Volkswagen Best Supplier Awards

Whereas some manufacturers in the US have gone to battle with their parts suppliers, German manufacturer Volkswagen found both the time and the money to award their best suppliers during the “Group Award 2009” ceremony, in the company's home town, Wolfsburg. Even if the awards themselves are of little economic value, it's good to know in these troubled times some do still realize that manufacturers cannot live without suppliers and, why not, without their dealers.

The top ten companies awarded by Volkswagen are Robert Bosch, Benteler, Hella, Bridgestone, MediaCom Holdings, Fuyao Glass, Cevher, Panasonic, United States Steel and Key Safety Systems.

"With its nine brands and a grand total of 62 sites worldwide, Volkswagen offers very diverse and interesting opportunities for cooperation and is today already one of the world’s most future-proof automakers. For our award-winning top suppliers in particular, the Group’s growth course presents an enormous opportunity for a successful future in spite of the present adverse conditions," Francisco Javier Garcia Sanz, Volkswagen member of the board said upon announcing the awards.

In all, 17 global companies received awards from Volkswagen. In addition, ZF Sachs Race Engineering got two special awards for two chassis and drivetrain solutions. The two innovations, the 3-plate ceramic clutch and the hydraulic shock absorbers helped the Volkswagen Race Touareg 2 win this year's Dakar Rally, says Volkswagen.

"We need strong partners who are competitive on the international stage and have a global presence to jointly safeguard our future. In the present situation, competition is no longer determined by price alone. Apart from financial strength, flexibility in dealing with fluctuating market demand together with supply chain stability are also crucial," added Sanz.