From Volkswagen CEO Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board (EPA and CARB) revealed their findings that while testing diesel cars of the Volkswagen Group they have detected manipulations that violate American environmental standards.
The Board of Management at Volkswagen AG takes these findings very seriously. I personally am deeply sorry that we have broken the trust of our customers and the public. We will cooperate fully with the responsible agencies, with transparency and urgency, to clearly, openly, and completely establish all of the facts of this case. Volkswagen has ordered an external investigation of this matter.
We do not and will not tolerate violations of any kind of our internal rules or of the law.
The trust of our customers and the public is and continues to be our most important asset. We at Volkswagen will do everything that must be done in order to re-establish the trust that so many people have placed in us, and we will do everything necessary in order to reverse the damage this has caused. This matter has first priority for me, personally, and for our entire Board of Management.
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An automotive enthusiast for most of his adult life, Aaron has worked in and around the industry in many ways. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press (RMAP), the Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA), the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA), and freelances as a writer and journalist around the Web and in print. You can find his portfolio at AaronOnAutos.com.
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You know, I`m puzzled on the focus with VW`s unethical stumble; The press didn`t, and is still not making a big deal with GM and Toyota going through years of recall, but go ballistic on VW?
Sure, it`s appalling to cheat like this, but it`s nothing new and a common practice. This s,ells like an internal VW war, something GM and Toyota must be relived another cqrmaker was caught red handed. Personally I drive neither.
I’m thinking it’s more on the other side. The timing of the government’s announcement (Friday afternoon so that this could dominate the weekend news and blogs without rebuttal) and VW’s quick capitulation seem to show that the EPA is working to control the story’s presentation. Because the EPA was caught sleeping at the wheel and should be blamed heavily for failing to note this issue for over 7 years. The European watchdogs are even worse, having the most obvious, easily-gamed testing procedure in the world and yet pretending this problem didn’t exist (despite papers being published 5 years ago saying otherwise). It wasn’t until CARB got involved that the whole thing began surfacing in any meaningful way. That points to complicity on a federal and international level..
To my understanding what happened was a research team at West Virginia University (WVU) first discovered the emissions problems with VW diesels. California Air Resources Board (CARB) heard about the WVU studies and offered their capabilities and wanted to take part. That WVU should be awarded something for figuring this VW diesel emission cheating out.
I don’t think the timing of the announcement had anything to do with it. Of course the EPA was definitely not on the ball with this. Typical government bureaucracy at work.
I’m curios to see what SNL writers will come up with for this VW scandal. Remember the Mary Barra GM hearing?
http://www.carnewscafe.com/2014/04/snl-skit-ridicules-mary-barra-gm-ignition-recall-video/
The Europeans have been complaining that thier testing procedures are too easily gamed and have had that complaint for years. The WVU study was A YEAR AGO and resulted in the changes we’re going to see in Euro requirements as of next year.
VW was blatantly engineering cars to cheat emissions standards. It is a way more clear cut situation for the media and press to report. Considering it is an environmental issue that probably helps too. Many buyers bought on the premise of “Clean Diesel” technology and that the cars were good for the environment, when in reality they are not.
I think people care as much about exploding airbags and faulty GM ignition switches. These are vital parts of a car but not a reason people purchase a vehicle.
Building this type of emissions software might be a common among other automakers. You know if one company is doing it likely others are as well.