Volkswagen Helps Make Safe Happen

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. August 26; 2007; Volkswagen of America, Inc. and Program Professionals, a leading non-profit organization dedicated to health promotion, injury prevention and safety programming, have teamed up to launch Volkswagen’s “Safety Saturday.”

“The collaboration between Volkswagen and Program Professionals seemed a natural fit, as we both advocate a uniform message on cars and car safety. It’s the philosophy of prevent and preserve that we want to educate consumers on.” says Steve Keyes, Director of Communications, Volkswagen of America, Inc.

“Safety Saturday” is an extension of the Volkswagen Safety Program, a nationwide program that will educate drivers, passengers and pedestrians on the importance of vehicle safety. With new technology and engineering in vehicles, one would assume that the risk of injury or death in vehicles would be down from a decade ago, but according to research, fatal crashes still take the lives of roughly 40,000 people per year. 1

Program Professionals and Volkswagen have previously collaborated on educational programs such as the Child Seat Safety Inspector Training courses to over 220 Volkswagen dealerships nationwide. They also initiated the Sit Safe program, which held nationwide child-seat check ups to communities all over the U.S.

Volkswagen takes pride in manufacturing safe vehicles with standard features like 6-airbags, 4-channel ABS, anti-skid ASR system, disc brakes on all 4 tires and laser welded seams in every vehicle. And since Volkswagen is a German engineered brand, it is subject to the Euro NCAP crash rating, one of the toughest on earth, but wouldn’t have it any other way. Consumer safety is the number one priority!

The Volkswagen Safety Program campaign will kick off “Safety Saturday” September 22, 2007. This new program will encourage all car owners to stop in to any participating dealerships nationwide2 for a free vehicle safety check and child seat safety inspection, which will be completed by a certified Child Seat Inspector. These checks will include windshield condition, tire pressure, blinker and break lights. Every consumer that stops in to this safety check will also be eligible to register for a free Passat, which is known for its safety features and five star side crash test ratings. 3

For more information on the partnership and Volkswagen's initiatives during safety month and their Safety Saturdays, please visit www.SafetySaturday.com. 3

FUN FACTS:
1. Did you know that 90% of car seats are installed improperly
2. The U.S. has approx. 3,880,151 miles of graded road.
3. Wearing a safety belt reduces your risk of injury in a car crash by 50% and by 65% in a pickup truck.
4. Without wearing a seat belt, a 35 m.p.h. crash is the equivalent of falling from a third-story window.
5. You can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure
6. The first law was passed in New York in 2001 banning hand-held cell-phone use while driving

Volkswagen of America, Inc.

Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Rabbit, New Beetle, New Beetle convertible, GTI, Jetta, GLI, Passat, Passat wagon, Eos, and Touareg through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen of America online at vw.com.

Program Professionals, Inc.

Founded in 2001 is a non-profit organization dedicated to health promotion, injury prevention and safety programming; providing comprehensive program management services, education and research throughout the United States and Canada. In addition to a variety of on-line and community-based programs, we provide toll-free assistance to parents, caregivers, child care providers, educators, medical professionals, automotive manufacturing personnel and other advocates. www.programprofessionals.org

1 According to Edmunds.com

2 www.safetysaturday.com

3 NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Legal residents of the 50 United States (D.C.),21 years or older. Ends: 9/30/07. To play and for Official Rules, including odds, and prize descriptions visit www.safetysaturday.com. Void where prohibited.