Deutsche Welle, 20 January 2014
Germany's
main automobile club, ADAC, has apologized for falsifying results of its annual
award. But car lovers across the country are questioning the club's credibility
after the vote-riggging.
Germany's
ADAC auto club on Monday conceded that its credibility has received a
considerable dent after revelations that a top official had manipulated the
figures in a poll on the nation's favorite car.
"We've
got our work cut out for us to repair the tarnished reputation," said ADAC
managing director Karl Obermair at a televised news conference in the southern
city of Munich.
"We're
very sorry," he said. "This strikes at the very core of our
existence. Our goal is to restore our credibility."
His remarks
come after it emerged over the weekend that Michael Ramstetter, the editor of
the club's popular "ADAC Motorwelt" magazine, had massively
manipulated the number of votes in a poll to determine Germany's favorite car.
The daily Süddeutsche Zeitung reported that the figures, which last week gave
the prize to German carmaker Volkswagen's Golf model, had been exaggerated by
ten times.
Volkswagen
has announced that it is considering returning the prize, which is seen as
having a major influence on German car buyers' decision-making.
'Full
confession'
Pledging a
full investigation, Obermair said Ramstetter had "made a full confession
to having, in an incredibly brazen way, manipulated upward the number of votes
... this year and, he says, in recent years, too."
The
magazine had reported that 34,299 people voted for the Golf, when it had only
been 3,409 votes. However, according to ADAC, although the number of votes
submitted had been manipulated, the ranking itself had not.
The
vote-rigging has triggered a storm of protest, with Germany's Justice Ministry
calling on the club to clear up the matter in the interest of consumer
protection.
"Anyone
whose evaluations have an influence on people's buying habits has a special
responsibility to consumers," Justice Minister Heiko Maas said.
Overall
credibility under scrutiny
Ferdinand
Dudenhoeffer, a car expert at the Universtiy of Duisburg-Essen, said that other
reports on issues regarding the safety of cars and road networks contained in
the ADAC magazine would also have to be scrutinized again in light of the
scandal.
"The car
breakdown statistics and tunnel safety reports need to be re-examined,"
Dudenhoeffer said.
"If
there are lies told about the 'Yellow Angel,' other areas can't be ruled
out," he added. "Yellow Angel" is the name of the annual award
for the country's favorite car.
ADAC,
Europe's largest and most influential car club, has more than 18 milion
members. In addition to the magazine, it also provides roadside assistance to
motorists and sells commercial services from car rentals and insurance to
holidays and long-distance bus services.
tj/mkg (AFP, Reuters, AP)
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