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A message from Volkswagen CEO Scott Keogh

Dear Volkswagen Drivers,

I hope this note finds you well. The world has turned upside down in the past two months. People are worried about their health, their finances, their jobs, their parents, and the future. Timeless rituals like holidays or birthdays or weddings or weekend baseball or dinner out are on hold, and we're all looking for signs that it's safe to come back out again.

But in the midst of this coronavirus outbreak, we’re seeing good all around us. We’re seeing neighbors look after neighbors. We’re seeing skies clear. We’re seeing New York pause each evening to celebrate the helpers. And we’re seeing all the ways in which transportation is as essential as ever.

From hospital workers and grocery personnel, to first responders and pharmacists, to people delivering supplies to friends, family, and customers, people count on their cars to perform our country’s most vital services.

We're also essential in the lives of the people we employ. About 8,800 people in the U.S. work across the VW Group brands, at our parts warehouses and ports and at our Chattanooga factory. And when you include our dealer networks, we indirectly contribute to the livelihood of about 35,000 more in the U.S.

A lot goes into the decisions we make as a company, especially during a 100‑year storm like this one. And I wanted to take a moment to share a bit of the framework for how we’re making decisions for our customers, employees and dealers. We intend to take the long view and always consider health and safety above all else as we do our part to help keep America moving.

For Volkswagen in the U.S., this issue started relatively small in the supply chain. Within weeks, the regional crisis became global. As cities and states moved to lock down their communities, we shut down our offices March 13 and asked everyone who could work from home to do so. We followed the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help protect the workers in our factory, our call centers and our parts distribution centers to maintain production of vehicles for people who needed one, as well as parts for repairs. Many dealers have begun to pivot to no‑touch drop offs for Service, as well as virtual walk‑arounds, no‑touch test drives, and digital signatures for purchase contracts.

As this rolling blackout shut down the biggest parts of the U.S. economy, we balanced managing a company with all of our costs and what was now a fraction of our revenue. While that business logic is simple, these decisions are about much more than cold math. I think a company has an obligation to its employees and communities as much as it does its shareholders. I also know the people who work in this company, and I know that we'll need as many of them as possible, if we're to come out on the other side of this storm more than just viable.

As the market collapsed, we had to idle the Chattanooga factory on March 21, but kept workers on full pay until April 10. Once the federal relief package took effect, we furloughed the production teams, while keeping them on full medical benefits, after paying out first‑quarter bonuses. That helped provide a cushion and let them take advantage of the expanded unemployment benefits until work resumes, which we expect to happen in early May.

For customers who've been impacted by this crisis, we worked with the tools at our disposal, helping to ease the financial stresses of owning and maintaining your vehicle. Highly qualified owners of most new VW models who finance their purchase through Volkswagen Credit can defer their first month’s payment for 180 days, with no interest for 72 months.* We also have flexible payment options for customers who've lost their job**.

We’re also serving our community by shifting gears to support essential services and workers. Along with Faurecia, which makes fabric for our seats, we’re manufacturing masks and gowns for healthcare workers and we're helping make visors in Chattanooga for area hospitals.

Many VW Dealers are in the process of repurposing their service loaners as delivery vehicles. Their employees have been bringing supplies to local food banks, carrying out food from local restaurants to customers in their homes, and making other essential deliveries.

In so many ways, life is different today from just a few weeks ago. Some of that change is unthinkable. But some of it has been magical. The commute to my coffee table takes about a minute. My wife and I can have coffee together every morning and I'm home for dinner every night. I hope you've been able to find the small but profound amid the new and chaotic in your own lives, too.

For now, be safe, be well and know that I, and all of our dealers and colleagues at Volkswagen of America, are thinking of and supporting you every day.

