project also offers classes in computers and English and finances glasses and hearing aids for schoolchildren.

However, Audi México is also involved in various social projects in the areas of health and sport. In 2022, for example, an Audi sports park was built and inaugurated, which not only includes a football stadium but also offers possibilities for other sports, such as track and field. The intention is to provide children and young people with a safe space for sport, culture and fun. Another project close to the heart of Audi México is the Health Day, which in 2022, for example, offered children and adults free dental treatment.

These and many other projects prove how seriously Audi México takes its role in developing the region. “The plant acts as a reliable corporate citizen, which makes an important contribution as a member of society,” says Ute Röding. “San José Chiapa clearly shows how we are implementing our corporate citizenship strategy: always with an eye on local circumstances and on what will benefit the community locally. We don’t just set out a package of measures, we take responsibility and behave like a good neighbor.”

In July 2023, the two millionth Audi rolled off the production line in Győr – an Audi RS Q3. More than 170,000 vehicles (2022) leave the plant every year – in addition to more than 1.6 million engines (2022), which are supplied from here to 37 production locations of the Volkswagen Group. Ute Röding: “The people of Győr are proud of what they have achieved: With a workforce of some 12,000 employees, Audi Hungaria is one of the largest exporters and most profitable companies in the country. Audi is an important driver in the development of the Hungarian economy and many careers.”

The company supports careers, for example, through forward-looking and practical training programs as well as close collaboration with partner universities. The Széchenyi István University of Győr is a particularly good example of how far Audi’s CC commitment stretches in terms of being a good neighbor. It is an academic partner with a Faculty of Automotive Engineering and seven chairs – and Audi established this faculty together with the university.

“In terms of the environment too, the plant in Győr is a role model for other Audi locations,” explains Rüdiger Recknagel. Audi Hungaria is the largest user of industrial geothermal energy in Hungary. The company has met more than 70 percent of its thermal energy needs with geothermal energy since 2015. Rüdiger Recknagel explains, “In addition, the roofs of the two logistics centers house what was the largest rooftop photovoltaic system in Europe at the time it was constructed, extending to some 160,000 square meters. This equates to the size of around 23 football pitches. It has a peak power output of 12 megawatts.” Audi Hungaria has been net carbon-neutral² since 2020, making it the Audi Group’s second net carbon-neutral site after Audi Brussels.

Ute Röding confirms the impact on society: “In terms of CC as well, the production location is a very special jewel among Audi plants.” And why is this? “The comparatively small workforce – just under 3,000 people work at Audi Brussels (status: 2023) – is highly cohesive and shows deep commitment to corporate citizenship activities.” Audi employees are committed to greater diversity, share their knowledge of electric mobility with students and are firmly dedicated to helping disadvantaged people, for example, by collecting donations in kind for refugee communities (see gallery).

The motivation to pursue social issues is part of our self-image that has been cultivated over a long time: Vehicles were produced in Brussels as early as 1949. Before the plant was taken over by AUDI AG in 2007, it had belonged to Volkswagen AG since 1970, producing various models of the Volkswagen Group. “Automotive engineering therefore has a far-reaching tradition in Brussels and has contributed to the prosperity of the region,” explains Ute Röding. And Audi made sure at a very early stage that the plant was well positioned for the future of electric mobility: It was the first production site where the brand’s first fully electric model, the Audi e-tron, entered series production.

A glance at the population figures gives an idea of the economic upswing the brand with the Four Rings has provided in the region. As of 2023, Audi employed some 40,000 people in Ingolstadt – that is more than the entire population of the city at the end of the 1950s. Ute Röding: “Of course, not everyone lives within the walls of the city, many live in the region, in Munich or other major cities. But we are still talking about 40,000 people dedicated to promoting their own environment and shaping the future – through their work, but also outside normal working hours and outside the plant premises.” Which CC commitment merits special recognition? Ute Röding doesn’t think twice: “The international Audi Social Day in summer 2023! Under the motto “We live responsibility,” more than 1,000 Audi employees provided support to nursery schools, care homes, refugees and people with disabilities.”

Care of the environment is an important priority at the Audi Group’s largest production sites. Rüdiger Recknagel explains, “There are countless projects. A particularly good example is the refurbishment of a former refinery site. In co-operation with the City of Ingolstadt, we renovated and revitalized the site using cutting-edge technology, without sealing any more space. As much as 15 hectares of land were renaturalized and returned to nature.” The environmental project is one of the largest of its kind in Germany and unique to date in Bavaria. The incampus technology park is being constructed on the site, which in turn focuses on the technologies of the future as well as on security and sustainability.

170 kilometers further west, in Neckarsulm, the Mission:Zero environmental program is focusing on sustainable use of water. “It is of course not surprising in a city that gets its name from the two rivers in the region that water is an important issue for the people,” explains Rüdiger Recknagel. “The goal is to halve the ecologically weighted water consumption³ at Audi production locations globally by 2035 compared with the base year of 2019. Our plan in Neckarsulm is to develop a closed water cycle for process water with the support of the sewage treatment plant adjacent to the plant. The facility in question is currently under construction.”