Compliance & Integrity
Audi relies on a strategic Integrity Management and Compliance Management System (CMS) according to internationally recognized standards to ensure compliance and integrity are effectively and sustainably practiced.
The CMS is a set of principles, measures, processes and structures, which are continuously being improved.
They act as binding requirements for Audi for ensuring compliant and integrity-based collaboration with employees, customers and business partners and for counteracting potential violations and misconduct at the same time.
The Audi Compliance Management System (CMS): overview of the seven key elements for ensuring compliance and integrity in the company.
“Compliance and integrity are an irrevocable part of responsible corporate governance at Audi. We ensure systematic compliance with legal requirements and a mindset based on integrity in all aspects of collaboration. In this way, we also strengthen the trust of all stakeholders in our company.”
― Gernot Döllner, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG
The Audi Code of Conduct
All employees at Audi are obliged to comply with the binding Code of Conduct. The Audi Code of Conduct provides clear guidelines to employees at all levels of the hierarchy concerning their conduct and action in day-to-day collaboration. Mandatory training is conducted at regular intervals to increase awareness of these principles and to help employees strengthen their personal mindset.
Expectations of business partners
Binding guiding principles apply to business partners as well – both at Audi and in the Volkswagen Group. The Code of Conduct for business partners summarizes the expectations that the company and the Group place on their partners, in particular suppliers and sales partners. These expectations include compliance with occupational health and safety, environmental protection and anti-corruption as well as respect for human rights. Audi therefore also sets high standards along the value chain and supports compliance with the principles.
The Whistleblower System: the independent entity
The Whistleblower System is an independent, unbiased and confidential entity to which specific leads on potential misconduct by employees of the Audi Group or third parties can be reported. This also includes potential violations of the Code of Conduct for Business Partners as well as human rights and environmental breaches. Reports can be submitted in confidence at any time using a number of channels and in numerous languages. These reports are carefully examined and followed up in a fair procedure if validated.
Integrity and responsible action
Audi is firmly of the belief that to remain successful in the long term, the company as a whole needs to act compliantly and with integrity. Integrity is therefore embedded in the Code of Conduct in the same way as in regulations and business processes. Integrity is also a criterion that is used in the recruitment process and in the personnel development of managers and supervisors.
Audi understands integrity to mean acting responsibly and as the basis for working together. It is important as part of a vibrant integrity culture to always consciously reflect on how people and the company think and act. This depends on the personal mindset: Are we sincere and credible? Do we address mistakes and problems openly? Do we take on responsibility?
To continuously strengthen integrity, Audi promotes its speak-up culture and psychological safety in the company, for instance through targeted event, training and participation formats. Managers act as role models, while the network of integrity ambassadors established in the divisions as advocates for integrity reinforce the importance of lived integrity.
