Volkswagen under investigation over illegal software that masks pollution

[Amalgam]

http://www.carpoint.com.au/news/2016...MjFGJk5uZT0xNQ..


German newspapers report former Volkswagen Group boss mislead investigators over Dieselgate
Investigative newspapers in Germany have cited internal memos and emails suggesting former Volkswagen Group CEO Dr Martin Winterkorn knew about the company’s diesel emissions cheat.

The Bild am Sonntag newspaper, which ran with the story late last week, suggested Dr Winterkorn was told about the #Dieselgate problems far earlier than September 2015, as he informed investigators.

The documents also suggest senior Volkswagen Group officials developed a strategy to delay and confuse US regulators after they were given clear evidence of the diesel emissions cheat in early 2014.

The newspaper alleged the company’s senior managers mislead both the Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Review Board into thinking they could pull the emissions back beneath the NOx emissions limit, when they knew that was simply not possible.

The documents suggest one of Dr Winterkorn’s sources wrote to him in May 2014 to let him know US regulators were about to drop the hammer on Volkswagen for using a defeat device, which emitted compliant amounts of NOx on a test bed but switched off in real-world conditions.

More than a year later, Dr Winterkorn publicly admitted Volkswagen had used the cheating device on 11 million diesel-powered four-cylinder cars worldwide.

Investigators also found a similar cheating code on the V6 diesel engines from the Volkswagen Group and cars from Audi, Skoda, Seat, Porsche and Volkswagen have all been embroiled in the mess.

While Volkswagen’s internal investigation is due to reveal its final report in April, it is not believed to be focusing on Dr Winterkorn, who resigned on September 23 last year.

In other Dieselgate news, rival German newspaper Welt am Sonntag has reported Volkswagen is being pressured to build electric cars in the US to mitigate its penalties over the diesel emissions cheat.

The newspaper insisted the EPA asked Volkswagen to switch its plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, from making Passats and SUVs to electric cars, as well as to help fund a nationwide network of supercharging power points for electric cars.

The newspaper wasn’t clear whether the US government was asking Volkswagen to build an all-new electric car there, or to simply switch production of one or more of its current electric models to the US.

The Volkswagen Group has a large range of plug-in hybrid and electric cars, with the powertrains fitted to everything from the up! to the Passat.

[Ryeman]

This'll learn ya:
EPA To Demand More Electric Cars From VW To Settle Diesel Scandal: Report

[minke]

VW have just released a statement. Amarok first off the rank. owners emailed/snail mailed today inviting them to make appointments at their local dealership

[Amalgam]

Amarok first #Dieselgate fix – Car Reviews, News & Advice - CarPoint Australia..


Volkswagen says the rectification requires only a software change and should take less than 30 minutes.

No performance changes will occur, it claims.

“Volkswagen Group Australia assures its customers that the implementation of the measure does not lead to a deterioration of the fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, engine performance, torque and vehicle acoustics and all vehicle values related to type approval remain unchanged; and continue to outperform the minimum emissions requirements of both Euro 4 and Euro 5 standards,” the statement read.

Volkswagen Australia spokesperson Kurt McGuiness told motoring.com.au: “The software update removes some lines of code. There is no engine retune.”

Possibly over USD10 BILLION in fines, class actions and your reputation down the toilet over "some lines of code". I don't buy it. At the risk of repeating myself, just follow the money trail / cost benefit analysis. It doesn't make commercial sense.

[Ryeman]

GoAuto News also
Volkswagen - Volkswagen begins diesel emissions recall | GoAuto

[Ryeman]

GoAuto News also
Volkswagen - Volkswagen begins diesel emissions recall | GoAuto

[minke]

This is hilarious.

Protester Interrupts Volkswagen’s Geneva Press Conference (W/Video) - Motor Trend

[Amalgam]

Volkswagen Probably Won't Meet Its Deadline To Declare A Dieselgate FixÂ*


Amidst the automaker’s struggle to find a fix suitable to various U.S. agencies, district judge Charles Breyer ruled at the end of February that VW would have until March 24 to declare whether or not it has found a fix. According to Reuters, German newspaper Wolfsburger Allgemeine Zeitung quoted brand chief Herbert Diess as hinting that the company will take longer than its deadline to reach an agreement on how to approach the situation.

[Ryeman]

From my reading, it seems the U.S. 'fix' details need to be announced to investors at least at the same time
VW to release diesel cheating report by end of April, annual meeting to come June 28 (UPDATED)

[theresanothersteve]

The latest edition of Go Auto News has this little gem:

Owners can refuse recall
VW confirms that ownersaffected by TDI recall canopt out of software tweak.

AFTER months of waiting for a remedy to the global Volkswagen Group emissions test-cheating engine management software, the first Australian customers are starting to receive recall notices for affected vehicles – but are not obliged to have the work completed.

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