Volkswagen: Development and Technology News
07-01-2016, 07:15 PM
#561
Race Director
That was the start of the story, now it's the remedy we're talking about. Neither the lawyers nor the EPA/CARB cares about the pollution as much as punishing VW. The remedy could be the simple/cheap fix being done in the rest of thew world.
07-01-2016, 08:13 PM
#562
Safety Car
I remember hearing on NPR on the commute back from work today that the govt does not want the cars to just get shipped elsewhere in the world to cont to pollute...not finding a written source right now but apparently there are plans to crush the cars if they are not fixed to the satisfaction of the EPA/DOT.....we'll see
07-01-2016, 08:14 PM
#563
Safety Car
Obviously they've done wrong and so to put such a harsh punishment may be a way to deter other companies from doing the same thing
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kurtatx (07-01-2016)
07-01-2016, 08:14 PM
#564
Azine Jabroni
Well said. VW had it coming. Hopefully this deters other companies from defrauding their customers.
07-03-2016, 08:33 AM
#565
Race Director
The European fix 1) doesn't meet North American standards 2) does not undo the fact that Volkswagen defrauded its customers. You can't be on VWs side. They lied to us and should be punished as such. People gave them $20,000+ for a product that didn't do what it was supposed to do and was illegal. Buyers are almost certain the TDI VWs are tainted by the fix, so good luck selling them. VW absolutely has to buy them back.
07-03-2016, 09:25 AM
#566
Safety Car
From the EPA, various kinds of pollutants come from diff sources: over 60% of CO is from cars, over 60% of SO comes from electric utilities, NH3 mainly from agriculture. And yes cars, particularly diesels, are definitely not the top polluter, though it does contribute a significant amount. I'm sure stationary sources and ships pollute alot.
The logic of coporation punishment = customer punishment does have truth in it. If I was a CEO I would not want to cut my own coffers or my employee's coffers but I definitely want to jack up prices or do other things to avoid personally being financially hit with it so that is very understandable. In this sense any financial punishment to companies are hurting the public.
But for me it is still something to work on...I"m sure the EPA/lawyers are also working on regulating other sources of pollution.
For you, biker, I am curious as to see what alternative option do you see that would be more common sense? I'm looking for a good discussion here and as topics like this can be heated and emotional (like the gun debate) I do want to genuinely hear your thoughts and what would be good way for EPA/CARB to respond in situations like this.
The logic of coporation punishment = customer punishment does have truth in it. If I was a CEO I would not want to cut my own coffers or my employee's coffers but I definitely want to jack up prices or do other things to avoid personally being financially hit with it so that is very understandable. In this sense any financial punishment to companies are hurting the public.
But for me it is still something to work on...I"m sure the EPA/lawyers are also working on regulating other sources of pollution.
For you, biker, I am curious as to see what alternative option do you see that would be more common sense? I'm looking for a good discussion here and as topics like this can be heated and emotional (like the gun debate) I do want to genuinely hear your thoughts and what would be good way for EPA/CARB to respond in situations like this.
07-03-2016, 07:32 PM
#567
Race Director
For you, biker, I am curious as to see what alternative option do you see that would be more common sense? I'm looking for a good discussion here and as topics like this can be heated and emotional (like the gun debate) I do want to genuinely hear your thoughts and what would be good way for EPA/CARB to respond in situations like this.
07-04-2016, 02:54 PM
#568
VW Rejects Cash Offer For European Car Owners - WSJ
VW Rejects Cash Offer For European Car Owners
Buyers of VW products in Europe can’t expect same terms as Americans in emissions-cheating affair, Müller tells European Commission
July 3, 2016
BERLIN—The day Volkswagen AG ’s lawyers were in court sealing a historic $15 billion settlement to resolve its emissions scandal in the U.S., Chief Executive Matthias Müller went to Brussels to try to defuse a potential flare up with the European Commission over demands that the German car maker also offer generous compensation for nearly nine million European customers.
