Audi under fire from BBC Watchdog after safety rating confusion

Audi has been investigated by BBC Watchdog following confusion from UK dealership staff about which of the brand's models have been Euro NCAP tested.

Researchers from the BBC programme witnessed nine out of 10 Audi dealers in the UK claim the Audi A5 was tested by the Euro NCAP safety organisation.

Audi’s A5, A7, A8 and R8 are not Euro NCAP safety tested, but there is no legal requirement for cars in the UK to be tested by the organisation.

The A1, A3, A4, A6, Q3 and Q5 have been tested by Euro NCAP and all achieved an overall five-star rating. The A3, Q7 and TT all have a four star safety rating from Euro NCAP.

The BBC will show the Watchdog investigation on BBC 1 at 8pm on May 14.

An Audi spokesman told the BBC: "Audi UK wishes to emphasise 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.

"Audi vehicles are engineered to exceed international motor vehicle safety standards. The company fully supports Euro NCAP's efforts to improve vehicle safety.

"We are now aware that our sales and customer service staff must be more conversant with the Euro NCAP safety test register and specifically the Audi models included on it.

"We have already begun a comprehensive and far-reaching review of all of our communications and training procedures to ensure accuracy of information on test data provided to our customers."

Certain Audi models, like the A1, are five-star Euro NCAP rated