The “Umweltprädikat” (Environmental 
Rating) recognizes Volkswagen vehicles and technologies that have an ecological advantage over predecessors or comparable models. This label informs our customers, shareholders and other interested parties in and outside the Company about how we are making our vehicles, components and processes environmentally friendly. The Environmental Rating is based on an environmental impact study audited by the German inspection organization TÜV NORD and certified according to ISO 14040/44. This considers not only the pure “driving time” of a vehicle, but its entire lifecycle from the initial design sketch through production and usage, down to recycling. We also include the production of the fuel consumed during the usage phase. Following in the footsteps of the Golf, the Passat and the dual clutch gearbox in previous years, the new Polo and the Passat EcoFuel were awarded this Environmental Rating in 2009.
