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VW named world’s best car company

German automaker Volkswagen, Europe's biggest car manufacturer, was selected Tuesday as the sector's "best performer for 2010" by a study that highlighted weaknesses of VW rivals Toyota and GM.

Published: 30 August 2011 15:30 CEST

VW named world's best car company

Photo: DPA

For the first time, VW led the rankings established by the German Centre for Automotive Management (CAM), a highly-regarded institute located in the western town of Bergisch Gladbach.

The study was published in the daily Die Welt and showed VW ahead of German rival Daimler, Hyundai of South Korea, and another German company, BMW.

Toyota was number one in 2009, but was hit last year by repeated quality problems, and only placed eighth this time around, just ahead of the Japanese group Nissan and General Motors, in process of coming back from bankruptcy.

The classification takes into account each group’s financial results, market share and capacity for innovation.

In the last category, “Volkswagen recorded the biggest gulf with other auto manufacturers,” according to CAM director Stefan Bratzel.

With a total of nine brands, including Audi and Skoda, the VW group offers a wide range of vehicles, and it is very well positioned in the world’s biggest auto market, China.

The German automobile giant hopes to become the world’s biggest carmaker by 2018.

AFP/emh

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Two hospitalized in Munich after activist crashes parachute into Euro 2020 stadium

The activist lands on the turf of the Allianz Arena. credit: dpa | Christian Charisius

The pilot flew over the pitch just before kick-off in the Group F clash with “Kick out oil” written on the canopy of his parachute.

However, when the pilot hit television cables above the pitch, it knocked his microlight off balance and he landed on the turf after clipping one of the stands, where the casualties happened.

The activist was arrested soon after landing.

A Munich police spokesman told AFP that at least two people suffered head injuries and “both had to be taken to hospital, we don’t know yet how serious the injuries are”.

The police spokesman said the activist appears to have escaped injury, but “we are considering various criminal charges. Munich police has zero understanding for political actions that put lives at risk”.

UEFA also slammed the botched stunt.

“This inconsiderate act – which could have had very serious consequences for a huge number of people attending – caused injuries to several people attending the game who are now in hospital and law authorities will take the necessary action,” European football’s governing body said in a statement.

The parachutist above the stadium. Photo: dpa | Matthias Balk

“The staging of the match was fortunately not impacted by such a reckless and dangerous action, but several people were injured nonetheless.”

The stunt was a protest against German car manufacturer Volkswagen, one of the sponsors of the European Championship, Greenpeace explained in a Twitter post.

“UEFA and its partners are fully committed to a sustainable Euro 2020 tournament and many initiatives have been implemented to offset carbon emissions,” said UEFA.

Greenpeace said they regretted any harm caused.

“This protest was never intended to disrupt the game or hurt people,” read a Twitter post on Greenpeace’s official German account.

“We hope that everyone is OK and that no one was seriously injured. Greenpeace actions are always peaceful and non-violent.”

“Unfortunately, not everything went according to plan.”

READ MORE: Climate activists rage as Germany opts for drawn-out coal exit

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