image © Greenpeace; source: www.greenpeace.org.uk

Activist group Greenpeace claims that while Volkswagen promotes itself as a ‘green’ auto company, when it comes to delivering on environmental issues, Europe’s biggest carmaker is a greenwash.

VW sold 2.9 million cars in Europe in 2009, over a million more than its leading competition, PSA Peugeot Citroën. But you can’t blame them for that, can you?

The real problem is that on average Volkswagens pollute more than any other of Europe’s top 8 auto brands. What’s more is that VW has failed to reduce emissions and increase fuel efficiency in its vehicles when compared to the competition (especially Toyota).

From the Independent:

According to the 24-page Greenpeace report, The Dark Side of Volkswagen, the German carmaker puts its most efficient engines in only 6 per cent of its cars and inflates their price by more than their cost, deterring the wider adoption of greener motoring.

Today Greenpeace launched a Star Wars-themed campaign against VW’s less than stellar environmental policies.

Despite the green image it likes to portray, VW is at the heart of a group of companies lobbying against new laws which we need to cut CO2 emissions, reduce our oil use and protect places like the Arctic from climate change.

–Greenpeace

Check out the video spot for Greenpeace’s new ‘VW: The Darkside’ campaign and participate by signing the Rebel Manifesto.