TOPIC: Volkswagen Presentation Interrupted by Protester A presentation by Volksw
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Question
TOPIC: Volkswagen Presentation Interrupted by Protester
A presentation by Volkswagen at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show was interrupted by a demonstrator. The new car was being introduced by Jürgen Stackmann, board member for the VW brand, when comedian Simon Brodkin, dressed as a VW mechanic, walked on stage and said that Volkswagen's chief executive had sent him to fix a display car's engine. Brodkin was alluding to the Volkswagen diesel emissions scandal. Jürgen Stackmann was in a tough spot. “Thank you,” he said, “It’s a brand new car; it does not need the repair.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5INvv6fTl0Y watch 30 second video
Tell Us...
1. What's your view of Simon Brodkin's antics? Was his approach more productive, disruptive, or destructive?
2. How well did Jürgen Stackmann handle the incident? What could he have done differently?
Explanation / Answer
1) In september 2015, EPA detected that VW in America had been selling cars with defeat device in diesel engines that could detect when they were being tested,and hence changing the performance accordingly to improve results. Vox Wagon also admitted of cheating emissions tests in the US. This became a major controvercy which resulted in erosion of brand value for VW. Simon Brodkin was just reacting to the unethical practise adopted by the VW . He interrupted the launch presentation of new VW car by Jürgen Stackmann.Though his soul intention to vent out his anger on what VW had been doing to cheat his customers, he should not have been disruptive by stopping the ongoing launch event.
2) I think that Jürgen Stackmann handeled the situation perfectly by saying that "Its a new car and does not need repairs". The company already had accepted his misdeeds in December 2015 and paid a lot of price for it like - reduced credibility, erosion in brand value,legal action, lesser sales etc. Also, company adopted various image rebuilding measures to again create their brand value. Jürgen Stackmann should not have been personally humiliated by Simon Brodkin in the middle of the presentation. Though I feel that Jürgen Stackmann could have issued an apology in public launch event on company's behalf of their wrong doings in past.
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