Matthias Müller detonates more and more against other German champions: the leader of Volkswagen declared open last week to the introduction in Germany of a blue sticker, so far flatly rejected by the industry for which the This is tantamount to banning de facto millions of diesel vehicles from the most polluted cities in the country.
At the end of last year, the boss of the group of twelve brands (Audi, Porsche, Seat, Skoda …) had already registered against the rest of the industry, proposing to abandon the tax subsidy on diesel. A shock proposal that had left its competitors and reacts the leader of Bosch who had defended technology in the press.
“Dieselgate”
Matthias Müller seems to go it alone, while other German manufacturers already blame the manufacturer of Wolfsburg, the origin of the dieselgate, for destabilizing the industry.
For the September 2015 revelations of Volkswagen’s eleven million diesel engines engineered to circumvent anti-pollution tests not only tarnished the image of this technology, but also helped to shine a spotlight on their nitrogen oxide emissions (NOx). These are now at the center of a major national debate on a possible ban on certain diesel vehicles in several cities of the country.
Powerful lobby
These episodes have shaken the traditionally sacred union in the sector. Accustomed to speaking with one voice carried by the powerful Federation of the Automobile (VDA), Volkswagen, BMW and Daimler knew very well so far defend their interests with successive chancellors, including Angela Merkel. Even if it limits now appearances to the big bosses of the automobile.
On the industrial front, the major groups have also launched joint initiatives such as the redemption of Here, a specialist in digital cartography, an essential tool for future autonomous vehicles. Or an alliance to set up a European network of charging stations.
Cartel charges
But this solidarity has recently been put to the test by cartel accusations between Volkswagen, Porsche, Audi, BMW and Daimler, revealed this summer by “Der Spiegel” and investigated by the authorities. In their viewfinder: meetings organized for more than twenty years to discuss technologies used, strategy or costs.
This new affair fueled BMW’s resentment of Daimler and Volkswagen, who denounced these practices to the authorities for avoiding a possible fine.