During the meeting on Thursday with Elzbieta Bienkowska, the European Union Industry Commissioner, Mr. Müller made clear that Volkswagen had no intention of offering equal compensation to Europeans who bought tainted diesel vehicles. He said tougher U.S. emissions standards made it more difficult to fix the cars to make them compliant than in Europe, requiring the hefty payments in the U.S., but not in Europe.
While Mr. Müller’s position is based on the differences between American and European law, his main concern is that the company would suffer potentially irreparable financial damage were it forced to provide the same level of compensation for its European customers. In the U.S., nearly 500,000 U.S. customers are affected, but in Europe there are nearly nine million.
The comments are the strongest yet to demonstrate that the German car maker has drawn a line in the sand and is preparing to fight demands for compensation from both the European Commission as well as attorneys who are readying class-action suits on behalf of European customers and investors.
In 2015, Volkswagen took charges of €16.2 billion ($18.05 billion) to cover the costs of fixing vehicles in Europe and funding the settlement in the U.S. The company has said repeatedly that it doesn’t foresee any further significant costs linked to the emissions scandal.
As it became clear last week that Volkswagen had agreed to a historic settlement, the highest ever paid by an auto maker in the U.S., Ms. Bienkowska lashed out at the company for what she sees as unfair treatment of its European customers in the wake of the diesel scandal and dismissed the legal justification that Mr. Müller invoked. “It is unfair if Volkswagen is hiding behind these legal considerations,” she said. “Volkswagen should voluntarily provide European car owners with compensation that is comparable to what it is paying U.S. customers.”
After a marathon stretch of meetings with plaintiffs’ attorneys and U.S. officials that began in February, Volkswagen last week agreed to pay up to $15 billion to settle class-action suits affecting owners of its two-liter diesels in the U.S.
Comparable compensation for its European customers would add up to a minimum of around €40 billion, which is why Volkswagen has made no comparable offer of compensation to European authorities, who have yet to charge the company with any infraction of the law or allow a major class-action suit to go to trial.
Because European authorities have failed to launch an aggressive legal response to Volkswagen’s admission that it installed cheating software on as many as 11 million diesel engines, most of which were sold in Europe, analysts say Ms. Bienkowska isn’t likely to force Volkswagen to compensate European owners.
“The legal basis in Europe is different from that in America. In Europe, consumer law and environmental law are irrelevant,” said Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, head of the Center for Automotive Research in Duisburg.
Buyers of VW products in Europe can’t expect same terms as Americans in emissions-cheating affair, Müller tells European Commission
July 3, 2016
BERLIN—The day Volkswagen AG ’s lawyers were in court sealing a historic $15 billion settlement to resolve its emissions scandal in the U.S., Chief Executive Matthias Müller went to Brussels to try to defuse a potential flare up with the European Commission over demands that the German car maker also offer generous compensation for nearly nine million European customers.
During the meeting on Thursday with Elzbieta Bienkowska, the European Union Industry Commissioner, Mr. Müller made clear that Volkswagen had no intention of offering equal compensation to Europeans who bought tainted diesel vehicles. He said tougher U.S. emissions standards made it more difficult to fix the cars to make them compliant than in Europe, requiring the hefty payments in the U.S., but not in Europe.
While Mr. Müller’s position is based on the differences between American and European law, his main concern is that the company would suffer potentially irreparable financial damage were it forced to provide the same level of compensation for its European customers. In the U.S., nearly 500,000 U.S. customers are affected, but in Europe there are nearly nine million.
The comments are the strongest yet to demonstrate that the German car maker has drawn a line in the sand and is preparing to fight demands for compensation from both the European Commission as well as attorneys who are readying class-action suits on behalf of European customers and investors.
In 2015, Volkswagen took charges of €16.2 billion ($18.05 billion) to cover the costs of fixing vehicles in Europe and funding the settlement in the U.S. The company has said repeatedly that it doesn’t foresee any further significant costs linked to the emissions scandal.
As it became clear last week that Volkswagen had agreed to a historic settlement, the highest ever paid by an auto maker in the U.S., Ms. Bienkowska lashed out at the company for what she sees as unfair treatment of its European customers in the wake of the diesel scandal and dismissed the legal justification that Mr. Müller invoked. “It is unfair if Volkswagen is hiding behind these legal considerations,” she said. “Volkswagen should voluntarily provide European car owners with compensation that is comparable to what it is paying U.S. customers.”
