Overview

• The ministry reversed its decision to lease a €157,350 Audi S8 after intense public and media criticism over its high cost and pure combustion drive.
• Madsen committed to a €120,950 Audi A8 hybrid for his official vehicle, reducing expenditure by over €36,000.
• He defended his initial choice by citing a tightly scheduled 80,000 km annual itinerary and alleged gaps in the charging infrastructure.
• A spokesperson for the Green-led Environment Ministry countered that Schleswig-Holstein’s charging network is robust and exceeds EU standards.
• The episode has exposed tensions within the coalition over e-mobility leadership and the optics of taxpayer-funded procurements.