Sincerely,

Scott Keogh
CEO and President of Volkswagen Group of America

* Offer available for highly qualified customers on new, unused 2019 & 2020 Volkswagen models financed by Volkswagen Credit through participating dealers only. Example: For 0% APR, monthly payment for every $1,000 you finance for 72 months is $13.89. No down payment required. Other amounts may be due at signing. Not all customers will qualify for credit approval or advertised APR. Limited to two offers per household. May not be combined with certain other offers. Not available on lease offers. We will schedule your first payment exactly 180 days from the date of the contract. Dealer sets actual price. Excludes business customers. Offer ends April 30, 2020. See your Volkswagen dealer for details.
** Offer for current customers requires Volkswagen Credit account in good standing. Offer for new customers subject to important limitations. See www.vw.com/the-community-driven-promise for details.
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Héroes Cotidianos

Estos son tiempos sin precedentes: distanciamiento social, escasez de papel higiénico y un cierre global a gran escala. Pero a pesar de que todos estamos en aislamiento, en muchos sentidos, estamos más cerca que nunca. En esta crisis compartida, los héroes cotidianos son los que marcan la diferencia: los trabajadores de la salud y los socorristas, por supuesto. Pero también las tiendas de servicios esenciales, maestros en línea y conductores de entrega de mercancía. En VW South Florida, solo queríamos recordarle que algunos de esos héroes cotidianos, sus vecinos y amigos, están trabajando en este momento en un concesionario Volkswagen cerca de usted.

Nuestros departamentos de ventas y servicio aún están abiertos, lo que garantiza que todos los que necesiten transporte confiable lo tendrán. Nuestros equipos de limpieza están trabajando diligentemente para mantener todas las instalaciones desinfectadas y seguras. Nuestro equipo de trabajo está recogiendo y entregando vehículos para servicio o entregas a domicilio para que los clientes no tengan que arriesgarse a abandonar sus hogares. Y nuestros socios de préstamos están garantizando aprobaciones de crédito rápidas y fáciles en línea y por teléfono. Los héroes cotidianos están cambiando el aceite y reemplazando neumáticos, asegurándose de que otros héroes cotidianos puedan llegar a donde más se les necesita.

Volkswagen también está colaborando para ayudar con ofertas sin precedentes, como financiamiento de 0% APR por hasta 72 meses; eso es cero intereses durante 6 años. Y, si le preocupa poder realizar sus pagos mensuales, ¡le ofrecemos diferir los pagos de nuevas compras por hasta 6 meses! Sin intereses durante seis años y sin pagos durante seis meses en casi todos modelos nuevo de Volkswagen. Además, todos los vehículos VW nuevos del 2020 vienen con dos años de mantenimiento complementario, por lo que mantener su vehículo en las mejores condiciones no es una carga financiera.

Como país, hemos sobrevivido a muchas catástrofes; Como individuos, hemos superado la adversidad personal. Lo que lo hace más fácil es tener a alguien en quién apoyarse. Sus concesionarios Volkswagen del sur de la Florida están aquí para ayudarlo en todo lo que podamos. Manténgase seguro y saludable, y comuníquese con nosotros si podemos ayudarlo.

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Everyday Heroes

These are unprecedented times: social distancing, a toilet paper shortage and a full scale global shut down. But even though we’re all self-isolating, in many ways, we’re closer than ever. In this shared crisis, everyday heroes are the ones making the difference: the health care workers and first responders, of course. But also the grocery store stockers, online teachers and delivery drivers. At VW South Florida, we just wanted to remind you that some of those everyday heroes, your neighbors and friends, are working right now at a Volkswagen dealership near you.

Our sales and service departments are still open, ensuring everyone who needs reliable transportation has reliable transportation. Our cleaning crews are working diligently to keep every facility sanitary and safe. Our lot porters and drivers are picking up and delivering vehicles for service or home deliveries so customers don’t have to risk leaving their homes. And our lending partners are ensuring fast, easy credit approvals online and by phone. Everyday heroes are changing oil and replacing tires, making sure other everyday heroes can get to where they’re needed most.

Volkswagen is also pitching in to help with unprecedented offers like 0% APR financing for up to 72 months; that’s no interest for 6 years. And, if you’re concerned about being able to make your monthly payments - we’re offering to defer payments on new purchases for up to 6 months! That’s no interest for six years and no payments for six months on most new Volkswagen models. Plus, all new 2020 VW vehicles come with two years of complimentary maintenance, so keeping your vehicle in its best condition isn’t a financial burden.

As a country, we’ve survived many catastrophes; as individuals, we’ve overcome personal adversity. What makes it easier, is having someone to lean on. Your Volkswagen dealerships of South Florida are here to help in any way we can. Stay safe and healthy and reach out to us if we can help.

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