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Knocked Up: Volkswagen celebrates success in Hollywood
Jetta plays crucial role in romantic comedy
Wolfsburg, 11 June 2007 - Big-screen comedy Knocked Up opened at cinemas across the US ten days ago, proving a huge success and posting a first-weekend box-office take of over 30 million dollars. This gives the Universal Pictures production one of the most successful feature film debuts of the year. What’s more, a red Jetta is at the heart of the action in two key scenes.
Knocked Up managed to earn back its production costs on the very first weekend of release. The comedy directed by Judd Apatow, creator of the box-office hit The 40-Year-Old Virgin, went straight to number two in the US movie charts, bettered only by Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. The film’s success at the box office was accompanied by overwhelming critical acclaim. USA Today, for example, wrote: "The new king of comedy is Judd Apatow."
An unexpected success, and one that Volkswagen also stands to profit from. Its involvement in the film gives Volkswagen the opportunity to communicate with its young clientele in the US. The Jetta is the on-screen property of lead actress Katherine Heigl, who recently received a Golden Globe nomination for her portrayal of Dr. Izzy Stevens in the hit TV series Grey’s Anatomy. In Knocked Up she plays successful young journalist Alison Scott – a character that mirrors the Jetta’s target group in North America.
Knocked Up opens at cinemas across Germany on 23 August, 2007 under the title Beim ersten Mal.
The Volkswagen TV interactive learning platform makes headway with vocational training in Europe
Partners from eight countries complete media trainings at VW broadcasting center in Wolfsburg – Final phase for EU project
Wolfsburg, 11 June 2007 - Volkswagen TV is making the headlines in Europe as an interactive learning center for vocational training. A series of media trainings with project partners from eight countries lasting several weeks organized under an EU research project came to an end at the broadcasting center in Wolfsburg at the weekend. Directed by Volkswagen TV, each country produced and broadcast an interactive program in its own language, marking a highlight of the training sessions.
The TV broadcasts were received by almost 50 small and medium-sized businesses plus partner companies in the UK, Italy, Spain, Greece, Sweden, France, Austria and Poland. A reverse channel for voice and data transmission allows interactive communication. During the course of the broadcasts, viewers received information and background feedback in response to live questions.
The three-year research project on interactive TV, which is supported by the EU’s Leonardo da Vinci vocational training program, finishes at the end of September this year. Before the program comes to a close, all participating partners will have evaluated the acceptance of interactive TV for employees’ vocational training, with the assessments based on very different target groups, leaning cultures and training needs. Before the media training sessions which ended today, Volkswagen TV had already transmitted some 45 broadcasts throughout Europe under the EU project.
Backed by the findings of the research project, Volkswagen TV will be expanding its concept for the international automobile market. Apart from the 2,500 dealers and service companies in Germany, 27 importers worldwide have also been participating in the interactive information and training broadcasts from Wolfsburg since they began in summer 2002. The importers are responsible for adapting the material to the individual market situation and language and for making the material available to dealers. The content covers a wide range of subjects such as repairs support, employee training and product and management information.
"Vocational training is a decisive criterion for the success of any company. That is why we must organize life-long learning at the workplace. Our experience with Volkswagen TV has been excellent. Now we have had the opportunity to test and implement the medium throughout Europe under the EU research project," Horst Walka, Head of Training at Volkswagen After Sales, commented.
VOLKSWAGEN AND STANFORD UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCE 2007 DARPA URBAN CHALLENGE CONTENDER
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced today that its Electronics Research Lab (ERL) and the Stanford University Racing Team will participate in this year’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Urban Challenge on November 3, 2007 with an autonomously-driven diesel-powered Passat wagon.
“After our victory at the last DARPA Grand Challenge, Volkswagen is excited to join the 2007 DARPA Urban Challenge,” said Dr. Burkhard Huhnke, director, Electronics Research Laboratory, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “We see an opportunity to further advance intelligent technologies for use in passenger vehicles of the future. The features developed for the Urban Challenge will ultimately benefit our customers by making driving safer and more enjoyable in today’s increasingly dense traffic.”
Autonomous driving is an important topic for Volkswagen Research. The last decade has seen several driver assistance systems come to market that improve the handling in dynamic driving situations. Driver assistance systems such as Electronic Stability control, Electronic Parking Assistance and Adaptive Cruise Control have all been designed and implemented to make the task of driving safer, easier, and more enjoyable.
“While fully autonomous driving may be a possibility for the future, it is not Volkswagen’s intent to replace the driver,” said Huhnke. “By pursuing a stretch goal, such as an autonomously driven vehicle, we are able to advance certain aspects that will be of use in more conventional and current driver assistance and safety systems.”
