Tag: VW

Bentley says first luxury electric car due 2025

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) – German-owned luxury car brand Bentley said Wednesday that its first all-electric vehicle will be ready by 2025, as it unveiled major investment on becoming a fully carbon zero company. Its first battery-powered electric vehicle will be developed and built at its factory in Crewe, northwest England, Bentley said in a statement. The carmaker, owned by Volkswagen, added it was investing £2.5 billion ($3.4 billion, 3.0 billion euros) “in sustainability over […]

Volkswagen hits 2021 EU emissions target after 2020 miss

FRANKFURT, Germany (AFP) – German car giant Volkswagen said Monday it beat the European Union’s target for cutting carbon emissions on its new vehicles in 2021, having missed the mark last year. “Our group-wide electric offensive picked up significant speed last year with many attractive new models,” the head of sales for the multi-brand group Christian Dahlheim said. Average CO2 emissions for passengers cars sold in the EU were “around two percent below the legal […]

Merkel’s record mixed as she takes wheel at last IAA show

by Sophie MAKRIS Agence France-Presse BERLIN, Germany (AFP) – No German leader’s diary would be complete without a visit to the venerable IAA motor show, which welcomes Angela Merkel on Tuesday for the last time in her chancellorship. But the biennial celebration of all things auto-related is mired in controversy this year as Germany struggles to adapt its flagship industry to the electric and digital revolution. Merkel, who is quitting politics after an election on […]

EU court finds against ‘Dieselgate’ car firms

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) — The European Court of Justice ruled on Thursday that it had been illegal for car companies to install devices to defeat emissions tests and mislead motorists about diesel pollution levels. “A manufacturer cannot install a defeat device which systematically improves, during approval procedures, the performance of the vehicle emission control system and thus obtain approval of the vehicle,” the court said. The statement identified the manufacturer subject to the complaint as […]

VW to close most European plants ‘for two to three weeks

by Michelle FITZPATRICK FRANKFURT AM MAIN, Germany (AFP) — German auto giant Volkswagen said Tuesday it was preparing to shutter most of its European plants, joining a slew of other carmakers as the coronavirus pandemic disrupts supply chains and sends demand plummeting. Production will be halted in Spain, Portugal and Slovakia and Italy before the end of this week,” CEO Herbert Diess said in a speech. “Most of the other German and European plants will […]

VW ditches natural gas to focus on e-cars

FRANKFURT AM MAIN, Germany (AFP) — Volkswagen on Monday said it will stop developing natural gas-fuelled cars as the German auto giant bets on electric engines in the battle to woo climate-conscious drivers. The VW group sold just 110,000 cars powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) worldwide last year, not enough to justify further investment, VW’s head of development Frank Welsch told the Handelsblatt financial daily. Although production of existing models powered by the alternative energy […]

Ford, VW call off joint Detroit auto show appearance to announce alliance

by Luc OLINGA / Nova SAFO Agence France Presse DETRIOT, United States (AFP) — The Detroit auto show was abuzz over what Ford and Volkswagen would announce Tuesday, after the car giants called off a joint appearance during which they were widely expected to announce an alliance. The two car giants have been in discussions for more than six months over a partnership to develop self-driving and electric technologies. But a source close to the […]

VW dieselgate: US judge cites progress toward settlement

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP)  5/24/2016 -The San Francisco judge handling the possible trial of Volkswagen in the emissions cheating scandal said Tuesday that there had been “substantial progress” toward a final settlement. Judge Charles Breyer said the German automaker was “on track to meet the court deadline” of June 21 for a deal with the government and car owners who sued Volkswagen for billions of dollars. In a hearing in the federal district court, […]

Volkswagen, Toyota buy into ridesharing

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) 5/24/2016 -Toyota and Volkswagen announced separate partnerships Tuesday with rideshare companies Uber and Gett, in the latest such moves by major carmakers. Japan’s Toyota and ridesharing titan Uber said they had entered into a memorandum of understanding to explore collaboration, starting with trials in countries where ridesharing is expanding. “Through this collaboration with Uber, we would like to explore new ways of delivering secure, convenient and attractive mobility services to […]