VW is in the business to make money, not a benevolent company who makes cars for the populous, those days ended with the fall of Hitler (hence the original corporate name).
Not to disagree with the first part of that statement but rather to clarify the outcome of the benevolence which seems common to many governments' undertakings: Whereas the "Kdf" a.k.a People's Car, Volkswagen Beetle introduced a plan for average working folk to own an affordable car representing only about 2/3rds of their year's earnings, [where they'd make small payments over time and later go to pickup the vehicle]: There was no follow through. In fact, virtually no-one ever got a car! All the marks saved up in the accounts went into the weapons factories for national rearmament. But that particular idea definitely caught on well at the time to the hopes of many savers.
My opinion on the economics is that marque loyalty and vehicle image will persist in keeping a large market share for a time, with price point of both vehicles and fuel increasingly dictating through market forces more efficient and less costly vehicles. At least I would hope such in the best of worlds.
However, big political/economic changes are now occurring in Europe [and globally!] and changes may be sudden. I feel there could be a swing back towards more austere mandated restrictions on consumption of all kinds, on national if not regional levels. We are living in "interesting times" as would be said in the orient, and as ever with an uncertain outcome more so now than before. Basics like food and fuel costs will be on the rise affecting daily lives substantially. One has just to survey youtube and see the reactions of the populations. Manufacturers will be hard pressed also to keep costs down in face of increasing metal prices and eroding currencies for the most part.
In the short term, on the automotive front, I look forward to seeing what fuel efficient and affordable offerings are proffered to meet the day at the prestigious and very soon upcoming Frankfurt Auto show. I'm interested how realizable and close to production these more economical fuel saving vehicles may be. I hope production of same may occur sooner than later for all our sakes, and let the market decide!
It is indeed a complicated issue with big monied interests afoot, hidden agenda, the variable economies of scale and all, but, by way of comparison the price VW charges is not out of line with other large manufactures of fuel efficient vehicles.
For example i found these figures [in 'OZ' dollars from down-under which btw: are doing very well these days] : VW Golf Bluemotion, $28,990; Ford Fiesta Econetic, $24,990; MINI Cooper D, $34,800; and Toyota Prius, $34,990. So, the VW price ranks even a little under the average price for compatible cars.
My feeling is Greenpeace may have tackled VW in particular on account of advertising rhetoric and reputation, vs. real price point in the ecologically sensitive car market. I suppose it was perhaps considered that with such a history, they could be better shamed to make changes given their 'footprint' in the market. A change there would have a greater effect for the cause of reduced consumption if nothing else, irrespective of the red herring of CO2 being largely responsible for global warming.
No doubt in my mind, carbon based fuel prices will be on the rise by and large, and with ever increasing reliance upon hybrid electric power, lithium deposits, and their control, will continue to be a source of regional conflict around the world. No doubt as well, there should be well placed efforts to curtail the harm done by the mining process of same to indigenous landscapes and populations alike. This should be calculated as part of the cost.
As regards the current source of much of North America's gasoline fuel, derived now in these times from the heavy Alberta oilsands, [not unlike lighter oilsand containing areas in Venezuela] similar cost assessments should be considered. One only has to fly over the landscape in my province in an aircraft to see what changes have been wrought by big oil developments [not to omit mega forestry operations for oriented strand board.]. The size of the operations are immense.
Official surveys of the health problems of the indigenous people due to big open pit mining oilsands projects belies the true extent of the damages caused to the indigenous people's health, particularly soft tissue cancers, because of the mining processes involving diluent solvents and other chemicals present in production. It is very sad what has happened to many and there is much good work to do. I hope we may all have a chance to choose to do more with less in the future, and lessen the harm due to our present and past activities.