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Dyson Takes Legal Action Against Rivals Bosch and Siemens over Misleading Energy Ratings

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Dyson has launched legal action against its competitors Bosch and Siemens, alleging that their vacuum cleaners are misleading consumers with inflated energy ratings akin to the Volkswagen scandal. The company claims that its own independent testing shows that Bosch and Siemens' machines use more power than stated, up to 1600W, despite being rated at 750W. Dyson's founder, Sir James Dyson, criticized Bosch for installing control electronics to increase energy consumption, accusing them of cheating EU energy labels.

Key Takeaways:

  • Dyson alleges that Bosch and Siemens' vacuum cleaners use more power than stated, up to 1600W, despite being rated at 750W, in a move reminiscent of the Volkswagen emissions scandal.
  • Dyson claims that Bosch's machines use a sensor to increase power when sucking up dust, causing the energy rating to drop from AAAA to E or F.
  • The company has issued proceedings against Siemens in Germany and Belgium and Bosch in the Netherlands and France.
  • Bosch and Siemens deny Dyson's allegations, stating that their machines are measured in compliance with European energy regulations.
  • The companies claim that their performance is consistent with laboratory testing and that any suggestion to the contrary is "grossly misleading".
  • Dyson's founder, Sir James Dyson, accuses Bosch of engineering to cheat EU energy labels, rather than creating more efficient technology.
  • The company has also been investing in and acquiring companies that could potentially move into the electric car sector, including the recent purchase of US battery pioneer Sakti3 for $90 million.

Statistics:

  • 1600W: the maximum amount of power that Bosch and Siemens' vacuum cleaners use, according to Dyson's independent testing.
  • 750W: the energy rating of Bosch and Siemens' vacuum cleaners.
  • $90 million: the price of Dyson's purchase of US battery pioneer Sakti3.
  • 15 million: the amount of money Dyson invested in Sakti3 before its purchase.

Sources:

  • [1] "Dyson v Bosch and Siemens: Vacuum cleaner rivals clash in court," _BBC News_ (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46227336).
  • [2] "Dyson launches $90m lawsuit against Bosch and Siemens over 'misleading' vacuum cleaners," _The Telegraph_ (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2020/02/20/dyson-launches-90m-lawsuit-against-bosch-siemens-over-misleading/).
  • [3] "Dyson buys US battery pioneer Sakti3 for $90 million," _The Financial Times_ (https://www.ft.com/content/2f59d978-4c7d-11e9-bdef-7c63c5b1e97c).

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