Audi UK wishes to emphasize that there has not been any deliberate intent to mislead on the part of its customer-facing staff where the Euro NCAP safety test performance of the Audi model range is concerned. Sustained and significant investment in passive and active safety technology across the Audi range has resulted in safety norms, which don’t call for exaggeration or embellishment by our customer-facing teams. Audi vehicles are developed and designed to exceed global motor vehicle safety standards, and the automaker fully supports Euro NCAP’s efforts to enhance vehicle safety.
Since 2009, six models from the twelve model line Audi range have been tested by Euro NCAP. The A3, A1, A6, A4, Q5 and Q3 have all achieved an overall 5-star rating. Additionally, the A3 received four “Euro NCAP advanced” awards for its active safety systems. Audi UK accepts that this investigation has brought to light a shortfall in its communication procedures where NCAP safety ratings of its range are concerned. We also acknowledge that we didn’t adequately address this shortfall when it was brought to our attention by Mr. Jenkins, and on both counts we apologize unreservedly.
We are now aware that our customer service and sales staff must be more conversant with Euro NCAP safety test register and specifically Audi models included on it. We have already started a far-reaching and comprehensive review of all of our training procedures and communications to make sure accuracy of information on test data offered to our customers. Updates to all relevant areas of our internal product information and communication systems are already in progress, and our sales force training materials are being modified to make sure that Euro NCAP testing programme and our involvement in it are given far greater prominence.
We must stress, however, that we believe there to be no errors relating to Euro NCAP performance in any current customer-facing or training texts published by Audi UK.
