June 18, 2025 (press release) –
- Quadriplegic race-car driver Torsten Gross joins as inaugural program ambassador
- Program offers eligible physically disabled Volkswagen drivers up to $1,000 in reimbursement for the purchase and installation of eligible adaptive equipment
Reston, VA — Volkswagen of America, Inc. today announced a new chapter for its Driver Access program with the addition of an exciting ambassador: Torsten Gross, a quadriplegic race-car driver who is changing perceptions of what’s possible behind the wheel. Together, Volkswagen and Gross are working to make mobility more inclusive and empowering for drivers with physical disabilities.
Through the Driver Access program, eligible customers can receive up to $1,000 in reimbursement for the purchase and installation of eligible adaptive equipment on new or Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Volkswagen vehicles. The current program is open to eligible Volkswagen customers with a documented physical disability who purchase or lease an eligible vehicle.
Torsten Gross, a C6 quadriplegic and competitive race-car driver who has been redefining what is possible in motorsports, will serve as the program’s first-ever ambassador. Gross embodies the mission of Driver Access: to break down barriers and reimagine mobility for all.
“As someone who’s experienced both the challenges and the triumphs of adaptive driving, I’m honored to join VW in a mission to help others find their way forward,” said Torsten Gross. “Every time I get behind the wheel, whether it’s my race car or my street car, I’m reminded that possibilities are endless and through the Driver Access program, we’re opening that sense of freedom and confidence to even more Volkswagen drivers.”
As part of the collaboration, Volkswagen of America is providing Gross a 2025 GTI which he plans to specially outfit with adaptive equipment tailored to his needs.
Beyond working together to realize Torsten's adapted GTI, Gross will serve as Volkswagen’s first Driver Access brand ambassador, bringing his trademark energy and purpose-driven voice to a variety of initiatives. He will consult on product accessibility, speak at public events and industry forums, and serve as a featured internal speaker across Volkswagen Group’s workforce.
“Torsten’s story is a powerful reminder that accessibility and performance can go hand in hand,” said Rachael Zaluzec, SVP of Marketing & Customer Experience for Volkswagen of America. “His determination and passion make him the perfect partner as we at Volkswagen work to make our vehicles—and the road—a more inclusive space.”
The Driver Access program is kicked off simultaneously with the Volkswagen Inclusive Environment Workforce (VIEW), Volkswagen of America’s Employee Resource Group (ERG), which is dedicated to disability inclusion and equity in the workplace and beyond. Through this broader effort, Volkswagen of America is committed to supporting underrepresented communities by reimagining what mobility means for people of all abilities.
For more information on the Driver Access Program, visit www.vw.com.
About Volkswagen
Volkswagen of America, Inc. is an operating unit of Volkswagen Group of America, which is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Volkswagen of America sells the Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, Golf GTI, Golf R, ID.4, ID. Buzz, Jetta, Jetta GLI, Taos, and Tiguan vehicles through more than 600 independent U.S. dealers. Volkswagen Group of America operates a state-of-the-art assembly facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee which produces Volkswagen brand vehicles including the Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, and the ID.4. The global Volkswagen Group is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. Visit Volkswagen at www.vw.com or media.vw.com to learn more.
About Torsten Gross
Torsten Gross is a motorsport, scuba diving, and handcycling enthusiast. He has achieved enormous motorsport success, winning numerous races and finishing on the podium multiple times since he began driving competitively, in 2023. Torsten competes and lives life to the fullest without letting the challenges of being a C6 quadriplegic get in his way of achieving his goals and motivating others to achieve theirs.
Based in Sharon, CT, with his wife Maggie and their dog Beau, Torsten leads Just Hands Foundation, a movement putting disabled people behind the wheel—literally and metaphorically.
“VW”, “Volkswagen”, model names and the Volkswagen logo are registered trademarks of Volkswagen AG. “
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