For this year’s DARPA Urban Challenge, the autonomously-driven Passat wagon – named ‘Junior’ in homage to Leland Stanford Jr., founder of Stanford University – will compete on a 60-mile mock urban course that involves merging with traffic, crossing traffic circles and negotiating busy intersections while following traffic laws.
Volkswagen of America’s ERL helped outfit the fuel-efficient Passat wagon TDI with computer-controlled electromechanical power steering and electric throttle, gear shifter and parking brake. Custom mountings for the wide array of sophisticated sensors were also designed and built at the ERL. Intel Core 2 Duo processors, with multiple processing units per chip, make up the car’s “brains.” Together with the software developed at the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Lab, the car will be truly autonomous.
“With ‘Junior,’ our Passat wagon, we have the perfect vehicle for the job; just like our Touareg ‘Stanley’ was for the desert race in 2005,” Huhnke added.
Volkswagen won the $2 million grand prize at the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge with a diesel powered Touareg named Stanley. Stanley defeated 22 other unmanned vehicles in a rigorous, 132-mile championship race over rough desert roads, mountain trails, dry lake beds and tunnels, using only onboard sensors and navigation equipment. Stanley[/FONT] performed flawlessly and achieved victory after six hours, 35 minutes.
About the Electronics Research Laboratory
Founded in 1998, the Volkswagen of America Electronics Research Laboratory (ERL) focuses on providing customers with smarter cars, sooner. It aims to identify new technologies and accelerate their development into future production vehicles. Located in Palo Alto, California, the ERL is the only facility of its kind representing the Volkswagen Group in North America. Its presence in the heart of Silicon Valley allows the Volkswagen Group to work directly with the world's leading high-tech companies and start-ups. Working closely with these partners allows the ERL to design and develop innovative features and applications, which are then integrated with Group vehicles for evaluation and testing. More information about the Electronics Research Laboratory can be found at www.vwerl.com About
VOLKSWAGEN RECOGNIZED BY THE COMMUNICATOR AWARDS FOR SUCCESSFUL MEDIA LAUNCH OF CHAMELEON CONCEPT VEHICLE
Debut of Futuristic 1964 VW Deluxe Microbus Wins Award in 2007 Print Media Contest
Auburn Hills, Mich. – Volkswagen of America, Inc. gained recognition from The Communicator Awards 2007 Print Media Competition for its U.S. media launch of the Volkswagen Chameleon concept vehicle.
The media introduction, held in concert with the start of the 2006 Convergence electronics show in Detroit, earned an Award of Distinction in the contest’s Publicity Campaign category – due to the amount of positive coverage in the local, automotive and business press.
The Chameleon, a retrofitted 1964 Volkswagen Deluxe Microbus, was conceived at Volkswagen’s Electronics Research Lab (ERL) in Palo Alto, Calif. The goal of ERL was to preserve the classic look of the iconic Microbus, while enhancing it with the latest advancements in audio, speech, sensors, displays, navigation, lighting, batteries and solar cells (surfboards atop of the vehicle were actually lined with solar panels).
“We are proud of this award because a lot of talented people put considerable time and effort into developing the vehicle,” said Vickie Chiang, an engineer at ERL, who also served as Volkswagen’s spokesperson at the media introduction. “I remember the journalists were quite intrigued with how we were able to successfully marry 21st century technology with a 40-year-old Microbus. It didn’t take long for the reporters to pick up on the inherent ‘coolness’ factor surrounding the vehicle.”
The press debut was held in the Volkswagen of America Collection, at their Auburn Hills headquarters. The event was co-hosted by lighting supplier OSRAM, who provided state-of-the-art, light emitting diodes (LED) technology to the vehicle’s interior and exterior systems, including the headlamps.
The Communicator Awards is an international awards competition that recognizes outstanding work in the communication field. Entries are judged by industry professionals who look for companies and individuals whose talent exceeds a high standard of excellence and whose work serves as a benchmark for the industry. The Award of Distinction is awarded to projects that exceed industry standards in the production or communications skills.
Garcia Sanz new Chairman of the SEAT Board of Directors
Wolfsburg / Barcelona, 14 June 2007 - Francisco Javier Garcia Sanz has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of SEAT, S.A. (Barcelona) with immediate effect. Garcia Sanz (50) is Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Group with responsibility for “Procurement”
At SEAT, the Spaniard succeeds Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft. In addition to his other responsibilities in the Group, Garcia Sanz was a member of the SEAT Executive Committee in 1995 and 1996 and has been a member of the Board of Directors of Volkswagen AG’s Spanish subsidiary since 1996.
The business management graduate has been with Volkswagen since 1993. He was responsible, inter alia, for Group Procurement Electrics/Electronics before being appointed to the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management in 1996 and additionally to the Group Board of Management in 2001.
