VW & Ecology

Immediately after the situation between VW Group and Greenpeace calmed down regarding charges on the basis that VW slows down the ecology development in automotive industry, here comes unexpectedly-expected news from Belgrade!

Videlicet, the Fund for the Environment Protection of the Republic of Serbia announced an open competition to all car companies doing business in Serbia in order to participate in the program applying for subsidies to encourage purchasing of environmentally friendly vehicles, based on the initiative of our media company in May/July.

According to this decision, a 1,000 Euros subsidy has been approved for each buyer of a vehicle that emits less than 100 g/km CO2. The subsidies are taken from the Fond budget (the budget totals 200,000 Euros).

Most of the major companies such as Mercedes-Benz, Opel, BMW, Toyota Honda, FIAT etc. have applied and signed up to the contest.

The certificate awarding ceremony is scheduled for September the 26th 2011 by Mr. Oliver Dulić, Serbian Minister of Environment, Mining and Zoning, as well as the official start of the program activities.

Accidentally or intentionally, Volkswagen Group (Volkswagen, Seat, Audi) has not applied to participate in the program that is directly engaged in encouraging the reduction of CO2 emissions. All this happens despite the fact they have pointed out themselves (under pressure from Greenpeace though), that they have a large number of models that meet ecological requirements.

The reasons for VW failed to apply for participation in the program can be numerous; from failure of administration to the principal’s direct orders.

If this non-participation is a random act, the situation is less complicated and quite compatible to the abilities of the Porsche SCG management which represents VW Group in Serbia.

But if this decision is dictated by the highest place in Wolfsburg, then the efforts of VW Group and the “Up!” program (are only declarative and are anything but the sincere intention to move towards environmental sustainability related to the automotive industry.