We subjected the findings of the materiality analysis we conducted last year – see Sustainability Report 2010 – to close scrutiny. As well as using the tried and tested process of analysing international and current sustainability studies and requirements, we were also quick to engage in dialogue with the key stakeholders. The aim was to undertake a critical review of our current views. At a workshop with representatives from the fields of politics and local government, financial analysis, environmental associations, trade unions, the Works Council and academia, we discussed in detail the main challenges facing the automobile industry and our Company. In a second step we evaluated potential approaches and formulated expectations.

The outcome was that key findings from last year were reaffirmed but some were assigned greater or lesser importance. Important topics included the greater future significance of water, of networked mobility solutions and of innovative approaches to providing job security. This procedure enabled us to enhance both the transparency and quality of our agenda.

Full details of the evaluation can be found in the online report. In what follows, in the interests of greater clarity we have grouped the main challenges facing the Company in four clusters:

• Responsibility
• Climate and environmental protection
• Employment
• Sustainable mobility

On the pages of this report, the Company’s position on these topics is set out in detail along with the relevant measures. Topics that cannot be directly assigned to one of these clusters should by no means be considered unimportant on the general sustainability agenda. It is just that they are either largely outside our sphere of influence or have yet to have any substantial impact on the Company’s performance.  15