Jetta plays crucial role in romantic comedy
Wolfsburg, 11 June 2007 - Big-screen comedy Knocked Up opened at cinemas across the US ten days ago, proving a huge success and posting a first-weekend box-office take of over 30 million dollars. This gives the Universal Pictures production one of the most successful feature film debuts of the year. What’s more, a red Jetta is at the heart of the action in two key scenes.
Knocked Up managed to earn back its production costs on the very first weekend of release. The comedy directed by Judd Apatow, creator of the box-office hit The 40-Year-Old Virgin, went straight to number two in the US movie charts, bettered only by Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. The film’s success at the box office was accompanied by overwhelming critical acclaim. USA Today, for example, wrote: "The new king of comedy is Judd Apatow."
An unexpected success, and one that Volkswagen also stands to profit from. Its involvement in the film gives Volkswagen the opportunity to communicate with its young clientele in the US. The Jetta is the on-screen property of lead actress Katherine Heigl, who recently received a Golden Globe nomination for her portrayal of Dr. Izzy Stevens in the hit TV series Grey’s Anatomy. In Knocked Up she plays successful young journalist Alison Scott – a character that mirrors the Jetta’s target group in North America.
Knocked Up opens at cinemas across Germany on 23 August, 2007 under the title Beim ersten Mal.
The Volkswagen TV interactive learning platform makes headway with vocational training in Europe
Partners from eight countries complete media trainings at VW broadcasting center in Wolfsburg – Final phase for EU project
Wolfsburg, 11 June 2007 - Volkswagen TV is making the headlines in Europe as an interactive learning center for vocational training. A series of media trainings with project partners from eight countries lasting several weeks organized under an EU research project came to an end at the broadcasting center in Wolfsburg at the weekend. Directed by Volkswagen TV, each country produced and broadcast an interactive program in its own language, marking a highlight of the training sessions.
The TV broadcasts were received by almost 50 small and medium-sized businesses plus partner companies in the UK, Italy, Spain, Greece, Sweden, France, Austria and Poland. A reverse channel for voice and data transmission allows interactive communication. During the course of the broadcasts, viewers received information and background feedback in response to live questions.
The three-year research project on interactive TV, which is supported by the EU’s Leonardo da Vinci vocational training program, finishes at the end of September this year. Before the program comes to a close, all participating partners will have evaluated the acceptance of interactive TV for employees’ vocational training, with the assessments based on very different target groups, leaning cultures and training needs. Before the media training sessions which ended today, Volkswagen TV had already transmitted some 45 broadcasts throughout Europe under the EU project.
Backed by the findings of the research project, Volkswagen TV will be expanding its concept for the international automobile market. Apart from the 2,500 dealers and service companies in Germany, 27 importers worldwide have also been participating in the interactive information and training broadcasts from Wolfsburg since they began in summer 2002. The importers are responsible for adapting the material to the individual market situation and language and for making the material available to dealers. The content covers a wide range of subjects such as repairs support, employee training and product and management information.
"Vocational training is a decisive criterion for the success of any company. That is why we must organize life-long learning at the workplace. Our experience with Volkswagen TV has been excellent. Now we have had the opportunity to test and implement the medium throughout Europe under the EU research project," Horst Walka, Head of Training at Volkswagen After Sales, commented.
VOLKSWAGEN AND STANFORD UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCE 2007 DARPA URBAN CHALLENGE CONTENDER
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced today that its Electronics Research Lab (ERL) and the Stanford University Racing Team will participate in this year’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Urban Challenge on November 3, 2007 with an autonomously-driven diesel-powered Passat wagon.
“After our victory at the last DARPA Grand Challenge, Volkswagen is excited to join the 2007 DARPA Urban Challenge,” said Dr. Burkhard Huhnke, director, Electronics Research Laboratory, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “We see an opportunity to further advance intelligent technologies for use in passenger vehicles of the future. The features developed for the Urban Challenge will ultimately benefit our customers by making driving safer and more enjoyable in today’s increasingly dense traffic.”
Autonomous driving is an important topic for Volkswagen Research. The last decade has seen several driver assistance systems come to market that improve the handling in dynamic driving situations. Driver assistance systems such as Electronic Stability control, Electronic Parking Assistance and Adaptive Cruise Control have all been designed and implemented to make the task of driving safer, easier, and more enjoyable.
“While fully autonomous driving may be a possibility for the future, it is not Volkswagen’s intent to replace the driver,” said Huhnke. “By pursuing a stretch goal, such as an autonomously driven vehicle, we are able to advance certain aspects that will be of use in more conventional and current driver assistance and safety systems.”
