Nothing learned yet

berlin - In fact, the highest drivers of the largest car manufacturers in Germany should have known better. Experiments with gasses and people in confined spaces, that's what they do not like in the Federal Republic, and certainly not abroad.

But the high men of BMW, Daimler-Benz and Volkswagen call unison: 'Wir haben es nicht gewusst. 'The same excuse also gave generations of Germans after the Second World War. The Merkel government yesterday went ahead of the industry.

A Volkswagen regulator now calls on those responsible to take their bags. It is a CDU politician, as the Land of Lower Saxony is co-owner of the Wolfsburg global group. That did not prevent the diesel scandal from coming to light a few years ago.

The car manufacturers themselves commissioned the medical experiments with carbon dioxide. First with monkeys, who sat behind glass and while they were given exhaust fumes, they were allowed to watch cartoons on a screen, then with people. Incidentally, similar experiments with people have also been carried out here in the Netherlands.

What astonishment is the frivolity with which managers have gone through the trust of customers, the government and the shareholders. 'Made in Germany' was the solid reputation of car manufacturers, who are the cornerstones of the strongest European economy. The diesel scandal caused Volkswagen, one of the world's largest car manufacturers, to shake its foundations. With Mercedes, BMW and the daughters Audi and Porsche, it was also known in the summer that prohibited agreements were made about suppliers, technology and costs. It was also revealed that there was a price agreement about the steel for the body, a lucrative item to reduce the costs.

Meanwhile, there are already managers locked up, the highest boss of VW has to justify in court, and pressure on political leaders in Washington, Brussels and Berlin. But the self-cleaning ability of car manufacturers still leaves much to be desired.