After a marathon stretch of meetings with plaintiffs’ attorneys and U.S. officials that began in February, Volkswagen last week agreed to pay up to $15 billion to settle class-action suits affecting owners of its two-liter diesels in the U.S.
Comparable compensation for its European customers would add up to a minimum of around €40 billion, which is why Volkswagen has made no comparable offer of compensation to European authorities, who have yet to charge the company with any infraction of the law or allow a major class-action suit to go to trial.
Because European authorities have failed to launch an aggressive legal response to Volkswagen’s admission that it installed cheating software on as many as 11 million diesel engines, most of which were sold in Europe, analysts say Ms. Bienkowska isn’t likely to force Volkswagen to compensate European owners.
“The legal basis in Europe is different from that in America. In Europe, consumer law and environmental law are irrelevant,” said Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, head of the Center for Automotive Research in Duisburg.
07-26-2016, 07:27 PM
#570
Race Director
VW gets preliminary approval for diesel buyback program | Autoweek
A U.S. District court has issued a preliminary approval for the Volkswagen 2.0-liter TDI diesel settlement program with private plaintiffs, ratifying the settlement reached a month ago that saw the German automaker commit $15 billion to buyback, repair, compensation and remediation efforts in the country. This means VW owners will soon receive notification of their options and rights under the settlement. VW will begin the program itself after the court issues a final approval on Oct. 18 of this year, which is expected to be just a formality.
The preliminary approval is good news for owners of four Volkswagen models and one Audi model equipped with the 2.0-liter diesel engine as the buyback and compensation program will start in just a couple of months, with Volkswagen expected to buy back at least 85 percent of the affected models and (hopefully) repair the rest. The repair option is still up in the air as the automaker negotiates with the EPA and other stakeholders on the specifics.
The buyback and compensation program will cover the 2013-15 VW Beetle, 2010-15 VW Golf, 2009-15 VW Jetta, 2012-2015 VW Passat and the Audi A3 from the 2010-13, as well as the 2015, model years.
"Under the proposed settlement, eligible customers will have two choices: (1) They can sell back their vehicle to Volkswagen or terminate their lease without an early termination penalty, or, (2) keep their vehicle and receive a free emissions modification, if approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB)," Volkswagen states. "Customers who select any of these options under the settlement will also receive a cash payment from Volkswagen."
The automaker indicated Tuesday that it continues to work on a solution for some 85,000 Audi, Porsche and VW models equipped with the larger 3.0-liter V6 engine, a technical fix for which was recently rejected by CARB, sending VW engineers and lawyers back to the drawing board. For months, VW has insisted that the larger 3.0-liter diesel engines, which are affected by a different type of issue from the 2.0-liter models, will be able to be repaired with just a software update, which has been approved as a remedy in other markets.VW, the EPA and CARB are still a long way away from signaling that a buyback program for the 3.0-liter cars may be required, but this is still a significant bump in the road that may lead to more serious measures than just a recall for a software update. The 3.0-liter vehicles have not been a part of the negotiations for the settlement that was reached a month ago, as VW expected a fairly straightforward recall.
A U.S. District court has issued a preliminary approval for the Volkswagen 2.0-liter TDI diesel settlement program with private plaintiffs, ratifying the settlement reached a month ago that saw the German automaker commit $15 billion to buyback, repair, compensation and remediation efforts in the country. This means VW owners will soon receive notification of their options and rights under the settlement. VW will begin the program itself after the court issues a final approval on Oct. 18 of this year, which is expected to be just a formality.
The preliminary approval is good news for owners of four Volkswagen models and one Audi model equipped with the 2.0-liter diesel engine as the buyback and compensation program will start in just a couple of months, with Volkswagen expected to buy back at least 85 percent of the affected models and (hopefully) repair the rest. The repair option is still up in the air as the automaker negotiates with the EPA and other stakeholders on the specifics.
