January
January 10 North American
International Auto Show
Volkswagen Passenger Cars presents a world premiere in Detroit: the version of the Passat specially designed for the US market. Audi shows its new Audi A6 saloon for the first time at a motor show.
January 13 Golden Angel 2011
As in 2010, Volkswagen is one of the winners of this renowned ADAC award, with prizes in both the “Innovation and Environment” and the “Future” categories.
January 25 World premiere of new 1-liter car in Qatar
Volkswagen Passenger Cars unveils the third stage in the evolution of its 1-liter car strategy for the first time in the shape of its close-to-production XL1 concept car, highlighting the Group’s ambition to become the automotive industry’s ecological leader by 2018.
January 27 The Best Cars of 2011
Volkswagen Group models come top in six out of ten categories in the poll by readers of the specialist journal “auto motor and sport”. The “Best Cars of 2011” include the Audi A1, Golf, Audi A4, Audi Q5, Audi R8 Spyder and the Multivan. The ŠKODA Superb and the SEAT Alhambra top the import rankings in their respective categories.
January 28 Volkswagen lays foundation stone for new engine plant in Mexico
The Silao plant will supply the North American locations with up to 330,000 powertrains a year starting in 2013.
February
February 8 Volkswagen and IG Metall agree pay round
Management and the union resolve to raise the basic wage by 3.2 % on May 1, 2011; all employees will also receive a one-time payment of 1 % of their annual basic salary, but at least €500.
March
March 1 International Motor Show, Geneva
The Group presents a large number of new models and concept cars at the 2011 Motor Show in Geneva.
March 1 Volkswagen acquires Porsche Holding Salzburg trading company
Porsche Holding Salzburg is one of the most successful and profitable automobile trading companies in the world, with a strong presence in Austria, China, and Western and Southeast Europe.
March 17 Volkswagen launches production in Osnabruck
The new Golf Cabriolet kicks off the official start of production in Osnabruck, which has total capacity of around 100,000 vehicles per year.
March 25 Volkswagen Touareg is “Four-Wheel Drive Car of the Year 2011”
The readers of “Auto Bild Allrad” again vote the Volkswagen Touareg the overall winner in its category.
April
April 1 Flotten-Award 2011
The Volkswagen Group is again the most successful company at the Flotten-Award 2011, with 14 first places.
April 6 Volkswagen awarded 2011 German CSR Prize
The Volkswagen Group is presented with the 2011 German CSR Prize for its commitment to corporate social responsibility.
April 7 Volkswagen’s shares celebrate their 50th anniversary
Volkswagen shares were traded for the first time on the Regulated Unofficial Market on April 7, 1961.
April 16 ŠKODA celebrates 20 years of links with Volkswagen
ŠKODA automobilová a.s. and the Volkswagen Group agreed on large-scale cooperation at the beginning of 1991. ŠKODA became an independent brand within the Volkswagen Group on April 16, 1991.
April 18 Worldwide premiere: The new Beetle arrives!
Enthusiastic fans celebrate the world premiere of the new Beetle simultaneously across three continents.
May
May 6 Emden plant celebrates anniversary
A Passat estate BlueMotion Technology car is the ten-millionth vehicle to roll off the Emden production line.
May 18 Volkswagen and Audi among the winners at 2011 “International Engine of the Year Awards”
Volkswagen again takes the international “Engine of the Year Award” for its 1.4 l TSI engine in the 1.0 to 1.4 l class. The Audi 2.5 l TSFI engine wins the 2.0 to 2.5 l category as the best engine in 2011.
May 23 Volkswagen, The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and MoMA PS1 agree wide-ranging cooperation
The multiyear partnership presented in New York, focuses primarily on a project with the working title “International Discovery”, which aims to develop an international exhibition of contemporary art.
May 24 New Volkswagen plant
opens in Chattanooga
More than 2,000 employees will manufacture up to 150,000 vehicles each year in Chattanooga, Tennessee. At the same time, the plant is setting new standards in sustainable and resource-friendly production.
June
June 14 Volkswagen and GAZ sign agreement for make-to-order production in Russia
Volkswagen and Russian automobile manufacturer GAZ Group sign an agreement to produce Volkswagen and ŠKODA brand models on a make-to-order basis at the GAZ plant in Nizhny Novgorod.
