Compliance & Integrity
Compliance and integrity are an integral part of responsible corporate conduct and action – in accordance with laws and internal regulations, the Audi Code of Conduct and the Audi values.
Contents
To ensure effective and sustainable compliance and integrity, Audi relies on documented integrity management and a Compliance Management System (CMS) with defined principles, measures and processes in accordance with the IDW PS 980 auditing standard.
The CMS is evaluated through regular reviews, such as the Internal Compliance Risk Assessment (ICRA) process, and adjusted as necessary.
Through these binding requirements for compliant and integrity-based collaboration with employees, customers and business partners, Audi also establishes a regulatory framework for counteracting potential misconduct and violations.
“Compliance and integrity are a 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 that stakeholders have 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, along the value chain. These expectations include compliance with occupational health and safety, environmental protection and anti-corruption as well as respect for human rights.
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: the maxim of responsible actions
Audi considers compliant and integrity-driven conduct to be a key prerequisite for responsible corporate governance. 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.
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?
For this reason, Audi offers events, training sessions and participation formats designed to promote an open discussion of issues (speak-up culture) and psychological safety within the company. In addition, integrity ambassadors act as multipliers for integrity in all business divisions.
Take a stand, act with integrity: Interview with Elke Neidlein
What do integrity and the psychological safety of employees have to do with entrepreneurial success? Elke Neidlein, an expert in integrity management and Head of Commercial Apprenticeship and Dual Study Programs in Ingolstadt, explains more in the interview.
