VW in trouble over alleged US emission test manipulations
Discussion
article said:
The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday accused Volkswagen of installing software on 482,000 diesel cars in the U.S. to evade federal emission regulations, potentially exposing people to harmful pollutants.
The German automaker adopted what the EPA called a "defeat device" to trick U.S. regulators into believing that its cars met Clean Air Act standards, the federal agency said in a statement.
Volkswagen admitted to investigators that it had installed the defeat device, the EPA said.
The automaker said in a statement that it's cooperating with investigators but won't comment further.
Volkswagen, whose brands include the luxury Audi lineup, may face fines or other penalties, the EPA said. The maximum Clean Air Act violation is $37,500 per vehicle, meaning Volkswagen's fine could technically be as high as $18 billion.
What's more, the scandal could expose Volkswagen to lawsuits and penalties for marketing its cars under the "Clean Diesel" moniker. An hour after the EPA announcement, the automaker's website still contained the "Clean Diesel" branding.
source:The German automaker adopted what the EPA called a "defeat device" to trick U.S. regulators into believing that its cars met Clean Air Act standards, the federal agency said in a statement.
Volkswagen admitted to investigators that it had installed the defeat device, the EPA said.
The automaker said in a statement that it's cooperating with investigators but won't comment further.
Volkswagen, whose brands include the luxury Audi lineup, may face fines or other penalties, the EPA said. The maximum Clean Air Act violation is $37,500 per vehicle, meaning Volkswagen's fine could technically be as high as $18 billion.
What's more, the scandal could expose Volkswagen to lawsuits and penalties for marketing its cars under the "Clean Diesel" moniker. An hour after the EPA announcement, the automaker's website still contained the "Clean Diesel" branding.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2015/09/1...
Those maximum fines seem rather extreme. VW is already struggling on the US market and this surely won't help them.
I would be surprised to learn that VW is the only company using such "tricks" to manipulate emission tests - US, EU or elsewhere...
Edit: Full PDF here: http://www3.epa.gov/otaq/cert/documents/vw-nov-caa...
Edited by EricE on Friday 18th September 21:19
The Guardians version has a speeling mistake. http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/sep/18/ep...
IIRC the EPA spanked Caterpillar for something similar in on highway truck engines in the US.
IIRC the EPA spanked Caterpillar for something similar in on highway truck engines in the US.
I do wonder if/how be able to resolve this with a recall.
If they have to lower the total power output to meet the emission goals, won't they open themselves up for new lawsuits because the product they sold is now worse than at the date of purchase?
487,000 vehicles are no joke, not to mention the PR damage as VW already has a quite bad reputation in the USA.
If they have to lower the total power output to meet the emission goals, won't they open themselves up for new lawsuits because the product they sold is now worse than at the date of purchase?
487,000 vehicles are no joke, not to mention the PR damage as VW already has a quite bad reputation in the USA.
EricE said:
I do wonder if/how be able to resolve this with a recall.
If they have to lower the total power output to meet the emission goals, won't they open themselves up for new lawsuits because the product they sold is now worse than at the date of purchase?
487,000 vehicles are no joke, not to mention the PR damage as VW already has a quite bad reputation in the USA.
Would anyone be able to force you (US or UK law) to take your car in to be "fixed"?If they have to lower the total power output to meet the emission goals, won't they open themselves up for new lawsuits because the product they sold is now worse than at the date of purchase?
487,000 vehicles are no joke, not to mention the PR damage as VW already has a quite bad reputation in the USA.
HD Adam said:
You've not been to China, have you?
With the amount of air pollution there, it's probably cleaner when it comes out of a VW exhaust
Not that With the amount of air pollution there, it's probably cleaner when it comes out of a VW exhaust
Imagine you're Frau Merkel and you're badgering the Chinese to lower their emissions, while trying to flog cars that cheat their way around testing. Rather lost the moral high-ground, wouldn't you say?EricE said:
Edit: Full DPF here: http://www3.epa.gov/otaq/cert/documents/vw-nov-caa...
EFA Edited by EricE on Friday 18th September 21:19
http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/news/a26745/e...
Artey said:
OH MY GOD I'M SHOCKED. Just kidding. So this basically confirms what we knew all along, this whole test cycle nonsense is a con designed to save planet... on paper... adorned with EUR signs.
The letter makes it sound as if they did something a bit more serious than just optimising the car for the test. This isn't just making sure the car is especially efficient at the speeds the official tests happen to run the car at, which is presumably par for the course; it seems to be a case of them detecting the test explicitly, and choosing an engine map that would never be selected during normal driving, that produces unrealistically low emissions. That's something quite a bit more naughty!OldGermanHeaps said:
Shows how flawed their system is when they pretend a suburban or f350 is better for the environment than a 4 pot vw diesel.
My thought too - but they're complaining about NOx. The diesel will be worse in that respect (though maybe not by as much as was once the case).The issue with diesels in the US is NOx regulations are more strict than Europe. For the 'green states' that follow the California regs anyway.
Would be interesting to know what the SW does. I presume its to mimic a lower power variant when on cycle to lower CO2/NOx output. Therefore off cycle it disengages and they get full performance.
Would be interesting to know what the SW does. I presume its to mimic a lower power variant when on cycle to lower CO2/NOx output. Therefore off cycle it disengages and they get full performance.
IF the USA decides to make an example out of VW then it could force them to shut down the already very weak Volkswagen brand in the USA.
The next generation of car builders (Tesla, Apple and Google) would not mind that.
By the way VW opened a new engine plant in Kaluga Russia last week. Surely the timing is coincidence.
The next generation of car builders (Tesla, Apple and Google) would not mind that.
By the way VW opened a new engine plant in Kaluga Russia last week. Surely the timing is coincidence.
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