Why this Volkswagen boss got a pie on his head

Normally, a general meeting is a deadly boring affair, but not when Volkswagen convenes one. Then the cakes fly around everyone’s ears.

The Volkswagen meeting has become a target for activists. In protest against Volkswagen’s environmental policy, they caused traffic chaos in Berlin near the venue.

Volkswagen would harm the environment

According to the protesting crowd, VW is responsible for decisions that harm the environment. Two years ago, the car company was even sued in Germany because it would not do enough to combat climate change.

VW now relies on electric cars and CO2-neutral production, but was still involved in the Diesel Gate scandal a few years ago. The manufacturer built fraudulent software into its diesel engines to fool emissions tests.

Slave labor in the Xingjiang region of China

During the meeting, the activists started talking about other things. They held up signs with inscriptions such as “VW = Forced Labor” and “End the forced labor of the Uyghurs”.

VW is said to be indirectly involved in slave labor in China’s Xinjiang region, where the Chinese government oppresses and detains the Uyghur population in camps.

Human rights groups and the UN accuse VW suppliers of using Uyghurs who are forced to work by the Chinese government.

Volkswagen boss avoids throwing the cake

During the general meeting, one of the activists threw a cake at Hans Dieter Pötsch, the CEO of Porsche SE and the chairman of the supervisory board of VW. He skilfully avoided the cake.

Biggest shareholders are calling for an investigation

Volkswagen denies involvement in slave labor, but criticism remains. Even VW’s largest shareholders are pushing for an independent investigation into the Xinjiang plant and its suppliers.

Falling Volkswagen sales in China

Incidentally, VW is also under attack in other areas. Investors are concerned about declining sales in China and the failure of the VW software division Cariad.