The buyback and compensation program will cover the 2013-15 VW Beetle, 2010-15 VW Golf, 2009-15 VW Jetta, 2012-2015 VW Passat and the Audi A3 from the 2010-13, as well as the 2015, model years.
"Under the proposed settlement, eligible customers will have two choices: (1) They can sell back their vehicle to Volkswagen or terminate their lease without an early termination penalty, or, (2) keep their vehicle and receive a free emissions modification, if approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB)," Volkswagen states. "Customers who select any of these options under the settlement will also receive a cash payment from Volkswagen."
The automaker indicated Tuesday that it continues to work on a solution for some 85,000 Audi, Porsche and VW models equipped with the larger 3.0-liter V6 engine, a technical fix for which was recently rejected by CARB, sending VW engineers and lawyers back to the drawing board. For months, VW has insisted that the larger 3.0-liter diesel engines, which are affected by a different type of issue from the 2.0-liter models, will be able to be repaired with just a software update, which has been approved as a remedy in other markets.VW, the EPA and CARB are still a long way away from signaling that a buyback program for the 3.0-liter cars may be required, but this is still a significant bump in the road that may lead to more serious measures than just a recall for a software update. The 3.0-liter vehicles have not been a part of the negotiations for the settlement that was reached a month ago, as VW expected a fairly straightforward recall.
07-29-2016, 07:16 PM
#572
Azine Jabroni
07-29-2016, 07:48 PM
#573
Race Director
So what - the customers can keep the money and the car (when they don't take the buyout). Especially for folks with high miles whose buyout figure might be disappointing, they may take the flat figure cash everyone gets and just keep the car. Those folks wouldn't want to get it fixed since their mileage and performance may go down.When it gets a bit closer to 2019 and VW is against having to get all those cars off the road (or fix them) those owners might get another (better) offer.
01-09-2017, 09:33 AM
#574
99 TL, 06 E350
FBI arrests Volkswagen executive on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United State
FBI arrests Volkswagen executive on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States over emissions cheating | Financial Post
DETROIT — Volkswagen’s management board was informed about the “existence, purpose and characteristics” of an emissions cheating device in July 2015, and chose not to disclose it to United States regulators, a court filing on Monday showed.A complaint filed to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan by the Federal Bureau of Investigation against VW at the end of last year accuses VW of deliberately misleading regulators about cheating pollution tests in the United States.The complaint said VW employee Oliver Schmidt and other employees gave a presentation to VW’s executive management on or about July 27, 2015.“In the presentation, VW employees assured VW executive management that U.S. regulators were not aware of the defeat device,” the complaint said.“Rather than advocate for disclosure of the defeat device to U.S. regulators, VW executive management authorized its continued concealment.” Volkswagen said it could not comment on an ongoing legal matter.VW admitted in September that it installed secret software that allowed U.S. vehicles to emit up to 40 times legally allowable pollution levels.Schmidt was due to appear in court on Monday after he was arrested on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States in connection with the automaker’s emissions cheating scandal.
01-10-2017, 06:22 AM
#575
Living the Dream
A fix for the 2.0 models (2015 - )
Here's The First Approved Fix For Some Of The Cheating Diesel Volkswagens
Still going to sell it back. I cannot pass up the money they are offering.
I'm replacing the car with a 2017 Subaru Impreza Sport.
In a scandal that came with what feels like a never-ending aftermath, at least a few thousand vehicles affected by Volkswagen’s Dieselgate emissions cheating will have a fix approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. But don’t sigh in relief just yet—only a few select cars qualify for this one.
Amidst Volkswagen’s buybacks of nearly half a million vehicles in a scandal that also affected sister companies Audi and Porsche when news broke in September of 2015, Automotive News reports that the EPA approved a fix for 70,000 cars on Friday. The fix is a two-step process, with an initial software change available now that will be followed by further software and hardware updates in about a year. Some changes that will come to the cars later include a diesel particulate filter, diesel oxidation catalyst and an NOx catalyst.
But as of now, Automotive News reports that the only cars to be fixed under this particular agreement with the EPA will be 2.0-liter diesels from the 2015 model year, with the diesel Volkswagen Beetle, Jetta, Golf, Golf SportWagen, Passat and the diesel Audi A3 included in the agreement. All other cars, for now, do not have an agreed-upon fix.
