CSR

The importance of corporate social responsibility, or CSR for short, has increased significantly in recent years. At Driversline, we also recognize that every company has a responsibility that it must take seriously. This is not just about traditional technological development, i.e., our company having to adapt to the latest technical advances, but also about ethical and moral rethinking, which we at Driversline must support, as otherwise there is a risk of losing corporate acceptance in society. Numerous studies prove the value-creating effects of CSR and show, for example, that assuming social responsibility can have a positive impact on employer attractiveness, credibility, customer loyalty, employee satisfaction, reputation, and trustworthiness.

Various corporate scandals and the recent financial crisis have led to a growing distance between companies and the public. In particular, the profit orientation of companies is viewed with increasing criticism and is often seen as the cause of socially undesirable effects of corporate value creation. Similarly, in the chain of society – companies – politics, political disenchantment is spreading to companies. We want to change this for our company by showing that what we do is authentic and that we see it as a collective task to regain the trust of society and, accordingly, that of our customers.

Many definitions of CSR refer to voluntary commitments to social responsibility, which also reflects the general interpretation of CSR. Accordingly, CSR is embodied in measures and activities that go beyond legal requirements. The voluntary assumption of social responsibility can take place both within and outside of a company’s own business activities. Examples of “within” include promoting work-life balance, offering health prevention programs for employees, diversity programs, the use of renewable resources, or refraining from using approved but problematic ingredients. Sponsorship and donations, on the other hand, are classic examples of “outside.” Voluntary assumption of responsibility in relation to CSR is particularly popular due to its pro-social nature. Companies can use it to visibly demonstrate that they support socially desirable goals on their own initiative. This is accompanied by the fact that such commitments are easy to communicate, so that they can also be used for marketing purposes.

Strategic management aims to make companies more sustainable and not solely focused on short-term success, meaning that decisions should be valid in the long term. We are currently undergoing a phase of change in which we are critically observing whether the decisions made are really the right solutions. In the long term, it will become clear whether this is indeed the right solution, which ultimately means that we, as a traditional industry, must not shy away from it. We are embracing change and embarking on this journey together with our customers. Even if, for example, a hybrid vehicle is not yet fully recognized or considered a success, it is a first step, and we at Driversline are not closing our minds to it.

As part of our CSR measures, we offer our employees the opportunity to develop their full potential and openly contribute to shaping emerging issues within our company. These measures promote our corporate culture and internal interactions, with everyone supporting each other and showing greater interest in exchanging ideas. Ultimately, our customers benefit from this transparency and mutual motivation.