Group Volkswagen
Working in conjunction with our subsidiaries in Germany (BfI) and France (FFDAI), EAIVT has started a dialogue with the German manufacturer.
This is one of the projects, which EAIVT has been working on in conjunction with our subsidiaries in Germany (BfI) and France (FFDAI).
In 2011, the German association of independent vehicle importers (BfI) and E.A.I.V.T. jointly filed a note with Volkswagen Germany addressing the issue of market obstruction and artificially limited supplies.
The note was addressed to the VW board members Christian Klingler and Martin Winterkorn, and to the chairman of the supervisory board Ferdinand K. Piech.
In several countries EU consumers do not see their orders for new cars honoured just because they are not buying from an authorised dealer directly. In the communication, which was signed by Thomas Herzig and Marco Belfanti, these problems are not just addressed in form of a complaint, which has been done many times by all sorts of organisations, but BfI and E.A.I.V.T. are suggesting ways of helping all stakeholders in this trade scenario in seeing their interest fulfilled.
The objective of the initiative is to make sure that cross-border trade sanctioned under the articles of the Block Exemption continues without obstacles. Rather than obstructing the flow of goods, manufacturers should embrace the potential generated by mediators and internet traders and use these channels for the proliferation of their goods.
We attempted to start a dialogue, not another series of complaints.
Volkswagen had said in an earlier communication to E.A.I.V.T. that any distribution problems were due to high demand in their products, and that no obstruction of supplies to mediators had been intended. Notwithstanding this, the manufacturer was available for talks with the independent sector.
Eventually, an E.A.I.V.T. delegation met with VW officials at the car maker’s headquarters in Wolfsburg on 12 October 2011. The results of the meeting and the course of action decided upon, which was also discussed at the E.A.I.V.T. ForumFuture in France, are an increased dialogue between VW and E.A.I.V.T./BfI with the aim of identifying problems and securing the flow of goods according to EU law.
The manufacturer says that it is currently analyzing its order and supply system with a look at identifying any problems or reasons for unprocessed orders.
We will keep our members and partners informed on any further developments in this matter.