This isn’t the first time Volkswagen has had hope for a fix approved by U.S. regulators. There were reports back in November that the company reached an agreement with U.S. regulators on fixing 60,000 of its 3.0-liter Volkswagens, Audis and Porsches while buying back another 20,000, but details of the fix for those cars has yet to surface.
According to Automotive News, the EPA said test data demonstrated that the fix for the 2.0-liter diesels listed above will “not affect vehicle fuel economy, reliability, or durability.” The bit about fuel economy is important, considering that the cars’ efficiency with Volkswagen’s TDI engine was something they were known for—before, of course, the news about the emissions cheating came out and everyone realized the cars just coughed out unhealthy levels of emissions in order to get that fuel economy.
U.S. Justice Department officials ordered Volkswagen in June to buy back the nearly half a million cars mentioned earlier in a $14.7 billion settlement, and Automotive News reports that Volkswagen is still waiting on approval for fixes of 400,000 more 2.0-liter vehicles.
For those of you who fall into the small category of vehicles with an approved fix, what do you plan to do with your dirty diesel?
Amidst Volkswagen’s buybacks of nearly half a million vehicles in a scandal that also affected sister companies Audi and Porsche when news broke in September of 2015, Automotive News reports that the EPA approved a fix for 70,000 cars on Friday. The fix is a two-step process, with an initial software change available now that will be followed by further software and hardware updates in about a year. Some changes that will come to the cars later include a diesel particulate filter, diesel oxidation catalyst and an NOx catalyst.
But as of now, Automotive News reports that the only cars to be fixed under this particular agreement with the EPA will be 2.0-liter diesels from the 2015 model year, with the diesel Volkswagen Beetle, Jetta, Golf, Golf SportWagen, Passat and the diesel Audi A3 included in the agreement. All other cars, for now, do not have an agreed-upon fix.
This isn’t the first time Volkswagen has had hope for a fix approved by U.S. regulators. There were reports back in November that the company reached an agreement with U.S. regulators on fixing 60,000 of its 3.0-liter Volkswagens, Audis and Porsches while buying back another 20,000, but details of the fix for those cars has yet to surface.
According to Automotive News, the EPA said test data demonstrated that the fix for the 2.0-liter diesels listed above will “not affect vehicle fuel economy, reliability, or durability.” The bit about fuel economy is important, considering that the cars’ efficiency with Volkswagen’s TDI engine was something they were known for—before, of course, the news about the emissions cheating came out and everyone realized the cars just coughed out unhealthy levels of emissions in order to get that fuel economy.
U.S. Justice Department officials ordered Volkswagen in June to buy back the nearly half a million cars mentioned earlier in a $14.7 billion settlement, and Automotive News reports that Volkswagen is still waiting on approval for fixes of 400,000 more 2.0-liter vehicles.
For those of you who fall into the small category of vehicles with an approved fix, what do you plan to do with your dirty diesel?
I'm replacing the car with a 2017 Subaru Impreza Sport.
Last edited by cmschmie; 01-10-2017 at 06:24 AM.
01-16-2017, 12:13 PM
#577
Team Owner
Here's The First Approved Fix For Some Of The Cheating Diesel Volkswagens
Still going to sell it back. I cannot pass up the money they are offering.
I'm replacing the car with a 2017 Subaru Impreza Sport.
Still going to sell it back. I cannot pass up the money they are offering.
I'm replacing the car with a 2017 Subaru Impreza Sport.
Replaced with a '17 Audi A4 Quattro (252 hp version). Getting around 28mpg with it burning premium vs 38 in the TDI.
01-16-2017, 01:43 PM
#578
Moderator
Curious, for those that have been down the road. How long is the turnaround between turning in the car/paperwork & cash in hand? Lady in my office is about to buyback her Jetta & looking to get an F150, but isn't sure how long she'll be without a car.
01-16-2017, 02:03 PM
#579
Team Owner
The timeline is all laid out in the documentation of the settlement process.
