Thomas Schäfer, the Chief Executive Officer of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, expressed his gratitude towards Christiane Engel for her crucial contributions to Quality Assurance within the company. He credited her efforts in making Volkswagen a true ‘Love Brand’ with a customer-centric focus. Schäfer acknowledged Engel’s role in achieving top-notch quality in materials, processing, software, and digital services, and welcomed Elvira Tölkes as the new head of Quality Assurance. Tölkes, an experienced professional with a successful track record, is tasked with building on Engel’s work and taking the quality of Volkswagen vehicles to new heights. The emphasis on top quality across all aspects of the product is key in reinforcing Volkswagen’s reputation as a beloved brand among customers.
Elvira Tölkes has held various managerial roles within the Volkswagen Group since 2018. Her previous responsibilities include leading a significant digital transformation project focusing on software update management and cyber security at Audi in 2020. Prior to that, she oversaw development projects at Audi related to exterior and interior design, vehicle security, and thermal management. Her journey in the automotive industry began at Opel in 1992 after completing her mechanical engineering degree at the Technical University of Kaiserslautern. Over the years, Tölkes has held key positions relating to homologation, program management, vehicle validation, and quality assurance. She was also in charge of the engine and component plant in Kaiserslautern and later led the Eisenach plant. Before joining Volkswagen, Tölkes served as Vice President of Quality at Opel. She is set to assume her new role as head of Quality Assurance at Volkswagen Passenger Cars starting from May 1, 2023.
With a workforce of over 1,200 employees, the Quality Assurance division at Volkswagen Passenger Cars oversees operations at 28 production sites across different vehicle classes. The department’s primary objective is to enhance customer satisfaction levels and ensure long-term quality standards. Through setting customer-centric quality criteria throughout the vehicle development process, the team at Quality Assurance ensures that all vehicle functions and services meet the highest standards before market release. This meticulous approach to quality control is what defines Volkswagen’s commitment to excellence in all its offerings. Operating globally, the independent unit focuses on continuous improvement through efficient troubleshooting processes and the establishment of robust factory standards across Volkswagen Passenger Cars plants.