Has VW made a monkey of Rosie?

FORMER Miss World Rosanna Davison is in a slightly tricky situation.

Vegan Rosie, 33, has always had a close relationship with Volkswagen.

She has been a brand ambassador for the company for a number of years – a relationship which comes with the perk of the use of a car.

The German Playboy model and her dad, singer Chris de Burgh, were also the stars of a Volkswagen campaign in Germany five years ago.

More recently, on January 17, Rosie posted a snap of herself at Volkswagen Ireland’s HQ on Twitter and Instagram with the message: ‘Popped into @volkswagenireland this morning to talk about health, fitness & making positive lifestyle choices. Thanks for having me!’

However, fresh from news a couple of years ago that the German car giant made up emission figures, Europe’s largest automaker has come under fresh scrutiny.

The New York Times recently reported that it and fellow car makers BMW and Daimler funded an organisation called European Research Group on Environment and Health in the Transport Sector (EUGT) which commissioned tests that exposed monkeys and humans to toxic diesel fumes – methods later condemned by its chief executive as ‘repulsive’.

Volkswagen suspended its chief lobbyist in response to the reports while Bernd Osterloh, head of the firm’s work council, reportedly said: ‘The boundaries of decent and moral conduct were clearly crossed. It appears as if some at VW have lost their ethical and moral bearings.’

Rosie, who is a passionate advocate of animal rights and the moral and health benefits of a vegan diet, hasn’t responded to the Diary for a comment on the matter.