Old diesel should go – VW again offers discounts for scrapping

As part of the fight against imminent driving bans, Volkswagen now wants to take over the old national diesel with the emission standards Euro 1 to 4 for discounts and scrap. By taking over the models from all manufacturers, buying a new car or a used second-hand vehicle will come with a discount, VW said. Like other automakers, VW had already offered an "environmental bonus" as part of the diesel summit of August 2017 from last year. The industry expert, Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, has estimated that part of the reductions on the disposal of old diesel should be offset by the previous reductions. Jürgen Resch, Federal Director of German Environmental Aid, criticized a "crazy understanding of longevity".

Resch talked about the cuts planned for "one way cars", which were only worth for the validity of an emission standard. In the case of a damaged brake, it would be quite clear that only the repair will be performed, he said. Anders in the case of diesel: "Here is a new car to buy." Resch reiterated its request for modernization of equipment for the old diesel exhaust gas cleaner. Mr Dudenhöffer also warned that ecologically better was a national solution for modernization of equipment.

Volkswagen announced that the amount of the discount depended on the selected model brands Audi, Seat, Skoda and VW – up to € 10,000 are possible. In the 14 particularly polluted cities, owners of Euro 4 and Euro 5 diesel cars should benefit from rebates, which would be granted in addition to the residual value. VW itself speaks of "environmental premium and exchange". A spokesman said that traders would still be able to combine the rebates removed from the list price with other discounts.

Improve the air

This makes Volkswagen an "important contribution" to improving air quality, said Christian Dahlheim, sales director of the group. The diesel concept recently introduced by the Federal Government proposes exchanges and adaptations of equipment for Euro 5 diesel in order to improve the air in highly polluting cities. Stefan Bratzel, an expert in the automotive industry, criticized the fact that the missing global concept of the federal government is now taking its revenge.

Dudenhöffer has not ruled out that a portion of VW discounts and previous discounts are applied and that "sales promotion programs" are reduced. As a standard discount when buying a new car, discounts ranging from 12 to 15% are common. In the last "exchange premium" against dirty diesel, the remaining reductions were, however, generally offered. According to VW, the environmental premium from August 2017 to June 2018 put more than 210,000 old diesel engines off the road and eliminated them in the entire group.

The Volkswagen base brand, Volkswagen Pbadenger Cars, offers discounts ranging from 1,500 to 8,000 euros, depending on the model, when scrapping a diesel vehicle from 1 to 4 euros. In addition, an "exchange premium" of between € 500 and € 700 will be paid in the case of a diesel of € 4 or € 5 plus the residual value in the 14 cities specified by the federal government. Audi offers discounts between 3000 and 10 000 euros.

Dudenhöffer spoke of a "stimulus package" for the industry: Volkswagen is trying to absorb the decline in sales. In any case, the share of diesel in new cars sold has been declining for a long time. In addition, global VW group shipments collapsed in September due to the apparent introduction of the new exhaust gas testing method, WLTP. Bratzel said at discounts: "It helps anybody who wants to buy a new car and can afford it anyway."

Previously, Daimler had mentioned the details of the reductions for diesel vehicles of all brands meeting the Euro 1 to 4 emission standards as well as Euro 5 in the "priority regions". They vary between 3000 and 10 000 euros depending on the model. According to a national spokesperson since August 2017, when buying a new vehicle, a "value adjustment" of 2000 euros was awarded for vehicles Euro 1 to Euro 3 – s & # 39; they are discarded. In addition the discounts would come. Nationwide, Mercedes is offering a discount of 2,000 euros for diesel emission standards ranging from 1 to 4 euros.

BMW wants to grant diesel drivers a discount of up to € 6,000 on the purchase of a new car in the 14 regions particularly contaminated with nitrogen oxides, if they replace a diesel engine up to 5 €. Throughout the country, there are still 2000 euros. Foreign manufacturers rely mainly on national programs. Renault offers the purchase of the most expensive new cars up to € 10,000 discount if a diesel is paid at the Euro 5 standard. With Ford up to 8000 euros, with Fiat up to 6000 euros. The brands of the Opel PSA dam – which includes, besides the Russelheimers, Peugeot and Citroën – offer no bonus for the exchange of old diesel.

"Ecological nonsense"

Transport spokeswoman for the left, Ingrid Remmers, spoke of a joke: "We no longer need incentives to buy diesel vehicles, but improvements in the price of diesel vehicles. national equipment. " to repair ".