EU Slams 15 Carmakers with $494M Fine: The Recycling Cartel Exposed!

Summary

In this video, the speaker reveals how the mainstream media is misrepresenting their views on electric cars, twisting a past altercation into a false narrative. They also delve into the unethical practices of major car manufacturers, like Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz, who participated in a 15-year-long cartel to avoid paying for vehicle recycling. The speaker criticizes car companies for misleading the public with false promises, such as Toyota’s delayed solid-state battery tech, and calls for more accountability in the industry. They commend the European Union for taking action against these practices but remain frustrated by the ongoing lack of transparency.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker claims that mainstream media, specifically Channel 7 or 9, is preparing a deceptive hit piece about them and electric cars, distorting the truth of a prior altercation.
• 😀 The speaker highlights a cartel formed by major car manufacturers, including Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz, involved in anti-competitive practices around vehicle recycling.
• 😀 Volkswagen was fined $138 million by the European Union for its role in the recycling cartel, while Mercedes-Benz received immunity after ratting out others.
• 😀 The car manufacturers involved in the cartel colluded for over 15 years to avoid paying for vehicle recycling services and to withhold recycling information from the public.
• 😀 The European Union fined 50 car manufacturers and the European Automobile Manufacturers Association a total of 460 million EUR for their involvement in the recycling cartel.
• 😀 Despite the long-lasting cartel, most places in Australia allow consumers to recycle their cars at no cost, which contrasts with the claims of high costs from major automakers.
• 😀 The speaker criticizes automakers for continuously making false promises, citing Toyota's repeated claims of introducing solid-state batteries for EVs that have never materialized.
• 😀 Automakers like Toyota have continuously changed the goalposts regarding the release of solid-state batteries, now claiming they will be available in 2026, but this is likely to shift again.
• 😀 The speaker argues that automakers, such as Toyota, Honda, and Nissan, are not held accountable for their misleading statements about new technologies.
• 😀 The speaker compares the situation to how Tesla would likely face intense scrutiny if they made similar unfounded promises, highlighting the disparity in accountability for big automakers.

Q & A

What is the speaker's main concern regarding the mainstream media?

The speaker is concerned that mainstream media outlets, specifically Channel 7 and 9, are planning to air a misleading and fabricated story about them and electric cars, distorting the facts with selective editing.

How does the speaker describe the altercation with the media?

The speaker mentions an altercation with a media individual who is described as arrogant, where the media selectively edited the event to completely change the narrative of what actually happened.

What is the issue surrounding Volkswagen and other car manufacturers in the European Union?

The European Union fined Volkswagen and other car manufacturers for colluding in an anti-competitive recycling cartel, where they agreed not to pay car dismantlers for processing end-of-life vehicles and hid information on recycling from the public.

What role did Mercedes-Benz play in the recycling cartel scandal?

Mercedes-Benz cooperated with the European Commission by revealing the cartel's activities in exchange for full immunity from fines, while other companies like Volkswagen received hefty fines.

What is the fine imposed by the European Commission on car manufacturers involved in the cartel?

The European Commission fined 50 car manufacturers and the European Automobile Manufacturers Association a total of €460 million (approximately 800 million Australian dollars) for their involvement in the recycling cartel.

Which car manufacturers were involved in the cartel?

The cartel involved major manufacturers like BMW, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Renault, Suzuki, Toyota, Volkswagen, and others.

What was the purpose of the cartel formed by these car manufacturers?

The cartel aimed to prevent competition in the recycling of end-of-life vehicles by agreeing not to pay car dismantlers and by suppressing recycling-related information to discourage consumers from considering recycling when buying new cars.

What are the rules in Europe regarding the recycling of end-of-life vehicles?

European regulations require that the last owner of an end-of-life vehicle can dispose of it at no cost, with car manufacturers required to foot the bill for recycling. Additionally, consumers must be informed about the recycling performance of new vehicles.

How does the speaker feel about car manufacturers’ promises regarding solid-state batteries?

The speaker is critical of car manufacturers, particularly Toyota, for repeatedly failing to deliver on their promises to introduce solid-state batteries in electric vehicles, shifting the timeline multiple times without facing significant consequences.

Why does the speaker think car manufacturers should be held accountable for their claims?

The speaker believes car manufacturers, especially Toyota and others, should be held accountable for misleading the public with false claims about technological advancements, such as solid-state batteries, which have been delayed several times without any meaningful repercussions.