WOLFSBURG, GERMANY--(Marketwire - Sep 25, 2012) -

• Europe's largest automaker is on course to meet its Strategy 2018 targets
• Economic conditions are challenging and will remain so
• Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn: "Thank you for the strong team performance"
• Works meeting at the Wolfsburg plant

The Volkswagen Group continues on the right track in spite of the economic conditions. "We've got what it takes to keep Volkswagen on course," Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, told some 20,000 employees at a works meeting at the Wolfsburg plant on Tuesday. The works meeting was also attended by Prof. Dr. Ferdinand K. Piëch, Chairman of Volkswagen's Supervisory Board, and Supervisory Board member Ursula M. Piëch.

Winterkorn said that conditions had become noticeably harder and tougher. He nevertheless reiterated the company's long-term goal: "We want to become the world's best automaker by 2018." Winterkorn also thanked employees for their "strong team performance" in getting production of the new Golf underway: "That is especially important now during ramp up!" Christian Klingler, Board Member for Sales and Marketing for the Volkswagen Group and the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand, then presented the new Golf campaign and underscored that the success story would continue with the best Golf of all time. "The Golf, DAS AUTO, remains true to its name," Klingler said.

CFO Hans Dieter Pötsch also agreed that Volkswagen with its twelve fascinating brands is in an excellent position. "The Volkswagen Group has been demonstrating its strength and robustness for months, even in times of economic uncertainty," he told employees, and went on to say that this was not only confirmed by the figures for the first half year, but also by the positive trend in vehicle deliveries during the first eight months, when the Group outperformed the market. Pötsch emphasized, however, that the second half of the year would be harder. "The underlying conditions are challenging and will remain so," he said.