Latest news with #ID.4
Global News
15 hours ago
- Automotive
- Global News
B.C. woman launches petition for ‘lemon law' after vehicle buyback
A B.C. woman has launched an online petition for British Columbia to adopt a 'lemon law' after her recent experience with a new vehicle. 'I want to make the process easier for British Columbians to get their money back if they buy a defective vehicle,' Nicole Pajak told Consumer Matters. Back in February 2023, the North Vancouver resident purchased a new 2023 Volkswagen all-electric ID.4. S he says it was her dream vehicle until she started having problems. 'The windows were rolling down instead of up, the infotainment blacked out, and flickering interior lights,' said Pajak. She says one of the most persistent problems was a break pedal squeak. However, the most serious issue Pajak says was when on multiple occasions her young son couldn't exit the back of the vehicle because the rear doors failed to open. 'He had to climb through the front seat because we couldn't open the back doors,' she said. Story continues below advertisement 2:37 Consumer Matters: B.C. car dealers call for help to offset U.S. tariffs Pajak estimates she made close to 58 trips to the dealership and her vehicle was in the auto shop for almost 90 days. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Since Canada does not have a formal 'lemon law', Pajak turned to the Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan also known as CAMVAP, which tries to resolve disputes between consumers and manufacturers. Eventually, a CAMVAP arbitrator awarded Pajak a buyback, but Pajak says going through the process was exhausting. 'I'm not a lawyer, but I had to become my own advocate,' said Pajak, adding, 'The burden of proof is heavily on the consumer.' Now she's advocating for a 'lemon law' similar to the one in Quebec – the first of its kind in Canada. Quebec's 'lemon law' legislation passed in 2023 aims to protect consumers dealing with defective vehicles. Story continues below advertisement The new law means any vehicle that has experienced three unsuccessful repair attempts for the same problem in the first three years, the owner can sue to have the sale reversed or sue for their damages. 'With this provision, you can use just your calendar and show that the vehicle was off the road for 30 days or there were three repair attempts. Usually, a work order is evidence enough so it makes the case much easier,' George Iny director of the non-profit Automobile Protection Association told Global News. Is Quebec's 'lemon law' working for consumers? Iny says the law is in its early stages. 'Since the law is still new, we don't know if the carmakers are going to settle before they go to court. Up to now, they are acting like the law doesn't exist for the most part,' said Iny. 2:56 Consumer Matters: Ford customer recall frustration Meantime, when asked if B.C. would adopt similar consumer protection legislation to Quebec, B.C.'s Attorney General Niki Sharma says it's under review. Story continues below advertisement 'I'm reviewing that right now about strengthening our rules related to that. We have a few priorities we are working on with respect to consumer protection, but it's always good to know what other provinces are doing,' said Sharma. CAMVAP told Consumer Matters that disputes about software issues cannot be arbitrated and stated there are no specific changes being considered at this time for software issues. Pajak says that leaves EV owners vulnerable and better legislation is needed to reflect the growing shift toward electric vehicles. Consumers interested in signing Pajak's online petition for a lemon law can go to this website.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Volkswagen in direct talks with US government regarding tariff deal
Volkswagen's chief executive officer (CEO) Oliver Blume has revealed in an interview with the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung that the company is in the process of negotiating with the US government over potential tariff relief and ongoing US investments. Although the main contact for these talks is the US Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, Blume shared that these issues also reached the US president, Donald Trump. Blume highlighted that the Volkswagen Group was keen on continuing to invest in the US, if a suitable agreement on tariffs could be reached. The group already has more than 20,000 direct employees in the US, with more than 55,000 indirect employees. Related Germany sees a jump in unemployment as manufacturing weakness drags on Markets jump after court rules against Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs It builds school buses, cars and trucks. Some of its most popular models are the Atlas, the Passat and the Atlas Cross Sport, which are all produced at the Chattanooga Assembly Plant in Tennessee. This plant also assembles Volkswagen's all-electric ID.4 model. The German car company also partners with US electric vehicle (EV) company, Rivian, in order to produce next-generation EV architectures and platforms. This tie-up focuses on bringing together Volkswagen's Modular Electric Drive Matrix (MEB) platform with Rivian's battery design and software expertise. Blume emphasised that Volkswagen would be very likely to build significantly on these pre-existing investments and pointed out that any company which invests in a country should ideally be offered better terms. German newspaper Handelsblatt, meanwhile, reported that Mercedes-Benz and BMW may also be trying to work out a possible deal with the US. Euronews has contacted them for comment. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Volkswagen in direct talks with US government regarding tariff deal
