AMAG vs. SKS - No cause for complaint!
AMAG notes the complaint filed by the Foundation for Consumer Protection (SKS) against AMAG with incomprehension. The second-hand prices of the Volkswagen Group's diesel vehicles are equal to or better than those of its competitors. This is stated, among others, by the industry experts of Eurotax - there can be no question of a "decline in value". AMAG regrets the [...]
AMAG has the "Collective" lawsuit by the SKS (filed Friday, Dec. 29, 2017) with incomprehension. The claims of customers against AMAG alleged by the SKS in the lawsuit would require unlawful deception, which is emphatically rejected. A claim for damages is also only given if and to the extent that financial damage has actually been incurred. Such damage is also not evident. In particular, the assertion of the SKS that the customers had paid too much or achieved "much lower proceeds" on the second-hand market is in no way comprehensible for AMAG and, moreover, not substantiated by the SKS.
It is astonishing that a consumer protection organization, which is furthermore committed to fair competition, operates without factual evidence. In the study quoted by the SKS, Comparis has also shown increases in value, e.g. of an Audi A3, which the SKS, however, conceals. The SKS tries to misuse its notoriety and media impact for its own purposes and moves away from its own goals.
Industry professionals such as Eurotax or Auto-i-dat have not found any significant price changes for Volkswagen AG diesel vehicles compared to competitors in their monthly studies based on thousands of real market information. Even when compared to gasoline vehicles, there is a maximum difference of 2 to 3% (see below Eurotax chart gasoline versus diesel), so the claim of 15% seems to be completely made up out of thin air.
The current second-hand prices of the Volkswagen brands are currently in line with or even slightly above the market environment. It has been observed that in recent weeks, the diesel used car prices of the brands imported by AMAG have tended to be above average.
Eurotax comments as follows: "The general downward trend in residual values during the period in question is primarily an effect of the Swiss National Bank's removal of the minimum euro exchange rate in January 2015."
[Source: Eurotax Nov. 15, 2017]
A Swiss company:
AMAG had no knowledge of the diesel issue until September 21, 2015, when it became public in the media. Immediately after it became aware of it, it imposed a sales stop for the new vehicles that might have been affected. This course of action was necessary and is absolutely correct and appropriate under fair trading law.
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (BA) has already determined in its investigations that there is no initial suspicion against AMAG. "The BA took the position vis-à-vis the appeal authority that, with regard to possible perpetrators in Switzerland, there were no concrete indications at all that could suffice for any kind of initial suspicion. The opening of an investigation would therefore be tantamount to a so-called, illegal 'fishing expedition'." (cf. media release of 9.12.16.)
AMAG is a Swiss company, legally independent of Volkswagen AG, and has a contract with the latter solely for the import and distribution of products of the Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT, SKODA and VW Commercial Vehicles brands for the markets of Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein. AMAG is therefore a customer of Volkswagen AG or its brands.
98% of all Volkswagen models converted:
Currently in Switzerland about 98% of VW models and 95.5% across all brands equipped with the EA189 diesel engine with the software update. Around two years after the diesel issue became known, AMAG can basically consider the recall to have been largely mastered. A software update is available for all affected model variants and AMAG has invited all customers to a short workshop visit. The vast majority have accepted this invitation, but a few have not yet done so despite repeated invitations. Basically, however, it can be said today that the recall campaign was successful. AMAG is sticking to its goal of achieving 100% conversions.
The reactions from the trade and from customers have been consistently positive. Feedback to date shows that the software updates are basically running smoothly. And the customers who have already implemented the measure are satisfied with the technical solution and have no downstream complaints.
Car claim failed:
It is correct, as communicated by the SKS, that the Dutch Car-Claim project, which the SKS had joined, remained unsuccessful because, among other things, no damage could be proven, which the SKS conceals. It would therefore be important if the SKS would also honestly admit in the present second attempt that the same requirements also apply in Switzerland and that proof of damage is also required here and has not been proven so far.
No misleading advertising - the defeat device is eliminated by the recall:
The SKS opposes misleading advertising, but fails to recognize that, firstly, "Blue-Motion" and "Vorsprung durch Technik" refer to low CO2 emissions and decades of progress, respectively, and therefore have nothing to do with the NOx values and the defeat device. Secondly, at no time did the advertising or brochures refer to a specific or even a particularly low NOx value. NOx was not mentioned at all, so that for this reason, too, there can be no deception.
