The useless attempt at supplementary performance imposed by the Federal Motor Transport Authority by means of a software update to the value of 60,00 euros does not eliminate the fraud committed and other criminal acts and is therefore irrelevant for the question of reversal by way of in rem restitution.
For those who, like me, have not studied law - what is written should be translated for them:
“The software update does not undo the fraud and plays no role in the question of the vehicle being taken back.”
This paragraph comes from a ruling by the Krefeld Regional Court dated July 19.7th. and does not affect Volkswagen, but Audi. An Audi Q5 owner had sued - and now he was right. The EA189 engine affected by the “diesel scandal” was also installed in his SUV.
Diesel scandal and no end
The 9/11 of the automotive industry
The fact that decisions were made to give the vehicles from the Volkswagen family an illegal exhaust gas aftertreatment is one thing. The way in which the company deals with this unspeakable chapter is different. And “Dieselgate” has now made the entire automotive industry jointly liable. Suddenly you get wild and emotional from the “dark sides of the automotive industry (Autobild)” spoken - CO2, NOx, particulate matter and consumption values are suddenly no longer separable and the crap apparently affects an entire industry. All. Is it due to the summer slump or VW's incredibly poor crisis communication that this issue has exploded so much? Historians will be able to create entire reports about this to bridge the night time on news channels. And with the Krefeld regional court's ruling, things could slowly become very expensive for the company. No, an “environmental bonus” would no longer be a solution.
The salami tactic with no solution
Today you might just wonder. Retrospective. Let's look at it without emotions: Company X thinks it is smarter than the legislature. The company gets caught. Gets involved in discussions and thinks you'll get it sorted out. Just like you do as a global corporation with the GDP of a dozen developing countries. Rules are a matter of definition and punishments can be discussed. In the end you are “too big to fail”. And then you learn the hard wayhow his assessments were completely wrong. But Volkswagen's delaying tactics are no longer successful. The judgment of the LG Krefeld puts a stop to the bogus arguments. And the Krefeld regional court’s ruling could just be the beginning. A bonus of up to €10.000 for “old diesel” should now be the solution? It's blind activism.
What Volkswagen delivers is bad PR and it fuels the negative emotions towards the group. Regardless of whether Facebook or Forums - Whoever deals with the topic a little longer can only turn away from the topic with resignation or rub against the discussion that has long since boiled over.
Clemens Gleich, whom I greatly admire, has delivered a fantastic column. “The end of the diesel discussion”. This column is very important to anyone who suffers from acute high blood pressure when it comes to CO2, driving bans, particulate matter and cartel suspicion among automobile manufacturers.
How great the pressure was on Volkswagen can also be seen in the faces of the executives involved. The toughness and increasing pressure have long been affecting the people involved. But the escalation of the topic is quite house made. One would have had to put on the shirt of penance much earlier, instead the brash words of an ex-Porsche boss, according to which the customer was to blame after all. Well - this may be correct in the matter - we are car buyers and journalists - fans of cars who do without any form of renunciation. But with the attitude of mind with which you hit the wall, now to look for the blame on the wall - is, to put it politely: Very clumsy.
Should - should - could
Status today one has to ask oneself: What is the point of an act of affect, just so that one mitigates the waves of indignation? Of course, you can also argue to your death - what is important is simply to start a discourse that is fact-based. And not combined yellowpress headline and angry bourgeoisie.
And no, just call TESLA when they do German environmental aid in a private war pulls and tries to solve the fine dust pollution of an industrial city - built in a valley basin - by court order, is just not the right answer. The diesel engine is efficient. And so far not replaceable on long-haul routes. Electromobility is the future and is already a massive asset in many areas today - but there is no either or, only an AND. And the discourse must return to this debate. And at Volkswagen, you'd do yourself a favor if you did this book distributes in the management floor.
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