Volkswagen Group Massive Emissions Fraud Scheme

[GetOffYourGas]

Via above linked GCR:

Stadler, the former chief of staff to VW's powerful former chairman Ferdinand Piech, had been handed the post as head of Audi in an effort to promote the automaker's transition to electric-car production. His arrest is likely to throw those restructuring efforts at VW into turmoil.

So did they just take their wolf and attempt to put sheep's clothing on him? Interesting way to try to protect the guy - give him a post where he will appear to be an environmentalist. And if he does get charged, they can use that distraction as an excuse for poor execution on the electrification program.

It's like they want to fail. Won't we ever get beyond this?

If VW dies, the saddest part to me will be that I never got to drive an electric minibus.

[DarthPuppy]

If VW dies, the saddest part to me will be that I never got to drive an electric minibus.

VW won't die. They are too important to the German/EU economy. That is why they will not get more than a slap on the wrist. The worst for them will be a handful of high level execs and a bunch of insignificant middle players will get criminal charges. The company has plenty of people to back fill those losses so it won't really hurt them much and they clearly are willing to throw them under that minibus.

[arnis]

World BIGGEST vehicle manufacturer will not die due to some edgy/emotional politicians and institutions.
Just saying that the whole company (with investors) already recovered from that "temporary hurdle".

[GetOffYourGas]

ok, change "if VW dies" to "if VW's electric ambitions die"

[arnis]

No they won't. This is what people want. People want electric stuff no matter what

[GRA]

No they won't. This is what people want. People want electric stuff no matter what

No, only some people want (or care) about that. Most don't, and still need to be bribed to change.

[lorenfb]

People want electric stuff no matter what

No, only some people want (or care) about that. Most don't, and still need to be bribed to change.

A reality check for some!

[arnis]

Is 5% of population considerable reality? If so, then that is 300 000 electric cars from VW each year.

No need to mention "some". "Some" is more than 5%.

[GRA]

Is 5% of population considerable reality? If so, then that is 300 000 electric cars from VW each year.

No need to mention "some". "Some" is more than 5%.

In the U.S. it's currently just over 1%, and that has taken a substantial amount of bribery. The take rate by country correlates closely with the level of subsidy, along with other perks (free parking, no or reduced tolls, access to HOV lanes) as well as government mandates and regulations (e.g. Chinese cities limiting the number of licenses per year, except for NEVs), or high taxes on fossil fuels and low taxes on electricity.

[GRA]

Via ABG:

VW ex-CEO, Bosch CEO won't testify in big dieselgate investor lawsuit

https://www.autoblog.com/2018/09/13/vw- ... e-lawsuit/

STUTTGART — Former Volkswagen (VW) Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn and Bosch CEO Volkmar Denner are no longer expected to testify in a trial brought against VW's main shareholder Porsche SE by investors, according to a judge.

Most of the two dozen witnesses called in the case have invoked their right to refuse to give evidence, Judge Fabian Richter Reuschle said in the opening of the trial in a regional court in Stuttgart.

"We have to accept that we cannot force them to incriminate themselves," Richter Reuschle said, adding the trial dates set aside for witness testimony through mid-November had been canceled.

Shareholders represented by law firm TILP are seeking compensation from Porsche SE, alleging the company did not inform markets quickly enough about the scale of potential liabilities VW faced over its use of illegal software to cheat U.S. emissions tests, disclosed in September 2015.

The start of proceedings in Stuttgart comes two days after a separate investor suit launched in the northern German city of Braunschweig, in which the plaintiffs are seeking billions of euros in damages from VW itself as well as from Porsche SE. . . .

A higher court in Stuttgart is due to rule on whether the suit against Porsche SE should be suspended to await the outcome of the Braunschweig trial, since the two cases are similar. . . .