The Volkswagen Group has been crowned the World’s Most Innovative Automotive Group of 2025 by the Center of Automotive Management (CAM), reaffirming its leadership in electric mobility, digital connectivity, and forward-looking technologies. The recognition comes as part of the Automotive INNOVATIONS Award, a prestigious annual accolade that analyzes innovation strength across global automotive manufacturers.
Volkswagen beat out top contenders from China and Europe, securing the highest overall score for innovation performance. CAM also honored Volkswagen Passenger Cars as the Most Innovative Volume Brand and Audi as the Most Innovative Premium Brand, highlighting the Group’s excellence across both mainstream and luxury segments.
Driving Innovation Across Categories
Volkswagen and Audi earned top ranks in multiple segments:
- 1st Place: Electric Drive – Volkswagen (Volume Brand)
- 1st Place: Infotainment & Connectivity – Volkswagen (Volume Brand)
- 1st Place: Infotainment & Connectivity – Audi (Premium Brand)
- 2nd Place: Electric Drive – Audi (Premium Brand)
- 3rd Place: Most Innovative Model – Audi Q6 e-tron
Among the standout innovations, CAM highlighted the ID.3 GTX02 electric model, which offers a segment-leading 604 km range (WLTP). Volkswagen also earned praise for rolling out over-the-air software updates that enhance charging performance, while Audi impressed with the A6’s ability to optimize route planning using real-time swarm data from connected vehicles.
Leadership Comments
Oliver Blume, CEO of Volkswagen Group, expressed pride in the achievement: Being recognized as the most innovative automotive group is a great testament to our successful work in recent years. These honors motivate us to continue bringing technologies to the road that excite people. With pioneering technologies and a strong connection to our customers, we are shaping the mobility of tomorrow—focused, sustainable, and innovation-driven.
The CAM awards, based in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany, assess the innovation performance of 30 global automakers annually. Volkswagen’s latest win cements its growing status as a global technology leader, particularly as it expands its electric vehicle (EV) portfolio and digital ecosystem.
This latest recognition reinforces the Volkswagen Group’s vision of delivering future-ready mobility solutions—combining engineering excellence with sustainability, digital intelligence, and customer-centric innovation.
