Volkswagen Group Massive Emissions Fraud Scheme

[Reddy]

....and now VW considers giving up on the US mass market:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/vw-toys-giving-u-mass-163447054.html

 

[edatoakrun]

And so it goes...

At Volkswagen, A Disastrous Dieselgate Week Promises To Become The New Normal

The past week was one of the worst at Volkswagen, ever since the EPA ruined both VW’s Passat launch and VW’s Frankfurt Motor Show festivities on the same day with the disclosure of VW’s dieselgate cheats. During the week, previously unbesmirched top managers were drawn into the scandal, VW engineers were caught improving the cheater code well after U.S. regulators caught wind, VW’s American CEO Michael Horn stepped down and out, American dealers revolted, plans of a partial retreat of Volkswagen from the U.S. market became known, and if that wasn’t PR disaster enough, Volkswagen’s home state and second-largest shareholder sharply criticized Volkswagen’s confused communication strategy...

http://www.forbes.com/sites/bertelschmitt/2016/03/13/at-volkswagen-a-disastrous-dieselgate-week-promises-to-become-the-new-normal/#833fe413be1d

 

[edatoakrun]

And so it goes...

BERLIN (Reuters) - Almost 300 institutional investors in Volkswagen have filed a multi-billion euro suit against the carmaker for what they see as breaches of its capital markets duty in the emissions scandal, the law firm representing them said.

The lawsuit, for damages of 3.256 billion euro ($3.61 billion), was filed at a regional court in Braunschweig in VW's home state of Lower Saxony on Monday and is being brought by 278 investors from all over the world, including German insurers and U.S. pension fund Calpers...

http://news.yahoo.com/vw-institutional-investors-file-3-61-billion-suit-192805170--sector.html

 

[GRA]

Via ABG:

VW worker claims he was fired after reporting data deletion
Company claims firing was "unrelated to diesel emissions issue."

http://www.autoblog.com/2016/03/14/vw-daniel-donovan-fired-deleting-data/

Wrongful termination lawsuit involved, so give that whatever weight you think appropriate.

 

[GRA]

Via ABG:

Volkswagen misses US deadline for diesel scandal agreement

http://www.autoblog.com/2016/03/24/volkswagen-misses-us-deadline-for-diesel-scandal-agreement/

. . . VW had until today to reach a solution with the US Justice Department, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in regards to how it will properly address the 580,000 diesel-powered vehicles sold in the US that came equipped with software that "cheated" emissions tests. Such vehicles were found to emit as much as 40 times the allowable federal amount of emissions. The deadline has been pushed back a month.

VW told AutoblogGreen that the judge stated that he was pleased with the substantial progress made by all parties. . . .

 

[GRA]

Via ABG:

FTC sues VW over 'clean diesel' advertising campaign

http://www.autoblog.com/2016/03/29/vw-clean-diesel-ftc-lawsuit/

The FTC has sued Volkswagen over its "Clean Diesel" messages over the past few years. Because of VW's ongoing diesel scandal and the fact that the company was designing and selling diesel vehicles that did not meet the legal emission requirements, the FTC is asking for compensation for anyone who bought or leased an affected car between late 2008 and late 2015. . . .

The FTC says that the compensation is fair because of VW's, "deceptive and unfair practices" as it broadcast a "clean diesel" message through, "a high-profile marketing campaign that included Super Bowl ads, online social media campaigns, and print advertising, often targeting 'environmentally-conscious' consumers. . . ."

The commission vote to file the complaint was 4-0.

 

[DNAinaGoodWay]

Today's the day:

As Dieselgate Deadline Approaches, News Reports Suggest VW Will Buy Back 500,000 Dirty Diesels in U.S. - Transport Evolved
https://apple.news/ARzDvkEhGNpekN2S9Z2BDnQ

 

[GRA]

Via GCC:

Volkswagen reaches an agreement in principle in US over diesel emissions issue; binding consent decrees to come

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2016/04/20160421-vwag.html

Volkswagen AG confirmed that it has reached an agreement in principle with the Department of Justice (Environmental Division); the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); and the California Air Resources Board (CARB); with the full involvement of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) concerning the diesel emissions issue. The agreement in principle will be incorporated into binding consent decrees by the Department of Justice and the FTC in the coming weeks.

The agreement includes buyback offers for 482,000 2.0-liter TDI diesel vehicles and a possible fix—if regulators agree on it—or the cancellation of an outstanding lease, according to US District Court Judge Charles Breyer, who is presiding in the case. . . .

 

[GRA]

Via GCC:

German report on VW diesel scandal finds large gap between lab and real-world NOx emissions for German automakers; 630K vehicles in voluntary recall

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2016/04/german-report-on-vw-diesel-scandal-finds-large-gap-between-lab-and-real-world-nox-emissions-for-germ.html

A German inquiry launched as a result of the Volkswagen diesel emission scandal has found that there is a large gap between homologated emissions values from lab testing and real-world driving results for all German manufacturers.

German Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt, who presented the results of the inquiry on Friday, said that only Volkswagen had used a software defeat device that detected test cycles (Prüfzykluserkennung) and altered calibrations accordingly. However, other manufacturers do use a thermal window (Thermofenster) technique that cuts back on emissions treatment at certain temperatures—presumably to protect the engine against damage. Although the Thermofenster technique is legal, investigators doubted that the chosen thermal windows are fully justified by engine protection, Minister Dobrindt said. . . .

 

[LTLFTcomposite]

Yet another reason you don't want to make any significant down payment on a lease... If the manufacturer is implicated in a massive criminal conspiracy and the remedy is cancellation of your lease you'll be out the down payment.