Biggest unknown should be when they have an available appointment to turn the car in. It was about two weeks lead time for that when I arranged my surrender in early December.
If I recall correctly it is at most 45 days.
01-16-2017, 03:10 PM
#580
Moderator
Thanks. She was just concerned with having to potentially have to get a rental car for the gap between turn-in & funds available.
01-25-2017, 11:14 AM
#581
Living the Dream
Several reports of people getting the same mileage with the update but it seems to impact the "off-the-line" performance. This is only the software portion of the fix, a hardware upgrade is still required. No information how that will impact mileage or performance.
http://jalopnik.com/volkswagen-tdi-o...die-1791432942
My turn-in date is set for February 21. My buyback was approved December 30 and the earliest I could make an appointment was Feb 13. I selected the 21st to hopefully make sure the car I want will be available.
http://jalopnik.com/volkswagen-tdi-o...die-1791432942
My turn-in date is set for February 21. My buyback was approved December 30 and the earliest I could make an appointment was Feb 13. I selected the 21st to hopefully make sure the car I want will be available.
01-25-2017, 03:29 PM
#582
Team Owner
MPG is not a deal breaker, Worse off the line performance is definitely a deal breaker.
01-31-2017, 06:23 AM
#583
Team Owner
-No significant changes to key vehicle attributes are expected, including fuel consumption, reliability, durability, vehicle performance, drivability, or other driving characteristics.
-Sport Mode Changes - While driving in sport mode the automatic transmission will shift earlier at low accelerator positions for improved driving comfort, resulting in lower engine speeds at constant driving.
-Improved Vehicle Drivability - Vehicles with automatic transmissions will exhibit improvements in throttle response, a smoother acceleration and improved driving experience.
The way they describe it as better all around with the fix, you have to wonder why they did the emissions defeat in the first place!
Also, DEF consumption increase by up to 14%.
01-31-2017, 12:12 PM
#584
You'll Never Walk Alone
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Would be interesting to see a comparo between an original diesel model, a phase 1 model, and a phase 2 model.
Phase 2 seems to be more involved with the following changes:
"Diesel Particulate Filter, Diesel Oxidation Catalyst, and Selective Catalytic Reduction Converter...NOx sensor and corresponding software to improve the performance of the OBD system."
I think the above is the main reason VW went with the defeat system in the first place - those cost quite a bit of money.
Phase 2 seems to be more involved with the following changes:
"Diesel Particulate Filter, Diesel Oxidation Catalyst, and Selective Catalytic Reduction Converter...NOx sensor and corresponding software to improve the performance of the OBD system."
I think the above is the main reason VW went with the defeat system in the first place - those cost quite a bit of money.
01-31-2017, 12:37 PM
#585
Team Owner
Yeah the recall notice (I received one even though VW bought my car back over a month ago) was full of double-speak and bullshit.
-No significant changes to key vehicle attributes are expected, including fuel consumption, reliability, durability, vehicle performance, drivability, or other driving characteristics.
-Sport Mode Changes - While driving in sport mode the automatic transmission will shift earlier at low accelerator positions for improved driving comfort, resulting in lower engine speeds at constant driving.
-Improved Vehicle Drivability - Vehicles with automatic transmissions will exhibit improvements in throttle response, a smoother acceleration and improved driving experience.
The way they describe it as better all around with the fix, you have to wonder why they did the emissions defeat in the first place!
Also, DEF consumption increase by up to 14%.
-No significant changes to key vehicle attributes are expected, including fuel consumption, reliability, durability, vehicle performance, drivability, or other driving characteristics.
-Sport Mode Changes - While driving in sport mode the automatic transmission will shift earlier at low accelerator positions for improved driving comfort, resulting in lower engine speeds at constant driving.
-Improved Vehicle Drivability - Vehicles with automatic transmissions will exhibit improvements in throttle response, a smoother acceleration and improved driving experience.
The way they describe it as better all around with the fix, you have to wonder why they did the emissions defeat in the first place!
Also, DEF consumption increase by up to 14%.
No wonder they sold more cars globally than Toyota even with this. They sure are good at BSing.
