VW should raise prices for cars with combustion engines

The price increases amounted to an average of 4.4 percent, the industry newspaper reported on Thursday “automobile week” with reference to a circular from the Group to its dealers. reason “Significant cost increases in the procurement of raw materials, energy and equipment”.

The car industry is currently warning of further price increases, also because of the EU Commission’s plans for the new Euro 7 emissions standard. VW boss Oliver Blume reiterated his criticism of the EU plans at a works meeting in Wolfsburg on Thursday, which was also attended by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD).

The EU Commission’s proposal envisages that the limit values ​​for cars will only be partially lower than those specified in the Euro 6 emission standard, which has been in force since 2015. However, they should be measured in an extended form of tests in which parameters such as cold or short journeys are taken into account .

“This proposal cannot be implemented in time”said Blume according to the text of the speech at the works meeting. “With a view to climate protection, one must also ask why large sums of money should still be invested in combustion engines, even though the technology is being phased out.”