This account of a phone call to Volkswagen's general enquiries line is provided by Rod Thick of Worthing Greenpeace!
The first part of the campaign was to phone VW general enquiries line which I did on behalf of the group. I spoke to a switchboard operator who connected me to another lady who then put me through to someone higher (I never got his name or position) & during the conversation I asked the following questions from the factsheet:
- I’m surprised to hear that VW is blocking stronger car efficiency targets ?
- I never thought of VW making inefficient cars ?
- Why don’t they support stronger car efficiency targets ?
On more efficient cars...
To start with he said he didn’t think that technology was moving fast enough for engines to be efficient enough to allow these targets to be met by 2020. I pointed out that they already have the technology & only use it on a small number of cars at add on prices, why not bring this technology into all their models?. He went on to say how they’ve brought down costs & emissions to make cars more cost effective for the majority. Then he spoke about the future of electric & hybrid cars but didn’t say they would have advanced enough by 2020 (they should be able to if the will is there, but just my opinion).
On failed advertising...?
I kept going back to him & asking why VW are lobbying to lessen the EU targets & he came back with other issues. One being that the Green Party had pushed VW to produce a low carbon vehicle either a 3 litre or 3 cylinder (I’m not into technology) which they advertised extensively but it didn’t sell. I suggested they should have advertised it at the Super Bowl!
On more efficient cars (again)...
I asked again why VW are pushing for lower emission targets, this time he went on to say there was still a demand for high energy cars. I answered that the majority of motorists are looking for low cost & efficient cars due to the soaring cost of fuel which he agreed with. I also mentioned about caring for the environment for future generations. He mentioned about the science how they’ve brought emissions down. I told him I was still very concerned that VW were lobbying for emission cuts. He said again that although the technology was there he still didn’t think it was possible to reach the 30% target by 2020. I mentioned how mobile phone technology had advanced over the last 10 years why couldn’t the motor industry?
I said about other major companies welcoming the 30% target, his answer was “what some companies say & do is another matter”. He also said jobs still have to be protected.
And finally...
At one point he thought that Greenpeace had misinterpreted VW’s intentions regarding the emission targets but didn’t or couldn’t expand on this, he did say that a new document will be coming on the VW website soon with in-depth information about the targets.
It wasn’t a heated conversation but a good debate & I’ve left the door open for other Greenpeace supporters to have their say.
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