Volkswagen Dealers Gippsland and Bairnsdale, Victoria

To us, sustainability means taking responsibility for the environment, as well as playing an active part in the development of society. We believe that sustainability offers the opportunity to develop long-term innovations, including new approaches, efficient technologies and ground-breaking products. An internal Environment Committee was established in order to manage our business activities from an environmental point of view and to find solutions to reduce our environmental impact.

As a first and important step we have developed a Carbon Management Strategy helping us to identify and to manage our carbon emissions from our business activities. We started with calculating our direct (fuel usage from company cars) and indirect carbon emissions (energy usage and business travel) to establish our Carbon Footprint for 2007 and 2008. From there, comprehensive carbon reduction targets have been set. They serve as a benchmark towards downsizing Volkswagen Group Australia's footprint in the future.

We’ve worked hard to earn a reputation for fuel efficiency across our range of vehicles. Now, we’re working to extend that efficiency throughout our entire operational structure. Real results require real changes. That’s why we’ve initiated a Carbon Management Program throughout the organisation, empowered to recommend changes that mean real emissions reductions. From reduced electricity consumption to optimised business flights, we’re making real changes - and taking great strides in reducing our carbon footprint.

Not only is our business becoming sustainable, but our people are too. On a local level, we have undertaken a number of initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of our business processes. In our offices, a recycling program has been established, and we have even installed waterless urinals in bathrooms. Energy usage is being reduced through lights controlled by motion sensors in toilets, kitchens and meeting rooms. We are currently replacing our light bulbs with energy efficient lighting in our offices.

Our TSI twin or single-charged engines combine innovative and world leading direct injection petrol technology with turbocharging and are extremely fuel efficient with reduced CO₂ emissions. For example, our new Golf 90TSI manual consumes around 15%* less fuel than its predecessor. Also our TDI diesel engines use less fuel and emit less exhaust fumes offering high torque and performance while our diesel particulate filter extracts soot from the car’s exhaust fumes. Numerous engines already fulfill the very stringent Euro 5 norm.

Our dual-clutch DSG gearbox provides the comfort of conventional automatic transmission and the dynamic drive of a manual transmission. It has significantly low fuel consumption in comparison with a conventional automatic transmission with torque conversion. Our new Golf 90TSI DSG for example, consumes 25%* less fuel than its predecessor. The newest  member of our DSG family is the 7 gear DSG transmission for front transverse mounting. It is the first dual-clutch gearbox with a ‘dry’ double clutch.