Registry · VOW3

Does Volkswagen AG support Israel?

Support documentedupdated 2026-07-21

Yes — Volkswagen AG has documented support for Israel on record. Every claim below links to its source.

Filed under: Car & automotive brands · Companies that support Israel

Background

Volkswagen has no factories or sales subsidiary of its own in Israel: Volkswagen, Audi, Škoda and SEAT vehicles are imported by Champion Motors, an independent Israeli company owned by the Allied Group that has represented the VW Group since 1965 — it is not a Volkswagen subsidiary, and its actions are its own. Volkswagen's direct Israeli footprint runs through the CYMOTIVE cybersecurity joint venture, the Konnect innovation hub in Tel Aviv, the ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab Israel joint venture, and technology deals with Israeli companies such as Mobileye and Innoviz.

Business Wire (JV announcement describing Champion Motors) Volkswagen Group (official press release)

Timeline of documented support

2017201820192020202120222016-09 — Partnership: CYMOTIVE Technologies (automotive-cybersecurity joint venture, Israel)Partnership2016-092018-01 — Operations in Israel: Konnect — Volkswagen Group Innovation Hub, Tel AvivOperations in Israel2018-012018-01 — Partnership: ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab Israel Ltd (joint venture with Champion Motors)Partnership2018-012018-10 — Partnership: New Mobility in Israel (joint venture with Mobileye and Champion Motors)Partnership2018-102019-08 — Investment / program: TriEye and other Israeli startups (via Porsche Ventures / Porsche Digital)Investment / program2019-082022-08 — Government contract: Innoviz Technologies (Israeli lidar maker, supplier to VW's CARIAD)Government contract2022-08

Documented support

TypeDateAmountRecipientSources
Partnership2016-09—CYMOTIVE Technologies (automotive-cybersecurity joint venture, Israel)
Volkswagen co-founded CYMOTIVE Technologies, an automotive-cybersecurity company headquartered in Israel, together with former Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin, Tsafrir Kats and Dr. Tamir Bechor. Volkswagen holds 40% of the venture (the Israeli founders 60%), with its main office in the Tel Aviv area and a second office in Wolfsburg; it develops security for connected cars and has remained active as a VW Group cybersecurity partner.
Operations in Israel2018-01—Konnect — Volkswagen Group Innovation Hub, Tel Aviv
Volkswagen Group opened Konnect, its open-innovation hub in Tel Aviv, to scout Israeli deep-tech startups for the Group's brands in smart mobility and Industry 4.0; in 2019 it expanded into a Volkswagen Group campus and co-working space hosting startups and running proof-of-concept projects.
Partnership2018-10—New Mobility in Israel (joint venture with Mobileye and Champion Motors)
Volkswagen announced the 'New Mobility in Israel' joint venture with Israel's Mobileye and independent importer Champion Motors to deploy Israel's first autonomous electric ride-hailing service — VW supplying the EVs, Mobileye the self-driving kit and Champion Motors fleet operations. The Israeli government formally accepted the proposal; testing was planned from 2019 with commercialization by 2022, a timeline that was not realized, though VW's robotaxi cooperation with Mobileye continued in later programs.
Partnership2018-01—ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab Israel Ltd (joint venture with Champion Motors)
VW subsidiary ŠKODA AUTO and Israeli importer Champion Motors established the joint venture ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab Israel Ltd in Tel Aviv (operational from January 2018) to scout Israeli startups and run pilots; it has collaborated with more than a dozen Israeli companies including XM Cyber, Chakratec, Anagog and UVeye.
Investment / program2019-08—TriEye and other Israeli startups (via Porsche Ventures / Porsche Digital)
Porsche, a Volkswagen Group brand, invested about $2 million in Israeli sensor startup TriEye's $19 million Series A round. Porsche Digital has operated in Tel Aviv since 2018, and by 2022 Porsche Ventures had made six investments in Israeli companies (including cybersecurity firm Valence Security) while expanding its Tel Aviv team.
Government contract2022-08$4,000,000,000Innoviz Technologies (Israeli lidar maker, supplier to VW's CARIAD)
Volkswagen's software subsidiary CARIAD selected Israeli lidar maker Innoviz Technologies as a direct tier-1 supplier of lidar sensors and software for VW Group vehicles with automated-driving capability — a deal Innoviz valued at about $4 billion over eight years, covering an expected 5–8 million vehicles.

Frequently asked questions

Did Volkswagen AG donate money to Israel or Israeli causes?

We have no records of cash donations, but Volkswagen AG has documented support of other kinds (Partnership, Operations in Israel, Investment / program, Government contract). See the records on this page.

Where does this information come from?

Every record on this page links to its source — news reports, official company statements, tax filings, or government records. 18 distinct sources are cited for Volkswagen AG. Our methodology page explains the full verification process.

Sources & citations

Record last updated: 2026-07-21

Companies with documented support