DIRK VOESTE
THE SUSTAINABILITY INTERVIEW
Sustainability, he argues, becomes“ real and tangible” only when it delivers benefits for customers and stakeholders, whether those are more efficient vehicles, lower emissions or improved user experience.“ An electric vehicle, for example, is super efficient,” Dirk explains.“ A regular ID. 7 model runs with 20 kilowatt hours per 100 kilometres – equivalent to two litres of diesel. It offers enormous efficiency, less maintenance and quieter driving – once people drive electric, we rarely see them switch back.”
The four pillars of Volkswagen’ s Regenerate + strategy are each tracked by dedicated KPIs.“ We track these holistically, but always with a business lens,” Dirk says.“ Sometimes certain projects engage our neighbourhood, but meeting the business case is vital.”
DIRK VOESTE
TITLE: CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER
COMPANY: VOLKSWAGEN GROUP INDUSTRY: AUTOMOTIVE
Reporting directly to the CEO of the Volkswagen, Dirk is responsible for embedding Volkswagen’ s global sustainability strategy across the business. A biologist by training, his career spans NASA research to senior sustainability leadership at BASF.
“Sustainability at Volkswagen has to make business sense – it’ s not philanthropic”
Dirk Voeste, Chief Sustainability Officer, Volkswagen Group
24 November 2025