Report

Did Volkswagen tamper with its efficiency graph in Germany?

Every once in a while you'll find an accidental lie on the Internet...

A group of German organizations created a label applied to every new car sold in that country that grades it based on CO2 usage. The energy-efficiency categories run from A+ to G, with the greenest cars at the top and the lowest cars falling into the deep red of the seventh letter of the alphabet. Well, G was the lowest category unless for every carmaker but VW, whose German website classified its cars on charts that went down to H.

The maker is accused of intentionally creating a lower category so that its cars branded with a G wouldn't appear to be judged the least efficient. The expanded category was only online, the dealer charts were correct. VW reps said the online list was a "regrettable mistake," totally unintentional, adding that "we apologize to our customers. But we reject the allegation of a conscious consumer deception." The 'oversight' is being corrected.

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