Annual Report 2023

Notes

30. Noncurrent and current other provisions

€ million

 

Obligations arising from sales

 

Employee expenses

 

Litigation and legal risks

 

Miscellaneous provisions1

 

Total1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at Jan. 1, 2022

 

26,310

 

6,837

 

5,220

 

10,103

 

48,470

Foreign exchange differences

 

208

 

18

 

83

 

127

 

435

Changes in consolidated Group

 

−1

 

12

 

−3

 

12

 

20

Classified as held for sale

 

6

 

1

 

1

 

2

 

10

Utilization

 

9,009

 

2,633

 

2,781

 

3,618

 

18,042

Additions/New provisions

 

11,528

 

2,830

 

974

 

6,449

 

21,780

Unwinding of discount/effect of change in discount rate

 

−465

 

−553

 

−53

 

−76

 

−1,146

Reversals

 

2,518

 

194

 

394

 

2,523

 

5,629

Balance at Dec. 31, 2022

 

26,046

 

6,314

 

3,045

 

10,473

 

45,878

of which current

 

12,396

 

3,073

 

1,181

 

7,946

 

24,596

of which noncurrent

 

13,650

 

3,241

 

1,864

 

2,527

 

21,283

Balance at Jan. 1, 2023

 

26,046

 

6,314

 

3,045

 

10,473

 

45,878

Foreign exchange differences

 

−230

 

−31

 

−4

 

−93

 

−358

Changes in consolidated Group

 

−112

 

−7

 

1

 

−234

 

−352

Classified as held for sale

 

 

 

 

 

Utilization

 

10,047

 

2,432

 

673

 

5,076

 

18,229

Additions/New provisions

 

13,833

 

2,719

 

508

 

5,519

 

22,578

Reclassifications

 

196

 

 

 

−196

 

Unwinding of discount/effect of change in discount rate

 

134

 

166

 

−1

 

−55

 

244

Reversals

 

2,056

 

251

 

387

 

1,552

 

4,245

Balance at Dec. 31, 2023

 

27,764

 

6,477

 

2,489

 

8,786

 

45,517

of which current

 

13,549

 

3,082

 

1,155

 

6,095

 

23,881

of which noncurrent

 

14,214

 

3,396

 

1,335

 

2,691

 

21,636

1

Prior-year figures adjusted (see disclosures on IFRS 17 in the “Effects of new and amended IFRSs” section).

The obligations arising from sales contain provisions covering all risks relating to the sale of vehicles, components and genuine parts through to the disposal of end-of-life vehicles. They primarily comprise warranty obligations, calculated on the basis of losses to date and estimated future losses. They also include provisions for discounts, bonuses and similar allowances which are incurred after the balance sheet date, but for which there is a legal or constructive obligation attributable to sales revenue before the balance sheet date.

Provisions for employee expenses are recognized for long-service awards, time credits, partial retirement arrangements, severance payments and similar obligations, among other things.

In addition to residual provisions relating to the diesel issue, the provisions for litigation and legal risks contain amounts related to a large number of legal disputes and official proceedings in which Volkswagen Group companies become involved in Germany and internationally in the course of their operating activities. In particular, such legal disputes and other proceedings may occur in relation to suppliers, dealers, customers, employees, or investors. Please refer to the “Litigation” section for a discussion of the legal risks.

Miscellaneous provisions relate to a wide range of identifiable specific risks, price risks and uncertain obligations, which are measured in the amount of the expected settlement value. Depending the jurisdiction concerned, they also include risk provisions for any non-compliance with legal emissions limits. Their measurement takes into account, among other things, the respective sales volume and the legally defined fee or the cost of acquiring emission rights from other manufacturers. Advantage has been taken of synergies between individual brands of the Volkswagen Group by establishing emission pools where possible.

Miscellaneous provisions additionally include provisions amounting to €944 million (previous year adjusted: €892 million (see disclosures on IFRS 17)) relating to the insurance business.