Annual Report 2025

Notes

33. IFRS 16 (Leases)

1. Lessee accounting

The Volkswagen Group is a lessee, mainly as a result of leasing office equipment, real estate and other means of production. The leases are negotiated individually and include a large number of contract terms and conditions. The following amounts for right-of-use assets resulting from leases are included in the balance sheet items:

PRESENTATION OF AND CHANGES IN RIGHT-OF-USE ASSETS FROM LEASES FOR THE PERIOD FROM JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 2025

€ million

 

Right of use on land, land rights and buildings incl. buildings on third party land

 

Right of use on technical equipment and machinery

 

Right of use on other equipment, operational and office equipment

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost
Balance at Jan. 1, 2025

 

10,296

 

87

 

1,370

 

11,753

Foreign exchange differences

 

−300

 

−3

 

−12

 

−315

Changes in consolidated group

 

25

 

0

 

−3

 

23

Additions

 

2,107

 

64

 

206

 

2,377

Transfers

 

−15

 

 

0

 

−15

Disposals

 

700

 

3

 

148

 

851

Balance at Dec. 31, 2025

 

11,412

 

145

 

1,413

 

12,971

Depreciation and impairment
Balance at Jan. 1, 2025

 

4,200

 

42

 

543

 

4,785

Foreign exchange differences

 

−123

 

−3

 

−8

 

−134

Changes in consolidated group

 

−3

 

0

 

−1

 

−4

Additions to cumulative depreciation

 

1,179

 

41

 

323

 

1,544

Additions to cumulative impairment losses

 

12

 

 

 

12

Transfers

 

−2

 

0

 

0

 

−2

Disposals

 

466

 

3

 

140

 

608

Reversal of impairment losses

 

 

 

 

Balance at Dec. 31, 2025

 

4,798

 

78

 

717

 

5,593

Carrying amount at Dec. 31, 2025

 

6,614

 

68

 

697

 

7,378

PRESENTATION OF AND CHANGES IN RIGHT-OF-USE ASSETS FROM LEASES FOR THE PERIOD FROM JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 2024

€ million

 

Right of use on land, land rights and buildings incl. buildings on third party land

 

Right of use on technical equipment and machinery

 

Right of use on other equipment, operational and office equipment

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost
Balance at Jan. 1, 2024

 

9,249

 

66

 

992

 

10,308

Foreign exchange differences

 

98

 

1

 

3

 

102

Changes in consolidated group

 

83

 

1

 

3

 

87

Additions

 

1,536

 

24

 

498

 

2,058

Transfers

 

0

 

 

0

 

0

Disposals

 

670

 

6

 

127

 

803

Balance at Dec. 31, 2024

 

10,296

 

87

 

1,370

 

11,753

Depreciation and impairment
Balance at Jan. 1, 2024

 

3,538

 

37

 

411

 

3,986

Foreign exchange differences

 

36

 

1

 

2

 

39

Changes in consolidated group

 

13

 

0

 

1

 

14

Additions to cumulative depreciation

 

1,131

 

10

 

248

 

1,389

Additions to cumulative impairment losses

 

0

 

 

 

0

Transfers

 

0

 

 

0

 

0

Disposals

 

517

 

6

 

119

 

643

Reversal of impairment losses

 

0

 

 

 

0

Balance at Dec. 31, 2024

 

4,200

 

42

 

543

 

4,785

Carrying amount at Dec. 31, 2024

 

6,096

 

45

 

827

 

6,967

Subleases of right-of-use assets generated income of €17 million (previous year: €16 million) in the fiscal year.

The measurement of right-of-use assets from leases and the associated lease liabilities is based on a best estimate regarding the exercise of extension and termination options. If there are material changes in circumstances or in the contract, this estimate is updated.

The tables below show how the lease liabilities are assigned in the balance sheet and give an overview of their contractual maturities:

ASSIGNMENT OF LEASE LIABILITIES TO THE RESPECTIVE BALANCE SHEET ITEMS

€ million

 

Dec. 31, 2025

 

Dec. 31, 2024

 

 

 

 

 

Financial liabilities – Non-current

 

6,337

 

5,924

Financial liabilities – Current

 

1,320

 

1,252

Lease liabilities – Total

 

7,657

 

7,176

MATURITY ANALYSIS OF UNDISCOUNTED LEASE LIABILITIES

 

 

REMAINING CONTRACTUAL MATURITIES

 

 

€ million

 

under one year

 

within one to five years

 

over five years

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lease liabilities at Dec. 31, 2025

 

1,588

 

4,759

 

2,964

 

9,311

Lease liabilities at Dec. 31, 2024

 

1,507

 

4,296

 

2,958

 

8,760

Interest expenses of €289 million (previous year: €275 million) were incurred for lease liabilities in the fiscal year.