 

[edatoakrun]

Final judgment may be near, for the offending vehicles, if not for the corporation and individuals responsible putting them on the road.

The only question now is how widely will the death sentence be applied.

What's sad is that each of these (probably several hundred thousand) vehicles that will be sent to the crusher is lower-emission (much lower, in terms of CO2) that a large percentage of the other vehicles on the road.

Volkswagen, bless its cheatin’ heart, is finally ready to start atoning for spoofing consumers with more than 10 million “clean” diesel cars around the world. On Thursday, the company proposed a plan to buy back the nearly 500,000 cars it fitted with emissions scamming software and sold in the US between 2008 and 2015. For owners who want to keep their cars, VW will repair them and toss in some extra cash for their trouble.

Sure, many of those cars will go the refit route. But many—maybe most—will end up as junk. A lot of junk...

http://www.wired.com/2016/04/vws-bleak-options-dealing-500000-recalled-diesels/

 

[o00scorpion00o]

What's sad is that each of these (probably several hundred thousand) vehicles that will be sent to the crusher is lower-emission (much lower, in terms of CO2) that a large percentage of the other vehicles on the road.

What about the emissions created during the production of these cars ?

What better way to humiliate a foreign auto maker by making them crush the cars , so many vehicles on U.S roads that are not fit for purpose, ultra large with huge engines. But hey, they're American !

 

[edatoakrun]

Who would have thunk it...

The USA passenger vehicle sold from ~2012-2015 with the lowest total operating cost turns out to have been a VW oil-burner?

Once you get the settlement check...

Volkswagen & Audi to pay >$14.7B in US to settle 2.0L diesel emissions case; $2B of that to promote ZEVs

...Cash Payments. Class members will also receive cash payments in addition to the Buyback value or approved modification. The amount is the same whether one participates in the buyback or modification program. The settlement agreement includes a formula for how this cash payment is determined. For example, most owners who purchased a 2.0-liter vehicle before 18 September 2015 will be eligible for a payment ranging from $5,100 to approximately $10,000 per vehicle.

This cash is to be paid on top of the September 2015 Clean Trade-in value for class members participating in the Buyback Program...

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2016/06/20160628-diesel.html

 

[LTLFTcomposite]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/volkswagens-u-diesel-emissions-settlement-cost-15-billion-104221419--sector.html

Under the Justice Department deal, VW will provide $2 billion over 10 years to fund programs directed by the state of California and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to promote construction of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, development of zero-emission ride-sharing fleets and other efforts to boost sales of cars that do not burn petroleum.

What, no hydrogen?

 

[GetOffYourGas]

I am impressed with the way this turned out. I had hoped that they would turn to EVs as their salvation, and that CARB/EPA would force them that way as well. I didn't actually expect it to happen. I just hope that it is more than only talk. VW Group has a long history of talk. And as this whole fraud has proven, we shouldn't not take them at their word.

 

[finman100]

They could continue the fraud..."see, our EV gets over 200 miles per charge. pay no attention to that tailpipe and the shuddering you hear after 75 miles".

Half the battery, half the cost of REAL EVs. Bam, they are back in the game.

 

[lorenfb]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/volkswagens-u-diesel-emissions-settlement-cost-15-billion-104221419--sector.html

Under the Justice Department deal, VW will provide $2 billion over 10 years to fund programs directed by the state of California and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to promote construction of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, development of zero-emission ride-sharing fleets and other efforts to boost sales of cars that do not burn petroleum.

What, no hydrogen?

Read here:

http://seekingalpha.com/article/398...34bc5de480ad5b4e6f05248290&uprof=44&dr=1#alt2

 

[edatoakrun]

Entire CARB press release at the link:

California’s 10-year ZEV Infrastructure and Access Fund:


The Consent Decree also requires Volkswagen to invest $800 million dollars in ZEV infrastructure and access over a 10-year period in California. Volkswagen will be installing zero-emission vehicle fueling infrastructure (for both electric and hydrogen-powered cars), funding consumer awareness campaigns to increase the zero-emission vehicle market, and investing in projects such as car-sharing programs that will increase access to zero-emission vehicles for all consumers in California. These brand-neutral projects will support the next generation of zero-emission vehicles that will be sold in California, helping to grow the state’s burgeoning ZEV program, and will help lay the zero-emissions foundation for achieving the State’s air quality and climate goals.

Under the terms of the settlement, Volkswagen will submit ZEV investment plans every 30 months, covering $200 million dollars in investments in each plan, until the full funding level is expended. ARB will provide comments and approve each plan after those comments are addressed. Under the broader national settlement, Volkswagen will be investing an additional $1.2 billion under the settlement’s National ZEV investment requirement through the other states for similar projects that support the transition to zero-emission vehicles in areas of the U.S. outside California...

http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/newsrelease.php?id=834

 

[LTLFTcomposite]

For $800M expenditure there should be charging stations on every corner. Why do I have this feeling that $$$ will get directed to everything but?

 

[evnow]

For $800M expenditure there should be charging stations on every corner. Why do I have this feeling that $$$ will get directed to everything but?

IIRM, my calculation was that to have entire US covered with QC - every 50 miles or so needed $5 B dollars. But $800M can still cover a large # of interstates may be a charging station with multiple stalls every 100 miles.

I'm sure if Tesla was given $800M for charging infrastructure they will use it wisely. What incentive does VW have to use the money wisely - and build out the best charging infrastructure ? Almost none.

I wish CARB/EPA just took that money from VW and got someone to build the infrastructure using competitive bidding. The hundreds of millions spent by Blink was a disaster. Would this $800M by VW be any different ?