Volkswagen

The Volkswagen Group operates as a major automotive manufacturer. Its core business involves designing, producing, and selling passenger vehicles globally. The group markets vehicles under several well-known brands, including Volkswagen (VW) and Audi. These brands cater to a wide range of consumer segments across international markets, notably including North America. The company works closely with dealership networks to sell vehicles and related services to customers. Marketing activities supporting sales involve collecting customer and potential buyer information.

A significant data breach impacting the Volkswagen Group occurred in June 2021. This incident affected a subsidiary and involved unsecured records held by an external vendor utilized by the automaker and its dealerships for marketing purposes. Over 3 million customers and potential buyers in North America were impacted by the unauthorized access. Compromised data primarily included contact details and vehicle identification numbers. Approximately 90,000 individuals, predominantly Audi customers, experienced exposure of more sensitive information such as driver's license numbers, partial account credentials, and limited Social Security numbers. The vendor had amassed this marketing data over several years. Following the breach, the company notified affected parties and offered credit monitoring services to those whose highly sensitive personal information was compromised.