Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, CEO of Volkswagen AG, receives the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic

Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, receiving the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic distinction from José Manuel Soria, Spanish Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism.The Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, received today the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic distinction by José Manuel Soria, Spanish Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism, today in Madrid. This afternoon, Winterkorn will meet with the President of the Spanish Government, Mariano Rajoy, and will be given an audience by HM King Juan Carlos.

The Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic aims to reward those extraordinary civil behaviors made by Spanish and foreign people, for the benefit of Spain or contributing in a relevant way to promote friendship and cooperation between the Spanish nation and the rest of the International Community.

Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn expressed his deep appreciation for this distinction, while underlining Volkswagen Group’s ongoing commitment to Spain. “It is a great honor for me to be awarded with the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic. The Volkswagen Group is firmly committed to Spanish industry and employment. Europe’s biggest carmaker remains a motor for a strong and successful industry in Spain”, he stated.

Winterkorn is expected to meet with the President of the Spanish Government, Mariano Rajoy, at the Moncloa Palace this afternoon. Afterwards, he will be given an audience by HM King Juan Carlos at the Zarzuela Palace. The CEO of Volkswagen AG will express his gratitude for the distinction to both of them and will also underline that Spain and SEAT are and will remain cornerstones of the Group’s strategy.

Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn is the Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, which is the leading carmaker in Europe. In Spain, the Volkswagen Group employs around 22,000 employees, produces one of every three vehicles in the country, sells one of every four automobiles and invests some €500 million per year.

Born in 1947 in Leonberg (Germany), Winterkorn is also the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Audi AG, the Chairman of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen brand and the Chairman of the Board of Porsche Automobil Holding SE.

Furthermore, he is Honorary Professor of Shanghai Tongji University, University of Technology and Economics of Budapest and Technical University of Dresden. In 1977, he started his career in Robert Bosch, and he was the CEO of Audi between 2002 and 2006.