No right-of-use assets are recognized for low-value or short-term leases. Expenses for leasing low-value assets totaled €220 million (previous year: €258 million) in the fiscal year. This figure does not include any expenses for short-term leases, which totaled €229 million (previous year: €256 million) in the fiscal year. Variable lease expenses not included in the measurement of lease liabilities accounted for €21 million (previous year: €28 million) in the fiscal year.

Leases gave rise to cash outflows totaling €2,242 million (previous year: €2,098 million) in the fiscal year.

The table below shows a summary of potential future cash outflows, that have not been included in the measurement of the lease liabilities:

Potential future cash outflows not included in the measurement of lease liabilities

€ million

 

2025

 

2024

 

 

 

 

 

Future cash outflows to which the lessee is potentially exposed

 

 

 

 

Variable lease payments

 

66

 

84

Extension options

 

4,357

 

3,334

Termination options

 

25

 

25

Obligations under leases not yet commenced

 

98

 

178

 

 

4,546

 

3,622

No material cash outflows attributable to residual value guarantees are expected.

2. Lessor accounting

The Volkswagen Group is a lessor in both the finance lease business and the operating lease business. The subject of these transactions is primarily motor vehicles and, to a small extent, land and buildings and items of equipment for dealerships.

The Volkswagen Group fully accounts for the default risk on lease receivables by recognizing loss allowances, which are recognized in accordance with the requirements of IFRS 9. As lessor, the Volkswagen Group covers risks arising from the assets underlying the leases by, among other measures, taking account of residual value guarantees received for parts of the lease portfolio and by taking account of forward-looking residual values forecast on the basis of internal and external information as part of residual value management. The forecast residual values are regularly reviewed.

2.1 Operating leases

Assets leased under long-term operating leases amounted to €83,095 million at the end of the fiscal year (previous year: €73,815 million). While €609 million (previous year: €622 million) is attributable to investment property, assets separately reported as lease assets in the balance sheet amount to €82,486 million (previous year: €73,193 million). They relate primarily to vehicles in an amount of €82,335 million (previous year: €73,054 million) as well as land, land rights and buildings, including buildings on third-party land, in an amount of €54 million (previous year: €83 million). The remaining assets relate to technical equipment and machinery as well as other equipment, operating and office equipment. More information on changes in value of investment property and lease assets can be found in the section entitled “Lease assets and investment property”.

The following cash inflows from expected outstanding, non-discounted operating lease payments are expected over the coming years:

DISCLOSURE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2025

€ million

 

2026

 

2027

 

2028

 

2029

 

2030

 

from 2031

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lease payments

 

12,029

 

7,850

 

4,615

 

1,766

 

633

 

573

 

27,467

DISCLOSURE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2024

€ million

 

2025

 

2026

 

2027

 

2028

 

2029

 

from 2030

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lease payments

 

11,110

 

7,864

 

4,597

 

1,895

 

633

 

530

 

26,628

BREAKDOWN OF INCOME FROM OPERATING LEASES

€ million

 

2025

 

2024

 

 

 

 

 

Lease income

 

18,247

 

16,705

Income from variable lease payments

 

0

 

1

Total

 

18,246

 

16,705

2.2 Finance leases

Interest income from the net investment in the leases amounted to €4.5 billion (previous year: €4.0 billion) in the fiscal year. Furthermore, a selling profit from the finance leases in the amount of €1.6 billion (previous year: €1.7 billion) was recognized.

The following table shows the reconciliation of outstanding lease payments under finance leases to the net investment:

Reconciliation of outstanding lease payments under finance leases to the net investment

€ million

 

Dec. 31, 2025

 

Dec. 31, 2024

 

 

 

 

 

Non-discounted lease payments

 

75,626

 

73,142

Non-guaranteed residual value

 

4,092

 

3,783

Unearned interest income

 

−7,999

 

−8,033

Loss allowance on lease receivables

 

−1,598

 

−1,414

Net investment

 

70,122

 

67,478

The following cash inflows from expected outstanding, non-discounted finance lease payments are expected over the coming years:

DISCLOSURE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2025

€ million

 

2026

 

2027

 

2028

 

2029

 

2030

 

from 2031

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lease payments

 

26,626

 

21,324

 

16,268

 

9,498

 

1,153

 

756

 

75,626

DISCLOSURE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2024

€ million

 

2025

 

2026

 

2027

 

2028

 

2029

 

from 2030

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lease payments

 

24,433

 

20,867

 

16,489

 

9,547

 

1,099

 

708

 

73,142