Photo: Florin Profir
Just as Volkswagen keeps on revealing that more of their engines might be worse for the environment than thought initially, a wider variety of German brands are starting to feel the public pressure. BMW and Mercedes-Benz will be on the forefront of scrutiny and the Bavarians have already felt the weight of it all.
Not long ago, their stock plummeted by up to 9 percent in one afternoon, causing severe losses for the group due to a malicious rumor started by a German publication. This went to show just how fragile stock-listed companies really are and how things can turn around due to a media outlet that makes a false statement.
The situation was cleared later on and it was noticeable that BMW kept its cool and denied any such allegations the whole time. As a matter of fact, this is a pattern that was easy to spot ever since the entire Dieselgate scandal began.
This week, the carmaker went out of its way to say it again through a spokesperson. When asked whether BMW was questioned or investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency regarding the emissions of their cars, the answer was the same: no.
“We have made our vehicles available. The EPA has tested them. We have not received any indications one way or the other. There have been no talks with the EPA,” the statement said.
Furthermore, the company claimed that they abide by every law in every country in all regards, a matter that is both time and resource consuming.
This comes as a confirmation of the statements the current BMW CEO has made earlier this week, about building a case for a unified testing procedure that would make sure all manufacturers abide by the same rules so that the results are accurate.
Among the procedures he mentioned were the new Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedures (WLTP) test cycle and the Real Drive Emission (RDE) test system, both of them under development as we speak. As a matter of fact, the WLTP should’ve been ready by now, but various delays postponed its launch.
The situation was cleared later on and it was noticeable that BMW kept its cool and denied any such allegations the whole time. As a matter of fact, this is a pattern that was easy to spot ever since the entire Dieselgate scandal began.
This week, the carmaker went out of its way to say it again through a spokesperson. When asked whether BMW was questioned or investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency regarding the emissions of their cars, the answer was the same: no.
“We have made our vehicles available. The EPA has tested them. We have not received any indications one way or the other. There have been no talks with the EPA,” the statement said.
Furthermore, the company claimed that they abide by every law in every country in all regards, a matter that is both time and resource consuming.
This comes as a confirmation of the statements the current BMW CEO has made earlier this week, about building a case for a unified testing procedure that would make sure all manufacturers abide by the same rules so that the results are accurate.
Among the procedures he mentioned were the new Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedures (WLTP) test cycle and the Real Drive Emission (RDE) test system, both of them under development as we speak. As a matter of fact, the WLTP should’ve been ready by now, but various delays postponed its launch.
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