Stolen car keys VW files criminal complaint against Greenpeace

Status: 23.06.2021 3:09 p.m.

A Greenpeace campaign in which 100 stolen VW keys were brought to the Zugspitze has legal consequences: the Volkswagen Group has filed a criminal complaint against the environmental protection organization. Around a month after the Greenpeace campaign against Volkswagen in the port of Emden, the car manufacturer took action and filed a criminal complaint against Greenpeace. “We do not tolerate any violations of the law”said a VW spokeswoman in Emden. However, she emphasized that VW was still interested in a dialogue with the environmental protection organization. The criminal complaint suggests a change of heart among the Wolfsburgers: Initially, they reacted surprisingly moderately to the Greenpeace campaign at the end of May and initially waived a criminal complaint.

First of all, understanding and loose tweets

In order to protest against what they considered to be the slow change to electromobility at VW, the activists climbed over a fence onto a loading area in the port of Emden and removed the ignition keys from unlocked cars that were ready for shipping overseas. Shortly afterwards, the organization brought the keys to a glacier on the Zugspitze in Bavaria. There she was supposed to pick up VW boss Herbert Diess after her introduction.

Instead of directly filing a criminal complaint, Diess replied loosely on Twitter: “Gladly Zugspitze, but today I can’t manage anymore – I don’t want to use the plane. Coming soon in good weather?” And VW brand boss Ralf Brandstätter expressed understanding in a detailed comment on the action on his LinkedIn profile that “change is not going fast enough for many”.

Investigations are already running ex officio

Theft as part of the climate debate culture? The public prosecutor and the police had already seen it a little differently before the change of heart at VW: They are already investigating ex officio against around a dozen activists on charges of trespassing and particularly serious theft. In order to initiate criminal prosecution, today’s criminal complaint from VW would no longer have been necessary.

Investigations also after Greenpeace action at the EM

Last week, a Greenpeace campaign directed against VW failed at the German national soccer team’s first EM game. Shortly before the game against France kicked off, a paramotor plane staggered over the Munich arena and finally landed on the field. He came dangerously close to the audience, two men had to be hospitalized because of their injuries.

Numerous politicians condemned the action in the strongest possible terms. The police are investigating various offenses under the Criminal Code and the Aviation Act

The shortage of chips is the biggest challenge that this business is facing, Griffiths said. Volkswagen logo at a dealership of this company in Hamm, Germany. (Photo: AFP / VNA) Seat’s Martorell factory, located on the outskirts of Barcelona, ​​only makes models that receive chips from suppliers, Griffiths said. Volkswagen expects chip supplies to remain tight in the coming months. Last month, Volkswagen Chief Executive Officer Herbert Diess said it was unable to produce 100,000 cars due to a shortage of chips and it would be difficult to make up for the shortage in 2021. According to Volkswagen, the shortage of chips is exacerbated by a snowstorm in Texas (USA), and major chip manufacturers based in the region have to stop production or reduce production. Therefore, this company cannot rule out the possibility of further adjustments to production activities.

Volkswagen logo at a dealership of this company in Hamm, Germany. Photo: AFP / VNA In an interview with the Financial Times, Mr. Wayne Griffiths, President of Seat brand in Spain, Volkswagen said he had received notification from suppliers as well as from Volkswagen Group about the significant challenges in the second quarter. could be even more difficult than the first quarter. Mr. Griffiths said that the shortage of chips is the biggest challenge that this business is facing. Seat’s Martorell factory, located on the outskirts of Barcelona, ​​only makes models that have received chips from suppliers, Griffiths said. Volkswagen expects chip supplies to remain tight in the coming months. Last month, Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess said the company was unable to produce 100,000 vehicles due to chip shortages and it would be difficult to make up for the shortage in 2021. According to Volkswagen, the shortage of chips is exacerbated by a snowstorm in Texas (USA), and major chip manufacturers based in the region have to stop production or reduce production. Therefore, the firm cannot rule out the possibility of having to make further adjustments to production activities.

Audi unveiled up to four brand-new models this week at the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show, where the stretched A7L and A6 e-tron sedans garner the most attention. The two models share the stage with an upgraded long wheelbase Q5 and a mysterious new Audi Shanghai concept in the form of an all-electric SUV. While the A7L will be the first Audi model in China developed with local Volkswagen Group partner SAIC – other models developed with another partner FAW – this new electric vehicle is not far behind. . Considered a research concept at the moment, it will evolve into a production car in the second half of this year. Details are still scarce, but we do know that it will be 4,870 mm long. The figure on this electric luxury Audi Shanghai makes it nearly as long as the Audi e-tron SUV currently sold in many parts of the world, and some local sources say it will be built based on Volkswagen’s MEB chassis. Group, similar to the Q4 e-tron and the smaller Q4 Sportback e-tron. The concept car shown at the show has a camouflage cover with an e-tron mark and all the windows are darkened, meaning the company is not ready to reveal the interior of the new car. With Audi quiet, all we can do is speculate. Considering the announced overall length of the car, perhaps the production version will be equivalent to the Volkswagen ID.6 that also debuted at this year’s Shanghai Auto Show. That three-row electric SUV also uses the MEB chassis and measures 4,876 mm in length. However, this is merely a speculation. If that is the case, we can expect the best version of the new electric SUV to be equipped with the AWD Quattro drivetrain with 2 electric motors delivering a total output of 302 hp and 310 Nm of maximum torque. the equivalent of the dual-motor ID.6, or even more powerful, to deserve the Audi title. At ID.6, this capacity allows it to accelerate from 0-100 km / h in 6.6 seconds and the top speed is electronically limited to 160 km / h. In terms of travel distance, we can also see ID.6 modeled with two options of 58 kWh and 77 kWh, with the second type providing a maximum travel distance of 588 km / h according to the Chinese NEDC cycle. . Time will tell what real specs will be on the new Audi electric SUV. The model on display only has a simple name, the new electric Audi Concept Shanghai, and will certainly bear a different name when it goes into production. Also, it is worth noting that this model will be exclusive to the Chinese market. Video: Audi introduces a series of luxury electric cars in China.

