Report of the Supervisory Board
(in accordance with section 171(2) of the AktG)
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Fiscal year 2016 was dominated by the Volkswagen Group’s realignment. The work of the Supervisory Board and its committees focused on the development of the future program TOGETHER – Strategy 2025, as well as the diesel issue and its consequences. The Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG addressed the Company’s position and development regularly and therefore with particular intensity in the reporting period. We supervised and supported the Board of Management in its running of the business and advised it on issues relating to the management of the Company in accordance with our duties under the law, the Articles of Association and the rules of procedure. We also observed the relevant recommendations and suggestions of the German Corporate Governance Code at all times. The Supervisory Board was directly involved in all decisions of fundamental importance to the Group. We additionally discussed strategic considerations with the Board of Management at regular intervals.
The Board of Management regularly, promptly and comprehensively informed the Supervisory Board in writing or orally on all matters of relevance to the Company relating to the strategy, the development of the business as well as the Company’s planning and position, including the risk situation and risk management. In this respect, the Board of Management also informed it in particular of improvements to the risk and compliance management system with regard to the diesel issue. In addition, the Board of Management informed the Supervisory Board on an ongoing basis about compliance-related topics and other topical issues. In all cases we received the documents relevant to our decisions in good time for our meetings. We also received a detailed monthly report from the Board of Management on the current business position and the forecast for the current year. Any variances in performance that occurred as against the plans and targets previously drawn up were explained by the Board of Management in detail, either orally or in writing. We analyzed the reasons for the variances together with the Board of Management so as to enable countermeasures to be derived. In addition, the Board of Management presented regular reports on current developments in connection with the diesel issue at the meetings of the Special Committee on Diesel Engines.
The Chairman of the Supervisory Board also consulted with the Chairman of the Board of Management at regular intervals between meetings to discuss important current issues. Apart from the diesel issue, they included the Volkswagen Group’s new strategy and planning, the development of the business, the Group’s risk situation and risk management including integrity and compliance issues.
The Supervisory Board held a total of eleven meetings in fiscal year 2016. The average attendance ratio was 95.0%; all of the members of the Supervisory Board attended over half of the meetings of the Supervisory Board and the committees of which they are members. In addition, resolutions on urgent matters were adopted in writing or using electronic communications media.