Volkswagen is fighting against thefts orchestrated by its own employees. Among the notable cases, an internal criminal network misappropriated more than a million euros worth of spare parts, revealing flaws in the car manufacturer’s control mechanisms.
When internal flaws open the door to a criminal network
The affair is enough to make the cogs of a giant like Volkswagen grind. Between January and June 2024, the brand opened 81 disciplinary proceedings against its own employees for theft or fraud, says Autobild. But behind these worrying figures lies a spectacular affair: a network of six men, all linked to VW, diverted car parts worth more than one million euros from the logistics center in Harvesse, Lower Saxony. The procedure had all the makings of a Hollywood scenario. Two members of the group, owners of automobile garages, used their networks in Poland and Russia to identify the parts necessary for their activities. Once the list of “orders” was established, it was given to an accomplice, employed as a warehouseman at VW. The latter’s task was to load the parts onto trucks intended to supply the Braunschweig factory. But on the way, the convoy took a detour : the drivers transferred the cargo to another truck, under the supervision of a sixth accomplice.
In total, 13 trips of this type were carried outallowing hundreds of coins to be diverted. Perfectly oiled logistics which, for a time, passed under the radar of internal controls. When the case came before the Braunschweig Regional Court, the defendants’ confessions left no doubt about the truth of the facts. The sentences, although significant, nevertheless took into account several mitigating circumstances: none of the defendants had a criminal record, the facts dated back several years, and above all, gaps in Volkswagen’s internal controls greatly facilitated their criminal enterprise. Vitaly H., the main organizer of the network, and Eugen M., the VW employee involved, each received three years and nine months in prison. The owners of the garages were sentenced to sentences ranging from two years and nine months to three years and four months. The drivers, for their part, also received prison sentences, while the logistics assistant received a suspended sentence.
How to restore trust?
During the hearing, the judge pointed out the lack of controls at VW at the material time. Despite regular inventories which revealed inconsistencies, corrective measures seemed non-existent. “We made it extremely easy for them”he said. Aware of the seriousness of these events, Volkswagen responded by implementing a series of measures to strengthen security and prevent such abuses in the future. The company introduced an anonymous alert system allowing employees to report suspicious behavior confidentially. Furthermore, additional control mechanisms have been put in place to fill the identified gaps. The figures demonstrate a reinforced disciplinary policy: 708 employees were fired and 2151 received a warning for violations of internal rules during the first half of 2024. A report which shows Volkswagen’s desire not to let these problems take root.
But will these measures be enough to restore the image of a manufacturer already weakened by other crises? For VW, the issue goes beyond simply correcting flaws. It’s about restoring trust within the companybut also towards partners and customers. If this affair particularly affects Volkswagen, it resonates well beyond its walls. It highlights the vulnerability of large companies to internal theft, often facilitated by the complexity of supply chains and human failings.
In a sector where competitiveness is based as much on the quality of products as on the efficiency of operations, companies no longer have the luxury of ignoring these issues. Volkswagen, by disclosing these incidents and acting transparently, is sending a strong message: it is time to take safety seriously.
