Volkswagen and Greenpeace Reach Compromise Over Emissions

VolkswagenVolkswagenGermany, 1938 > present98 models
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and Greenpeace have not had the best relationship over the past two years. Greenpeace has criticized VW heavily for not going far enough to reduce its cars' emissions. The two of them have now reached a compromise with Volkswagen promising to have its fleet have average CO2 emissions of 95g/km of CO2, which falls in line with EU legislation.

“I guarantee that we will do everything in our power to reach carbon dioxide emissions of 95 grams without any reservations. However, this will only be possible if customers accept our advanced alternative powertrains. This is of course our objective," said VW Group Chairman Martin Winterkorn.

Greenpeace Chief Executive Director Brigitte Behrens says that VW is showing its commitment to the environment and climate protection. 

VW says that it will remain in dialog with Greenpeace about future emissions targets.

The problems between VW and Greenpeace go back to before the launch of the seventh-generation GolfVolkswagen Volkswagen Golf Gen.7 [VII]Germany, 2012 > present363 versions
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. According to Greenpeace, Volkswagen could have profitably produced a diesel Golf that used 3.0l/100km and a hybrid-gasoline Golf that used 2.6l/100km. Then Volkswagen announced the Golf BlueMotion with a diesel that uses 3.3l/100km. It is highly doubtful that Volkswagen did this based on any pressure from Greenpeace, but it indicates that Greenpeace's data were basically correct.