June 28 Volkswagen greenlighted for two plants in China
The Volkswagen Group receives clearance to build two more vehicle plants in China, driving forward implementation of its long-term growth strategy in the world’s largest passenger car market.
June 30 Volkswagen named most environmentally friendly brand
Readers of trade journal “FIRMENAUTO” voted Volkswagen Passenger Cars the “most environmentally friendly car brand” for the second time running.
July
July 5 Volkswagen models voted (“Best Company Cars”)
The Volkswagen Group is the most successful company at the “Best Company Car 2011” awards run by “FIRMENAUTO” trade journal and DEKRA. Volkswagen brands Passenger Cars, Audi, SEAT and ŠKODA take a total of seven first places.
July 15 Volkswagen begins production of new Beetle in Mexico
The Beetle is a powerful symbol for the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand, connecting the emotional heritage of the Beetle with Volkswagen’s future.
July 19 One million visitors to Gläserne Manufaktur
Volkswagen welcomes the one-millionth visitor to its Gläserne Manufaktur in Dresden, ten years after its opening.
August
August 26 Volkswagen and FAW celebrate 20-year partnership
in China
One of the Chinese automotive industry’s success stories began in 1991: Volkswagen and First Automotive Works (FAW) founded the FAW-Volkswagen joint venture.
August 29 First engine reprocessing facility starts work in Dalian, China
The Volkswagen Group opens a plant in China for reprocessing engines, promoting affordable and environmentally friendly solutions in its largest sales market. 15,000 engines will be reprocessed in Dalian each year.
September
September 8 Planned merger of Volkswagen AG and Porsche Automobil Holding SE cannot be implemented within the time frame laid down in the Comprehensive Agreement
Following talks with Porsche Automobil Holding SE (Porsche SE), the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG came to the conclusion that the planned merger with Porsche SE cannot be implemented within the time frame laid down in the Comprehensive Agreement. Nevertheless, all parties remain committed to the goal of creating an integrated automotive group with Porsche.
September 15 2011 International Motor Show (IAA), Frankfurt
The Volkswagen Group presents a large number of new models and concepts to the global public at the IAA. Occupying center stage are the global premiere of the Volkswagen up! and the Audi brand with its impressive technical concept car, the Audi A2 concept.
September 27 ŠKODA unveils new Citigo
ŠKODA expands its offering in the small car segment with its seventh model range, which plays an important part in the brand’s growth strategy.
October
October 3 SEAT presents the new Mii
The urban small car is officially unveiled in Madrid.
October 13 Volkswagen Chemnitz
voted “Factory of the Year”
Volkswagen Sachsen GmbH’s Chemnitz plant is chosen as “Factory of the Year” by a high-powered jury from the “Production” trade journal and management consultancy A.T. Kearney.
November
November 9 Volkswagen takes major step towards commercial vehicle group
Following the completion of its mandatory public offer, Volkswagen AG holds 55.90% of the voting rights and 53.71% of the share capital of MAN SE. The acquisition of a majority shareholding in MAN SE brings Volkswagen a major step closer to its goal of creating a commercial vehicle group comprising MAN, Scania and Volkswagen. Closer cooperation is expected to lead to substantial synergies in the areas of procurement, development and production in the future.
November 10 Volkswagen Group wins 46th “Golden Steering Wheel”
This year’s award from the international jury for the up! and the Audi A6 makes the Volkswagen Group the most successful manufacturer in the history of the “Golden Steering Wheel” awards, with a total of 46 prizes.
November 17 US Passat named
“Car of the Year”
The “Best Car of the Year” award goes to the VW Passat produced in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
November 18 Global premiere of Volkswagen eT!
Specially designed for making inner-city deliveries, this completely new type of vehicle is electrically powered and can be driven semi-automatically on command.
November 22 Triumph for Volkswagen at “Auto Trophy 2011”
Fourteen first places – nearly half of all the prizes awarded – go to Volkswagen Group models. Twelve second and eight third places round off the performance.
December
December 1 Chattanooga plant receives LEED Platinum certification
The certification confirms 
compliance with strict norms and standards for sustainable and environmentally friendly construction.
December 3 Tokyo Motor Show 2011
Volkswagen presents the Cross Coupé, its progressive SUV concept car with four-wheel drive and a plug-in hybrid drive. The Passat Alltrack also celebrates its global premiere.
