The Dark Side Of Volkswagen (VIDEO)

Greenpeace has put a different spin on the adorable Darth Vader Volkswagen commercials that sprung up during the Super Bowl.

The group launched "The Dark Side of Volkswagen" campaign dedicated to exposing what Greenpeace calls the automaker's poor environmental record.

Volkswagen has put its most fuel efficient engines in a tiny percentage of vehicles, while dramatically increasing the price for consumers, Greenpeace said. The report claims that just 6 percent of Volkswagen's 2010 sales were of the company's most efficient models.

Auto Blog notes that the company also opposes laws that Greenpeace insists will curb global warming, such as a 30 percent drop in overall emissions from 1990 levels.

"Volkswagen were one of the driving forces in the lobbying campaign agains the introduction of these vehicle efficiency standards," the report claims.

WATCH:

Comments

[kkehoe5]

10:16 AM on 07/01/2011

Video pulled as I predicted

[cabrobst]

09:52 PM on 06/30/2011

My first car was an old beetle. Even in 1968, those were among the most dangerous cars.

[Lucas Borges]

08:07 PM on 06/30/2011

Give me a help :) http://www.vwdarkside.com/en/jedi/lucas-borges-129916

[mseng arcs]

05:08 PM on 06/30/2011

A couple of comments: Just read another article about VW's new Chattanooga built Passat. 1st loads getting on the train for shipment. GreenPeace needs to realize that the plant in Chattanooga which builds VW's is the "greenest" automobile manufacturing plant in the world. In the WORLD. Some of you should do your home work. VW, other then the venrable Beetle from 1949 to 1973, does not class itself as an "economy car". And, even though VW has some of the most fuel effecient cars in the world that are very good to drive. So if you are looking for cheap, find another brand. Also, look for an article about VW Jetta TDI and one of the Hyundia models comperable priced. The testers loved DRIVING the VW. And it got better mileage the the other make. GreenPeace can spout all they want but they do not do their homework either just like many of the Pundits that said no one would buy the New Jetta. There are price points and model varieties for a reason. And anyone who buys a car from a computers pont of view with out a test drive deserves what they get. So stop complaining, and start driving, then make your decisions. Even if you have quit driving cuz your old or you rather take the train, drive a VW and you'll feel better about driving. Try it.

[JackHoffman]

03:31 PM on 06/30/2011

Don't take life to seriously, no one gets out alive anyway.

[GeoToronto]

03:30 PM on 06/30/2011

I live in the 905, I'm 49 years old and I've owned a car since I was 19.
I urge everyone NOT to buy a car
Last year I sold my car and I commute, I will never, ever buy a car.
It's a waste of money and being stuck in traffic sucks the life out of you.
I take the TTC and GO, yes, sometimes the bus or train is crowded, but I know I have an extra $400 a month in my pocket.

[1other1]

01:07 PM on 06/30/2011

So what?

[freshie]

11:50 AM on 06/30/2011

VW doesn't want this to gain traction. VW owners are 2 types, performance enthusiasts or hipster, peacenick, tree huggers. They don't want to lose the treehuggers.

[RTIII]

11:25 AM on 06/30/2011

The VW commercial that followed was ADORABLE!

[GeorgeP922]

10:42 AM on 06/30/2011

My VW Jetta TDI gets 45 mpg at any and all speeds.

And it's been doing it with less C02 than any gasser for 10 years now.

BP, Exxon, Chevron and Connoco can suck it, and so can Greenpeace

Lest not we forget that GREENPEACE actively tries to sabotage real conservationist groups like Sea Sheppard.

[ls1z28chris]

10:24 AM on 06/30/2011

I wonder how many people paid attention to this part of the article:

"Volkswagen has put its most fuel efficient engines in a tiny percentage of vehicles, while dramatically increasing the price for consumers, Greenpeace said. The report claims that just 6 percent of Volkswagen's 2010 sales were of the company's most efficient models."

That is an extremely important statement that Greenpeace is making. I looked into TDI Jetta models when doing market research a little while back, and discovered this exact problem. VW makes some incredibly fuel efficient vehicles in their TDI models, but they price those things too high. The base Jetta costs just under $17,000, but the base Jetta TDI costs just under $23,000. That is a $6,000 difference just for a different engine.

Actually, no, the huge difference doesn't come from having a different engine. They make you buy the SE trim instead of S, along with "16 other luxury features." Instead of trying to get these efficient cars out to the people, VW is charging a premium because they think those interested enough in this kind of efficiency are willing to pay a premium.

That seems to be Greenpeace's point. They want VW to stop playing these sorts of games and let people buy base models with the TDI engines.

[Maria2]

10:15 AM on 06/30/2011

really cool vid! too bad VW has such a dark side. well what d'you expect... VW did start off as Hitler's project :) (it did. of course he did it for propaganda purposes- he could care less about the german people-or anyone else, for that matter)

[RTIII]

11:29 AM on 06/30/2011

"of course he did it for propaganda purposes- he could care less about the german people-or anyone else, for that matter"

That's a LARGE error.

No, the vehicle was intentionally designed so that it could be easily and cheaply adapted to many different military uses. It was much more than just the German version of the Jeep, it was also a gun platform, various forms of utility vehicles such as towing vehicles and the like, and there was even a boat version known as the schwimwagen. . . . .

[Caligal1]

10:14 AM on 06/30/2011

I have a low-mileage VW jetta that is constantly having engine issues. It's always going back to the repair shop. I regretted buying it, and now after seeing this, I regret buying it even more.

I'm glad to see GreenPeace getting more vocal and more publicity with this great commercial and by willing to be arrested for climbing on top of the oil rig.

But I'd like to know what "green" car I can buy on a budget. I don't have a lot of money to spend on my next car and it seems like the hybrids and electrical cars are all expensive. If anyone knows of a cheap green car let me know.

[american-dolt]

10:14 AM on 06/30/2011

Article = Ad=sleazy

[JScott]

10:11 AM on 06/30/2011

Something else VW (or MBZ or BMW or Audi) doesn't tell you-nearly all of their cars in the US will not tow a trailer load except for a few of their SUV's, otherwise it violates the cars warranty.