Our whistleblowing system

Compliance with legal regulations and internal rules, the principles of our Code of Conduct and the Code of Conduct for Business Partners is a top priority at Volkswagen Immobilien. The success of our company is based on integrity and compliance. In order to live up to this claim, it is important to learn of possible misconduct by our own employees or those of our suppliers and to prevent it. We have therefore commissioned the Central Investigation Office to operate an independent, impartial and confidential whistleblower system for us.

An important pillar of our whistleblowing system is the principle of fair proceedings. It guarantees the greatest possible protection for whistleblowers, those affected and employees who are involved in investigating the reported misconduct.

This also means that we offer opportunities for anonymous reporting and communication. We ensure that we do not take any measures to identify anonymous whistleblowers who do not abuse our whistleblowing system. Discrimination against whistleblowers and all persons who contribute to investigations at Volkswagen Immobilien will not be tolerated. The persons concerned are presumed innocent until the offence is proven. Investigations are conducted with the utmost confidentiality. The information is processed in a fair, fast and protected procedure.

1 How do we process your report?

Qualified and experienced employees of the Central Investigation Office thoroughly check all reports of potential serious breaches of regulations by Volkswagen Group employees and systematically investigate them. Firstly, whistleblowers receive a confirmation of receipt. The Investigation Office then assesses the report. This includes obtaining information from the whistleblower in particular. Only if this leads to an initial suspicion of a potential breach of regulations is a suitable investigation unit commissioned to investigate the case. Once this has been completed, the Investigation Office evaluates the results and, if misconduct is found, makes a suitable recommendation for sanctions. You will be informed immediately about the processing status* of your report and the outcome of a possible investigation.

Potential violations of the Code of Conduct for Business Partners, including serious risks and human rights and environmental violations by direct and indirect suppliers, can also be reported to the Central Investigation Office. This also applies to other reports that require immediate action by the company. The Investigation Office informs the responsible departments, which process the matter accordingly. This includes, in particular, measures required to minimise or end violations and/or risks.

Further information on the relevant procedural principles can be found here.

* The processing time may vary and depends, among other things, on the subject of the complaint.

2. what type of report would you like to make?

A complaint about products or services to our customer service

If you have any complaints or feedback about your tenancy, your property or other services provided by Volkswagen Immobilien or our business partners, please contact your personal customer advisor.

Please understand that we will not forward any such concerns and cannot take any action for reasons of competence.

A suspected report of potential misconduct to our whistleblower system

The whistleblower system provides various channels to report potential misconduct by Volkswagen Real Estate employees, violations of the Code of Conduct for Business Partners or human rights and environmental risks and violations in our supply chain.

However, this does not affect the statutory right to contact the competent authorities as described below.

The Central Reconnaissance Office can be contacted by e-mail at the following address:

io@volkswagen.de

For customer complaints, please contact the channels listed under ‘A complaint about products or services to our customer service’.

Central Reconnaissance Office

Postal address:

Volkswagen AG, Central Reconnaissance Office
PO Box 1717
38436 Wolfsburg, Germany

Personal:

Please make an appointment in advance via io@volkswagen.de.

Volkswagen Immobilien has appointed external lawyers (ombudsmen) to advise on the whistleblower system or to ensure that reports from whistleblowers – anonymously if desired – are forwarded to the Investigation Office.

Anyone wishing to contact the ombudsmen can find all the necessary information at the following link: https://www.ombudsmen-of-volkswagen.com/

It is possible to get in touch with the information office via an internet-based communication platform (SpeakUp) in more than 65 languages. The system is confidential and protected and offers the option of submitting reports anonymously.

You can access the online reporting channel via the following link:

https://goto.speakup.report/volkswagen

You can find detailed instructions on how to provide information online, via the app or by phone here.

You can leave us a telephone message 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. After entering the telephone number (which is valid for the country in which you are located), you will be asked to enter the corresponding organisation code. You can then leave your message as a voice message. The Reconnaissance Office will only receive a transcript. Dial in again to hear the answer or further questions from our team.

Select a telephone number from this list for your country or region and have the corresponding organisation code 122203 ready.

You can also download the ‘SpeakUp – Listen for a change’ app from People Intouch (for private devices only) to access the secure reporting system. You can use this app to submit your report in writing or leave a voice message (also anonymously). You will need the organisation code [122203]. Log back in to see the response from our team or to answer further questions. You can also scan the QR code to download the app:

3. Do you have further questions or need a local contact person?

Questions or suggestions for improvements to the whistleblower system can also be directed to the Central Investigation Office.

In addition, our local Compliance Officer can also be contacted by e-mail at compliance@vwimmobilien.de for all matters relating to the whistleblower system.

4. External reporting channel for Germany

The Government of Germany has designated authorities that also receive reports of misconduct as external reporting channels. The external reporting channel(s) is/are:
BfJ – Hinweisgeberstelle (bundesjustizamt.de).