Volkswagen's chief executive officer (CEO) Oliver Blume has revealed in an interview with the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung that the company is in the process of negotiating with the US government over potential tariff relief and ongoing US investments. Although the main contact for these talks is the US Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, Blume shared that these issues also reached the US president, Donald Trump. Blume highlighted that the Volkswagen Group was keen on continuing to invest in the US, if a suitable agreement on tariffs could be reached. The group already has more than 20,000 direct employees in the US, with more than 55,000 indirect employees. Related Germany sees a jump in unemployment as manufacturing weakness drags on Markets jump after court rules against Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs It builds school buses, cars and trucks. Some of its most popular models are the Atlas, the Passat and the Atlas Cross Sport, which are all produced at the Chattanooga Assembly Plant in Tennessee. This plant also assembles Volkswagen's all-electric ID.4 model. The German car company also partners with US electric vehicle (EV) company, Rivian, in order to produce next-generation EV architectures and platforms. This tie-up focuses on bringing together Volkswagen's Modular Electric Drive Matrix (MEB) platform with Rivian's battery design and software expertise. Blume emphasised that Volkswagen would be very likely to build significantly on these pre-existing investments and pointed out that any company which invests in a country should ideally be offered better terms. German newspaper Handelsblatt, meanwhile, reported that Mercedes-Benz and BMW may also be trying to work out a possible deal with the US. Euronews has contacted them for comment. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Euronews
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Euronews
Volkswagen in direct talks with US government regarding tariff deal
Volkswagen's chief executive officer (CEO) Oliver Blume has revealed in an interview with the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung that the company is in the process of negotiating with the US government over potential tariff relief and ongoing US investments. Although the main contact for these talks is the US Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, Blume shared that these issues also reached the US president, Donald Trump. Blume highlighted that the Volkswagen Group was keen on continuing to invest in the US, if a suitable agreement on tariffs could be reached. The group already has more than 20,000 direct employees in the US, with more than 55,000 indirect employees. It builds school buses, cars and trucks. Some of its most popular models are the Atlas, the Passat and the Atlas Cross Sport, which are all produced at the Chattanooga Assembly Plant in Tennessee. This plant also assembles Volkswagen's all-electric ID.4 model. The German car company also partners with US electric vehicle (EV) company, Rivian, in order to produce next-generation EV architectures and platforms. This tie-up focuses on bringing together Volkswagen's Modular Electric Drive Matrix (MEB) platform with Rivian's battery design and software expertise. Blume emphasised that Volkswagen would be very likely to build significantly on these pre-existing investments and pointed out that any company which invests in a country should ideally be offered better terms. German newspaper Handelsblatt, meanwhile, reported that Mercedes-Benz and BMW may also be trying to work out a possible deal with the US. Euronews has contacted them for comment.
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Volkswagen won't follow Mitsubishi, BYD, Toyota with mid-size hybrid SUVs
Volkswagen Australia has shut down the idea of bringing electrified powertrains for the new Tiguan, despite the model being offered with mild- and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) systems overseas. This latest confirmation follows the German brand saying PHEV versions of the Golf and Tiguan were a strong chance for Australia as far back as 2022, though it subsequently said in 2023 the Tiguan eHybrid PHEV variant wouldn't be sold locally. When asked by CarExpert why mild-hybrid and PHEV Tiguans were unlikely to make their way here, Volkswagen Australia head of product Arjun Nidigallu said it was because these powertrains wouldn't fit customers' expectations for the SUV. 'From a product perspective, we look at the reasons why people buy medium SUVs in general, but we also look at the reasons why people buy Tiguan,' he said. 'When we look at the matrix on that in terms of the demographics, who's buying it, why they're buying it, all of that data points towards efficient, fun to drive car that's really engaging.' Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The Australian-market Tiguan is only available with three petrol engines, despite its mid-size competitors fielding varying degrees of electrification including PHEV powertrains (Mitsubishi Outlander, BYD Sealion 6) and conventional hybrid systems (Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V). Instead, Mr Nidigallu says 'alternative powertrains' are available with other Volkswagen models, like the new ID.4 and ID.5 electric vehicles (EVs). 'From an opportunity perspective, I think if people are very keen to buy an alternative powertrain, we can easily offer them our very compelling ID.4 Pro, which, for the price point and for the range that you get and the features in that car, is really difficult to find faults in,' Mr Nidigallu told CarExpert. 'So our approach is to keep the Tiguan identity intact and keep our Tiguan customers happy, but at the same time not lose those opportunities and use the ID.4 for that.' Mr Nidigallu added that Volkswagen Australia wasn't completely against the idea of bringing a Tiguan PHEV here, and maintained that there could still be opportunities with that powertrain. 'We know there is a PHEV in the overseas market, in Tiguan … we continue to investigate and the opportune time in the life cycle that it could be a possibility for us,' he said. Supplied Credit: CarExpert As it stands, Volkswagen only has only PHEV on sale in Australia: the top-spec Touareg R SUV, priced at $133,490 before on-roads. That's despite Volkswagen offering eHybrid versions of the Golf, Tiguan, Passat, and non-R Touareg in Europe. The German brand is gearing up to launch the three-row Tayron SUV in Australia later this year, which will serve as a replacement for the Tiguan Allspace. Three petrol engines will be available: the 110TSI, 150TSI, and 195TSI four-cylinders, matching the Tiguan's lineup. When asked whether the introduction of a new nameplate presented an opportunity to introduce new-to-Australia powertrains, Mr Nidigallu again suggested they wouldn't align with the Tayron's projected customer base. 'We continue to investigate every powertrain in every lineup. Tayron is going to be a really different car for us, it's a different nameplate, and just like the Tiguan, we're targeting a specific customer as well, so it needs to align with that,' he told CarExpert. 'We'll continue to investigate, but there's no plans for PHEV at the moment for us.' MORE: Volkswagen Golf, Tiguan PHEVs on track for Australia MORE: Volkswagen won't offer plug-in hybrid or diesel Tiguan in Australia MORE: 2025 Volkswagen Tayron: Here's what'll power new three-row SUV in Australia MORE: Everything Volkswagen