For this year’s DARPA Urban Challenge, the autonomously-driven Passat wagon – named ‘Junior’ in homage to Leland Stanford Jr., founder of Stanford University – will compete on a 60-mile mock urban course that involves merging with traffic, crossing traffic circles and negotiating busy intersections while following traffic laws.
Volkswagen of America’s ERL helped outfit the fuel-efficient Passat wagon TDI with computer-controlled electromechanical power steering and electric throttle, gear shifter and parking brake. Custom mountings for the wide array of sophisticated sensors were also designed and built at the ERL. Intel Core 2 Duo processors, with multiple processing units per chip, make up the car’s “brains.” Together with the software developed at the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Lab, the car will be truly autonomous.
“With ‘Junior,’ our Passat wagon, we have the perfect vehicle for the job; just like our Touareg ‘Stanley’ was for the desert race in 2005,” Huhnke added.
Volkswagen won the $2 million grand prize at the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge with a diesel powered Touareg named Stanley. Stanley defeated 22 other unmanned vehicles in a rigorous, 132-mile championship race over rough desert roads, mountain trails, dry lake beds and tunnels, using only onboard sensors and navigation equipment. Stanley[/FONT] performed flawlessly and achieved victory after six hours, 35 minutes.
About the Electronics Research Laboratory
Founded in 1998, the Volkswagen of America Electronics Research Laboratory (ERL) focuses on providing customers with smarter cars, sooner. It aims to identify new technologies and accelerate their development into future production vehicles. Located in Palo Alto, California, the ERL is the only facility of its kind representing the Volkswagen Group in North America. Its presence in the heart of Silicon Valley allows the Volkswagen Group to work directly with the world's leading high-tech companies and start-ups. Working closely with these partners allows the ERL to design and develop innovative features and applications, which are then integrated with Group vehicles for evaluation and testing. More information about the Electronics Research Laboratory can be found at www.vwerl.com About
VOLKSWAGEN RECOGNIZED BY THE COMMUNICATOR AWARDS FOR SUCCESSFUL MEDIA LAUNCH OF CHAMELEON CONCEPT VEHICLE
Debut of Futuristic 1964 VW Deluxe Microbus Wins Award in 2007 Print Media Contest
Auburn Hills, Mich. – Volkswagen of America, Inc. gained recognition from The Communicator Awards 2007 Print Media Competition for its U.S. media launch of the Volkswagen Chameleon concept vehicle.
The media introduction, held in concert with the start of the 2006 Convergence electronics show in Detroit, earned an Award of Distinction in the contest’s Publicity Campaign category – due to the amount of positive coverage in the local, automotive and business press.
The Chameleon, a retrofitted 1964 Volkswagen Deluxe Microbus, was conceived at Volkswagen’s Electronics Research Lab (ERL) in Palo Alto, Calif. The goal of ERL was to preserve the classic look of the iconic Microbus, while enhancing it with the latest advancements in audio, speech, sensors, displays, navigation, lighting, batteries and solar cells (surfboards atop of the vehicle were actually lined with solar panels).
“We are proud of this award because a lot of talented people put considerable time and effort into developing the vehicle,” said Vickie Chiang, an engineer at ERL, who also served as Volkswagen’s spokesperson at the media introduction. “I remember the journalists were quite intrigued with how we were able to successfully marry 21st century technology with a 40-year-old Microbus. It didn’t take long for the reporters to pick up on the inherent ‘coolness’ factor surrounding the vehicle.”
The press debut was held in the Volkswagen of America Collection, at their Auburn Hills headquarters. The event was co-hosted by lighting supplier OSRAM, who provided state-of-the-art, light emitting diodes (LED) technology to the vehicle’s interior and exterior systems, including the headlamps.
The Communicator Awards is an international awards competition that recognizes outstanding work in the communication field. Entries are judged by industry professionals who look for companies and individuals whose talent exceeds a high standard of excellence and whose work serves as a benchmark for the industry. The Award of Distinction is awarded to projects that exceed industry standards in the production or communications skills.
Garcia Sanz new Chairman of the SEAT Board of Directors
Wolfsburg / Barcelona, 14 June 2007 - Francisco Javier Garcia Sanz has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of SEAT, S.A. (Barcelona) with immediate effect. Garcia Sanz (50) is Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Group with responsibility for “Procurement”
At SEAT, the Spaniard succeeds Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft. In addition to his other responsibilities in the Group, Garcia Sanz was a member of the SEAT Executive Committee in 1995 and 1996 and has been a member of the Board of Directors of Volkswagen AG’s Spanish subsidiary since 1996.
The business management graduate has been with Volkswagen since 1993. He was responsible, inter alia, for Group Procurement Electrics/Electronics before being appointed to the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management in 1996 and additionally to the Group Board of Management in 2001.
