VW are official vehicle supplier

Volkswagen UK, which has long standing ambassador associations with a number of high profile cricketers, today announced a major extension to its involvement with the sport through new partnerships with the England and Wales Cricket Board, the Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA) and the UK’s Test match grounds.

The partnerships, negotiated by Essentially Group, see Volkswagen become the official vehicle supplier to the ECB, PCA and the Test match grounds.

Adam Chamberlain, head of planning and luxury cars, Volkswagen UK said: "We have had a long and successful ambassador programme in place with some high profile cricketers in the UK including Kevin Pietersen, Shane Warne and Stuart Broad and we are delighted to have the opportunity to extend our involvement with the sport.

"Our new partnerships will ensure that the Volkswagen Touareg is the exclusive supplier to the England cricket team and will provide a platform for us to communicate and engage with the core cricket audience throughout all international and domestic cricket in this country."

The partnership with the ECB and the PCA means the England team will continue to drive the luxury 4x4 Touareg vehicles, whilst county cricketers will benefit from a new lease agreement designed to offer a wide range of Volkswagen cars to meet their individual needs.

Nick Moore, sales manager at the ECB, commented: "We are delighted that Volkswagen has decided to extend its involvement in English cricket and become an official partner of the England cricket team.

“The ECB is constantly striving to establish relationships with organisations that can provide the England cricket team with the finest range of products and services across all categories.

"As such we’re obviously delighted to be able to strengthen our relationship with such an iconic brand as Volkswagen and believe this is further evidence of the positive image cricket has across the UK and its ability to deliver on behalf of our partners."

The Test match ground partnership will deliver car displays, perimeter signage, database access and on-line exposure to a countrywide television and matchday audience.

Kevin Vandrau, commercial director, Essentially, said: "These new partnerships will give Volkswagen exclusive ownership of cricket within the UK automotive sector. The ambassador programme has proved extremely successful and we look forward to amplifying Volkswagen’s extended association with the sport."