Volkswagen

Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, Porsche
Germany
Automobiles and Components

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Rating - Caution
Medium Risk

Volkswagen vets vendors according to LGBTQ policies but has not publicly terminated business relationships based on views or beliefs. Volkswagen is part of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media and it has been alleged that the company mandates gender and sexuality training for its employees. Volkswagen and Audi have engaged in public LGBTQ advocacy and Volkswagen is a brass sponsor of Out & Equal. However, the company protects its employees against viewpoint discrimination and does not discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving. For these reasons, Volkswagen receives a Medium Risk rating.

Criteria
Risk Level
Rationale
Corporate Weaponization
Criteria

Has denied service to customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.

Risk Level
Rationale

Volkswagen received a score of 90 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign. Among other commitments, the company has a written policy pledging to vet vendors based on LGBTQ policies (1)(2). Volkswagen is a member of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media, which aims to demonetize advertisements and suppress content that “vilifies” individuals based on sexual orientation and gender identity, discusses “debated social issues in a negative or partisan context” or spreads “hate speech” (3)(4)(5). Volkswagen integrates ESG policies into all its business strategies (6). Volkswagen has not publicly fired customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs.

Criteria

Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.

Risk Level
Rationale

Volkswagen does not discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving (1).

Criteria

Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.

Risk Level
Rationale

Volkswagen protects its employees against viewpoint discrimination (1).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy
Criteria

Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

Volkswagen pushed mandatory “Gender and Sexuality” training on its employees (1). Volkswagen subsidiary Audi has committed to public advocacy and engagement with LGBTQ causes, by displaying a Pride flag in an ad to mark European Diversity Month in 2022 and participating in the Pride event Christopher Street Day in Ingolstadt (2)(3)(4). Audi is a member of the Charta der Viefalt (German Diversity Charter) and the UnternehmensForum, which both engage in DEI advocacy (5). As part of its Pride celebrations, US Soccer partnered with Volkswagen to support The You Can Play Project (6).

Criteria

Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

Volkswagen’s HRC CEI profile indicates the company covers the cost of “medically necessary transition-related care” for its employees (1)(2). Volkswagen is a member of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media and a brass sponsor of Out & Equal (3)(4)(5)(6). Volkswagen Ireland is a Platinum sponsor of the Dublin Pride Parade (7). The Audi Environmental Foundation supports One Young World, which engages in ESG and DEI advocacy (8)(9).

Criteria

Uses corporate political contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.

Risk Level
N/A
Rationale

Volkswagen does not operate a PAC at this time (1)(2).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
September 8, 2023

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