In the past few years, Audi’s electric vehicle lineup has been continuously updated with new models. After E-Tron, E-Tron Sportback as well as E-Tron GT, Audi continues to unveil new luxury electric car couple named Q4 E-Tron and Q4 Sportback E-Tron 2022. Different from E-Tron. Launched in 2018, the Audi Q4 E-Tron and Q4 Sportback E-Tron are based on the Volkswagen Group’s new MEB platform.

This Audi electric SUV underbody facility is also being used in the Volkswagen ID.4. As direct competitors to the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Tesla Model Y and Volkswagen ID.4, the pair of luxury cars possesses essentially the same design. At the same time, these are also the two smallest electric car models of the Audi brand today.

The specific dimensions of the Audi Q4 E-Tron and Q4 Sportback E-Tron 2022 include a length of 4,588 mm, a width of 1,865 mm, a height of 1,632 mm as well as a wheelbase of 2,760 mm. In addition, the vehicle has a towing capacity of 1.32 tons. Compared to the Audi Q5, the Q4 E-Tron 2022 is about 90 mm shorter but optimized for internal space, partly thanks to the battery pack located under the car.

The luggage compartment volume of the Audi Q4 E-Tron 2022 is 520 liters or 1,489 liters if the rear seats are folded down while the other storage compartments have a total volume of 25 liters. Meanwhile, the Audi Q4 Sportback E-Tron 2022 has 535-liter luggage compartment or 1,461 liters if the rear seats fold flat to the floor.

Compared to the rest of Audi’s electric cars, Q4 E-Tron and Q4 Sportback E-Tron 2022 possess a quite different design. The reason is that this luxury electric SUV pair applies Audi’s new design language. Outside, the Audi Q4 E-Tron 2022 looks quite curvaceous. Vehicles equipped with a flat front, high shoulder line and a steep windshield. Thanks to that, this model looks like a traditional SUV.

In contrast to the Q4 E-Tron, the Audi Q4 Sportback E-Tron 2022 has a more unique design. This model is equipped with a wheel cavity like a Tonka toy car, a flat front and a roof sloping to the back in a coupe style. Thanks to this roof, the Audi Q4 Sportback E-Tron 2022 has a 10 km longer range than the Q4 E-Tron.

And yet, the pair of Audi luxury SUVs also get a new Matrix LED headlight system, which comes with a configurable LED daytime positioning strip. Users can choose 1 of 4 different configurations of this LED daytime positioning strip. Other notable exterior equipment of this couple include fake hexagonal grille, connected LED taillights, rims ranging in diameter from 19 to 21 inches and 8 paint colors.

Inside the Q4 E-Tron and Q4 Sportback E-Tron 2022, Audi has arranged large 1.5-liter water tanks on all 4 doors. The interior of the car is upholstered in artificial leather or Nappa leather. Add to that details upholstered in high quality Dinamica, which looks like suede but includes 45% recycled material. Wood and aluminum trim details are available as an option.

Next is the largest center screen ever fitted to an Audi model at 11.6 inches and facing the driver. Even in the standard version, the car also has a 10.1-inch infotainment screen. This monitor supports wireless connectivity with a smartphone via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Behind the wheel is a Virtual Cockpit digital dashboard with a 10.25-inch display.

That is not to mention the voice command feature “Hey, Audi” and the information display screen glass integrated virtual reality technology. Not only high-tech, the interior of the Audi Q4 E-Tron and Q4 Sportback E-Tron 2022 also promises to bring a sense of relaxation to users thanks to the Sonos sound system. This is a new audio brand established in the early 2000s and is known for its high quality speakers and integrated audio solutions. However, the Sonos sound system is only available as an option for the Audi Q4 E-Tron and Q4 Sportback E-Tron 2022.

In markets outside the US such as Europe, the Audi Q4 E-Tron as well as the Q4 Sportback E-Tron 2022 have a standard version of the 35 E-Tron with a 52 kWh battery cluster and an electric motor that powers only 168 hp with the same model. Maximum torque of 310 Nm. This standard version also only uses rear-wheel drive and has an acceleration time from 0-100 km / h in 9 seconds. The range of the Audi Q4 35 E-Tron 2022 is 341 km while the corresponding figure for the Q4 35 Sportback E-Tron is 349 km. Expected to be available in the US market by the end of this year, the price of the Audi Q4 e-tron 2022 starts at less than $ 45,000, less than $ 7,500 under federal incentives.

Video: Details of the Audi Q4 e-tron 2022 luxury SUV with electric power.