About: Volkswagen
For many Europeans, the electric vehicle revolution is a mirage
The view from Brussels policymakers is clear: the electric vehicle revolution is firmly underway. But a EURACTIV investigation reveals serious barriers to electric vehicle acceptance across eastern and southern Europe.
Zero emission vehicle declaration disappoints as manufacturers, countries abstain
A COP26 pledge to stop the sale of polluting vehicles by 2040 has been called insufficient by climate campaigners, who criticised the absence of major economies, including the US, Germany, and France, as well as leading car manufacturers, such as Volkswagen and Toyota.
Climate NGOs threaten legal action against German car giants
Greenpeace and German environmental NGO Deutsche Umwelthilfe will take legal action against Volkswagen, BMW, Daimler's Mercedes-Benz, and gas and oil firm Wintershall Dea if they do not step up policies to tackle climate change, they said on Friday 5 November.
VW’s electric push ‘can’t go any faster’, says CEO
Volkswagen chief executive Herbert Diess said Monday (6 September) it was "impossible" for the German car giant's electric transformation to happen any faster, but he accused Angela Merkel's government of holding back change with generous diesel subsidies.
German car parts suppliers fret over combustion engine phase-out
The European Commission’s Fit for 55 package will rapidly tighten emission standards for cars, effectively banning the sale of vehicles fitted with internal combustion engines by 2035. German carmakers had preempted the move, but parts suppliers and employees are worried.
EU slaps Volkswagen, BMW with antitrust fines
The EU's antitrust authority fined German auto giants Volkswagen and BMW €875 million on Thursday (8 July) for colluding on the development of anti-pollution technology for diesel cars.
Volkswagen to stop selling combustion engines in Europe by 2035
Volkswagen said Sunday (27 June) it plans to stop producing cars with internal combustion engines in Europe for its eponymous flagship brand between 2033 and 2035, as the Germany auto giant accelerates its drive towards electric vehicles.
Spain pours billions into fight for slice of European electric vehicle sector
Spain is moving aggressively to land new battery and electric vehicle plants, using billions of European Union pandemic relief funds to avoid being left behind as the global auto sector undertakes the biggest technology transformation in a century.
EU plotting ban on internal combustion engine as of 2025: industry
The European Commission's proposed Euro 7 emission rules on cars, vans, trucks and buses would amount to "a ban through the back door" of internal combustion engines as of 2025, if implemented in their current form, industry has said, calling the proposal premature and "completely out of the question".
Deliveries are up, e-van sales are not – that’s a disaster for pollution
The sale of electric vans has been sluggish despite a boom in home deliveries, spurred by pandemic-driven online shopping. The lack of clean vans on European roads will harm our chances to reach emissions targets, writes James Nix.
LEAK: Only zero-emission cars will win EU green investment label
From January 2026, all cars sold in Europe will need to emit zero grams of CO2 per kilometre in order to be considered "sustainable" under the EU's green finance taxonomy, according to a leaked draft seen by EURACTIV.
VW races to meet EU target with new pooling deal
Volkswagen has brokered an "insurance policy" agreement with MG Motor that will allow the German carmaker to count the firm’s electric car sales alongside its own, in what is seen as a last ditch effort to comply with the EU’s 2020 CO2 emissions target.
BMW agrees €2bn battery contract with Swedish firm
German carmaker BMW signed a battery-supply contract worth €2 billion with Swedish manufacturer Northvolt this week, in the latest example of Europe’s big auto firms preparing to ramp up electric vehicle production.
VW to ditch petrol and diesel cars manufacturing at key factory
Volkswagen is set to remove production lines for all internal combustion engine vehicles from one of its key factories this year, replacing them with electric vehicle production capacity. EURACTIV's media partner, edie.net, reports.
Germany’s top court says VW must pay damages to customers
Germany's highest court ruled on Monday (25 May) that Volkswagen must pay damages to plaintiffs in the diesel emissions scandal, who can now demand a refund of the purchase price. EURACTIV Germany reports.
First Dieselgate ruling by Germany’s top court set to flag legal clarity
Germany's Federal High Court (BGH) will announce later on Monday (25 May) its first ruling in the Dieselgate emissions scandal, which is set to guide other courts and have a major impact on the entire auto industry. EURACTIV Germany reports.
VW set for Dieselgate legal showdown
Germany's main court for civil and criminal matters will hear a diesel emissions scandal case for the first time next week. The ruling is expected the same day and it could impact proceedings across Europe. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Dieselgate motorists in search of compensation boosted by EU court
EU consumers should be able to sue carmakers in their national courts if they have bought cars with emission cheat devices installed, an adviser to the Court of Justice of the European Union said on Thursday (2 April).
German Dieselgate victims earn VW pay-out
Volkswagen is set to pay €830 million in compensation to Germans that bought a car fitted with emissions test-duping technology. A top consumer protection group said the offer is “not generous” though and is a fraction of what US drivers were awarded.
German raids over suspected Mitsubishi diesel fraud
German prosecutors have raided 10 business premises as part of a probe into suspected diesel emissions cheating involving Mitsubishi cars, the latest fallout from the so-called "dieselgate" scandal.
VW puts on hold plan for €1 bln car factory in Turkey over Syria incursion
Volkswagen has postponed the decision on opening a new car factory in Turkey against the background of the Turkish military offensive in Syria. "The final decision for the new plant was postponed by the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG," a company spokesman said on Tuesday (15 October), confirming media reports.
EU auto industry forms unlikely alliance with NGO on electric cars
Long-time adversaries Transport & Environment and ACEA have signed a partnership to roll out electric vehicle charging points, as the auto industry seeks to rebrand with a focus on digital and electric.
German lawyers advise against Dieselgate class action suit
Two of Germany's largest consumer protection groups have launched a class action lawsuit against the VW Group over Dieselgate. With proceedings set to start in September, some lawyers have warned plaintiffs of the risks they run by pursuing the case. EURACTIV Germany reports.