[Beijing, March 31, 2025] Volkswagen Group China is strengthening its long-standing commitment to equality, openness, and diversity. At the inaugural “HERizon: Refine Tech. Career” Conference in Hefei, representatives from the Hefei municipal government, female leaders and talents in science and technology came together for an insightful dialogue on women's impact on technology and talent management amid the trend of electrification and artificial intelligence. Against the backdrop of automotive industry going into intelligent connected vehicles (ICVs) era, the Conference explored the boundless potential of women in shaping the future of mobility.

Dr. Martin Hofmann, Executive Vice President of Volkswagen Group China, Responsible for Human Resources, Organization & ITP, said: “For Volkswagen Group China, Hefei stands as an innovation powerhouse of our ‘In China, for China’ strategy. Leveraging the forward-looking industrial planning enabled by the Anhui provincial government, we gathered our local professionals at the Volkswagen China Technology Company (VCTC), our largest R&D center outside of Germany. A notable aspect of our local R&D team is the strong presence of female talent, which is also reflected in our management team, where the proportion of females leads in the whole Group. This demonstrates our long-standing commitment to equality, openness, and diversity. As we move further into the ICV era, nurturing local R&D talent remains a top priority. The inaugural ‘HERizon’ conference reaffirms our dedication to providing a strong platform for women to thrive and lead.”

Wang Haixia, Vice mayor of Hefei Municipal People's Government and the Party Secretary of Shushan District, said: "We look forward to seeing more female technology talents shining in fields like intelligent connected vehicles. We hope they can surmount technological hurdles, refine technological designs, facilitate the integration of industry and research, and contribute female power to tackling 'bottleneck' technological challenges. Moreover, we earnestly invite more tech enterprises and research teams to explore Hefei, make Hefei their choice, and jointly seize development opportunities to co-create a brilliant future."

Building a Work Force for Innovation and Sustainable Growth

Following the “In China, for China” strategy, Volkswagen Group is accelerating its transforming towards the ICV era. 2025 marks the Group’s shift into “Delivery Mode”, with the next generation of China-exclusive ICVs ready to hit the market, empowered by enhanced local R&D capabilities from our innovation Hub at Hefei. 

Hefei is home to the Group’s largest R&D center outside Germany—the Volkswagen Group China Technology Company (VCTC). Within this ecosystem, female tech professionals are contributing significantly across multiple innovation streams, from software competence and intelligent mobility solutions to battery development. Their expertise, creativity, and cross-functional collaboration are accelerating the Group’s transition toward a more sustainable, intelligent future of mobility.

“HERizon: Refine Tech. Career” conference in Hefei marks a pivotal step in Volkswagen Group China’s ongoing journey to build a supportive, innovative, and future-ready workplace. By providing targeted development programs and cultivating an equitable environment, the Group is not only empowering women to thrive in key technological fields, but also injecting fresh energy and diverse perspectives into the industry, thus driving sustainable innovation and shaping a more inclusive and forward-thinking mobility ecosystem for all.

Volkswagen Group fosters an environment that champions both excellence and individual growth. While maintaining a strong focus on effectiveness and productivity, the Group promotes a culture of openness and support, recognizing that true innovation often stems from bold ideas and the freedom to explore. Female employees are not only guaranteed equal career development opportunities, but also are encouraged to take initiative and embrace challenges, even when faced with setbacks. By continuously optimizing internal systems and development pathways, the Group enables women in tech to realize their full potential in STEM fields, thus driving greater diversity and excellence across its innovation landscape.

The inaugural “HERizon: Refine Tech. Career” Conference was held in Hefei on March 29, 2025. The event was guided by the Anhui Women's Federation and the Anhui Science and Technology Department, organized by the Hefei Women's Federation, the Management Committee of Hefei Economic and Technological Development Zone, and the People's Government of Shushan District, and co-hosted by Volkswagen Group China, Volkswagen Anhui, "SHE REWIRES", a women -in-tech community, and other parties. The event aimed to bridge the gender gap in STEM by providing a platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and collaboration, and to advance future generations of women in tech.

From left to right: Shu Hongying, Party Secretary and Chairwoman of the Hefei Women's Federation; Miroslav Khula, CEO of Volkswagen Anhui; Wang Haixia, Vice Mayor of Hefei Municipal People's Government and Party Secretary of Shushan District; Dr. Martin Hofmann, Executive Vice President of Volkswagen Group China, Responsible for Human Resources, Organization & ITP; Xie Bing, Party Secretary and Chairwoman of the Anhui Women's Federation; Zhao Ming, Director of the Anhui Science and Technology Department; Zhang Lu, Vice Chairwoman of the Hefei Municipal Political Consultative Conference; Shao Jian, Chief Human Resources Officer of Volkswagen Anhui; Cui Yan, Senior Director of Human Resources Management at Volkswagen Group China.