Audi 2007 Annual Report Download - page 22

MARKETS & MOVERS
rivers often have their
hands on the stick shift,
but rarely stop to think what
it is covered in. At Audi, the
leather stick shift cover with its fine
stitching and accurately designed metal
frame is assembled by mentally
handicapped people, in workshops for
the disabled. “I believe it’s important not
just for non-disabled but also for dis-
abled people to do a job with real value,
work they can be proud of. And by that I
mean turning out flawless quality,” says
Audi Chairman Rupert Stadler.
Contracting work out to workshops
for the disabled is just one example of
the many ways in which Audi takes on
corporate responsibility. In 1995,
Audi became the first premium car
manufacturer to have its production
facilities certified according to the EU’s
stringent environmental regulations.
Neckarsulm came first, then Ingolstadt
two years later and finally Gyor (Hun-
gary) in 1999. The audits involved a
detailed evaluation of many product
design and manufacturing processes.
At its German sites alone, Audi is re-
sponsible for approximately 45,000
staff. This responsibility goes far beyond
compliance with legal requirements. For
example: In addition to the standard oc-
cupational health checkups, the medical
department offers a comprehensive di-
agnostic program for all employees,
who can use the service free of charge
during working hours of their own ac-
cord. “The acceptance rate for the ‘Audi
Checkup’ is encouragingly high – more
than 90 percent. The checkups give em-
20
D
ployees a full picture of their state of
health,” says Dr. Joachim Stork, head of
Audi’s medical department.
“A large company is responsible for
more than just its employees. Audi also
promotes the arts and community work,”
says Dr. Werner Widuckel, Member of
the Board for Human Resources of
AUDI AG. Management and staff jointly
laid down this commitment as early as
2005 in an agreement titled “Zukunft
Audi” (The Future of Audi), providing
for, among others, a job guarantee valid
until 2011. In addition, Widuckel be-
lieves that the company has a responsi-
bility to promote development of its
home region. This is why Audi – to-
gether with the city of Ingolstadt and the
neighboring districts of Pfaffenhofen,
Neuburg-Schrobenhausen and Eichstätt
– founded “Initiative Regionalmanage-
ment e.V.,” an association to further in-
crease the region’s attractiveness and
quality of life. Audi is also active in the
context of “Europäische Metropolregion
München,” a network involving busi-
nesses, government, schools, the arts
and administration which is committed
to fostering sustainable development
throughout Southern Bavaria.
In December of each year, Audi
demonstrates its commitment in a very
special way. In 2007, the annual Christ-
mas donations collected by the Ingol-
stadt workforce amounted to more than
half a million euros for the first time,
while Neckarsulm collected more than
210,000 euros. Started by the workers’
council in 1977, these donations have
grown into a cornerstone for local
Responsibility as
a corporate value
Audi is about more than competitiveness and profitability, it also
cares about dealing responsibly with human and natural resources.
COPY Walter Raml
Above
Committed: Governor of California
Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife
Maria Shriver collecting donations
for “Best Buddies.”
Below
Playing for Mexican orphans: The Audi
charity match “Pan de Vida” raised
50,000 euros. Rupert Stadler lined up
for the Audi team. Playing with him
were former stars such as Karl-Heinz
Rummenigge, Thomas Berthold, Guido
Buchwald and Fredi Bobic.
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