1990-2000

The Volkswagen Group forms a number of companies in East Germany beginning in December 1990, including "Volkswagen Sachsen GmbH" with its new Mosel plant. VOLKSWAGEN AG receives approval by the Czech government for the takeover of the venerable "ŠKODA, automobilová a.s." on 10 December 1990. Brand recognition promised good access to the car markets of Eastern-central and Eastern Europe.

To optimize its organizational structures, VOLKSWAGEN AG merges its financial services in March 1991 under the umbrella of "Volkswagen Finanz GmbH", which is transformed into a stock company on 1 January 1994. As a bank, "Volkswagen Financial Services AG" has access to the international financial markets, enabling access to the lowest-cost financing on a world-wide basis.

In the course of regionalizing its non-European business, the Volkswagen Group bundles its locations in the USA, Canada and Mexico into the "North American Region" (NAR) in 1991, so as to coordinate its activities in production and marketing. In the following year, the "Asia-Pacific" and "South America/Africa" regions are created.

Ferdinand Piëch is appointed Chairman of the Board of Management of  VOLKSWAGEN AG as of 1 January 1993. The Volkswagen Group counters the slump in its North American business by adopting a comprehensive strategy of restructuring and reorganizing. Following the principle of "quality before quantity", the Group's facilities in Puebla are transformed into an efficient manufacturing facility characterized by "lean production" and a high "local content".

In 1994, the introduction of the four-day week for VOLKSWAGEN AG employees involves the cooperative effort of  the Board of Management, Work's Council and the IG-Metall trade union. They take a new approach to protecting the company facilities and its employees from ups and downs of economic cycles. Combined with flexible hours, core time for specialist workers and early retirement provisions, the reduction in working hours proves itself for all concerned.

The production start of the Audi A4 requires the Group's B platform for mid-size vehicles be established in 1995. By linking platforms, the Volkswagen Group is able to organize its product and plant structures more efficiently and to increase the variety of car types. In Emden, the production of the fifth generation Passat starts in September 1996, and the production of the fourth generation Golf starts in Wolfsburg in August 1997.

By acquiring "Bentley Motor Cars Limited", VOLKSWAGEN AG expands its range in the luxury class in 1998. The Bugatti and Lamborghini brands round off the Volkswagen Group's activities in the upper range.

With the production start of the Lupo 3L TDI, the first 3-litre per 100 km car produced in series, Volkswagen writes automotive history in July 1999.