Volkswagen in Wolfsburg
Internal company conversations were apparently recorded. An investigation must now clarify who did this, where and to what extent.
Düsseldorf Confidential meetings of a special project group of the VolkswagenCorporation was obviously systematically intercepted and recorded over a longer period of time. The reports the business magazine “Business Insider”. The rounds were therefore mainly about strategies from VW in the Controversy with his supplier Prevent. VW announced to the Handelsblatt an investigation into the case.
There are said to be almost 50 hours of explosive clay material, which shows how VW should have moved in the dispute with the supplier on the verge of legality or possibly beyond. In the meantime, it is not known who recorded the conversations.
A Volkswagen spokesman said: “When internal and confidential meetings are illegally documented and such information is released to the public without authorization, we are deeply shocked. The case will of course be investigated. ”On request, Prevent stated that they were not familiar with such recordings and had no information about how they were made.
In 2017, a dispute between VW and Prevent – one of the automaker’s most important suppliers – escalated. Prevent had accused VW of using its monopoly position to lower prices and put pressure on suppliers. Two preventive daughters then stopped the delivery of gear parts and seat covers and thereby paralyzed parts of the production at VW for days.
At that time, VW was exploring strategies internally to separate itself from Prevent or at least to restrict the options for action of the supplier, which was concerted by the Hastor family of investors. At the time, the situation was unprecedented, “in which the production of Volkswagen and other group brands was at risk,” said the VW spokesman.
Alleged collusion with other car manufacturers
The VW internal project team at that time had the task of averting further damage to the company, its customers, employees and suppliers, the spokesman said. “All possible solutions were discussed openly, but many were also rejected.” However, no decision-making body was involved.
At the same time, the content of the meetings, which has now been announced, should provide deep insights into Volkswagen’s approach. This is how VW is supposed to deal with the competition Daimler and BMW have voted; the companies are said to have considered working together with the Bavarian supplier Grammer shopping, to prevent it from being taken over by Prevent. VW, on the other hand, maintains that there has been no coordinated action with other automakers.
Prevent supplier
Prevent branch in the Warmenau industrial area near Wolfsburg near the VW headquarters.
(Photo: imago images / regios24)
In 2018, Volkswagen terminated the contracts with Prevent, and both parties are still in court on various issues. From VW’s perspective, the judgments available so far speak a clear language.
A court, for example, clearly formulated that a preventive company acted “with the means of extortion”, other courts have frozen a high double-digit million amount in favor of Volkswagen AG in view of Prevent’s behavior, according to a VW spokesman. Prevent, on the other hand, accused VW of “criminal behavior” in the past and a ruthless use of its extreme market power.
More: VW facing success in supplier dispute: Richter accuses Prevent subsidiary TWB of blackmail methods