The Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband (vzbv) has criticized the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA) for the sales letter to 1.5 million diesel owners.
The references to so-called exchange actions of German automakers "lacked the necessary distance to the industry" and showed "no solutions for many consumers threatened by driving bans on consumers," complained vzbv CEO Klaus Müller on Wednesday in Berlin.
Controversial letter of the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt
The Flensburg authority makes "once again no good figure in the exhaust scandal". The KBA expected neutral information, when it makes sense to exchange his car or to wait for the hardware retrofitting. A hotline of the authority, to which consumers can turn with their questions, is long overdue. The letterhead of the KBA letter, for example, gives the contact details of BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen instead.
"The KBA's letter is for information purposes only", the Federal Motor Transport Authority defended the letter on demand from SPIEGEL ONLINE. The authority mentioned only those producers by name, who have committed their participation in the so-called exchange action binding.
These companies want to give holders of new diesel cars in regions of high air pollution discounts on new cars when they give their old car in payment. Market experts criticize that the discounts would in many cases not or hardly exceed usual discounts. In fact, it was a government stimulus program for the scandal-shaken industry.
Ministry of Transport defends letter
Even the Ministry of Transport in Berlin finds the letter not reprehensible: "The criticism is incomprehensible." KBA Halter informed the letter that it had registered a vehicle that did not comply with the latest emissions standard and that it could be exchanged.
The KBA had sent the letters in November. Those who claim the exchange premium "make an effective and significant contribution to reducing vehicle emissions and improving air quality in our cities," the letter said.