01-31-2017, 02:32 PM
#586
Would be interesting to see a comparo between an original diesel model, a phase 1 model, and a phase 2 model.
Phase 2 seems to be more involved with the following changes:
"Diesel Particulate Filter, Diesel Oxidation Catalyst, and Selective Catalytic Reduction Converter...NOx sensor and corresponding software to improve the performance of the OBD system."
I think the above is the main reason VW went with the defeat system in the first place - those cost quite a bit of money.
Phase 2 seems to be more involved with the following changes:
"Diesel Particulate Filter, Diesel Oxidation Catalyst, and Selective Catalytic Reduction Converter...NOx sensor and corresponding software to improve the performance of the OBD system."
I think the above is the main reason VW went with the defeat system in the first place - those cost quite a bit of money.
reminds me of Lance Armstrong.Almost everyone at the top that he's beaten has been busted for performance enhancing drugs. Yet he denied it until the very end.
Everyone else needs to use a DEF system, cats, and so on to pass emissions, and the sake of increased fuel economy, cost and complexity. Yet VW didn't? Hmmm.
01-31-2017, 04:02 PM
#587
Team Owner
Following the money, someone thought they had a clever way to cost reduce those parts through software.
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Costco (01-31-2017)
04-21-2017, 12:13 PM
#588
https://www.wsj.com/articles/judge-s...aud-1492789096
Judge Slaps VW With $2.8 Billion Criminal Fine in Emissions Fraud
Sentence includes independent monitor to audit auto maker’s regulatory-compliance practices for at least three years
April 21, 2017 11:38 a.m. ET
A federal judge ordered Volkswagen AG to pay a $2.8 billion criminal fine for rigging diesel-powered vehicles to cheat on government emissions tests, formalizing a punishment the German auto giant agreed to earlier this year in an unprecedented plea deal with U.S. prosecutors.
U.S. Judge Sean Cox on Friday sentenced Volkswagen during a hearing in a Detroit federal court, a little over a month after the auto maker pleaded guilty to criminal charges stemming from the emissions fraud. Volkswagen admitted to conspiring for nearly a decade to deceive U.S. officials with illegal software that allowed vehicles to pass government emissions tests and then pollute far beyond legal limits on the road.
In addition to the fine, the judge’s sentence includes the assignment of an independent monitor to audit Volkswagen’s regulatory-compliance practices for at least three years.
Larry Thompson, a deputy attorney general under former President George W. Bush, has been named to lead the independent monitoring team at Volkswagen, Assistant U.S. Attorney John Neal said.
The auto maker will remain on probation for three years and has agreed to cooperate with ongoing U.S. government probes and prosecutions of individuals tied to the scandal.
With the criminal fine, Volkswagen’s legal settlements stemming from its emissions fraud could exceed $25 billion in the U.S. alone depending on how many vehicles the auto maker is forced to repurchase. Volkswagen, which remains under investigation in Germany, has reached settlements in the U.S. with consumers, regulators, dealers, state attorneys general and federal prosecutors.
Volkswagen has admitted to installing so-called defeat devices on nearly 600,000 diesel-powered vehicles in the U.S. that duped environmental regulators. The auto maker has acknowledged putting the devices in some 11 million vehicles globally.
Volkswagen agreed to the penalties meted out Friday in a plea deal with federal prosecutors disclosed earlier this year. Judge Cox accepted Volkswagen’s guilty plea in March to criminal charges, but postponed sentencing until Friday. Volkswagen pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the U.S., commit wire fraud and violate the Clean Air Act; obstruction of justice; and import violations.
Sentence includes independent monitor to audit auto maker’s regulatory-compliance practices for at least three years
April 21, 2017 11:38 a.m. ET
A federal judge ordered Volkswagen AG to pay a $2.8 billion criminal fine for rigging diesel-powered vehicles to cheat on government emissions tests, formalizing a punishment the German auto giant agreed to earlier this year in an unprecedented plea deal with U.S. prosecutors.
U.S. Judge Sean Cox on Friday sentenced Volkswagen during a hearing in a Detroit federal court, a little over a month after the auto maker pleaded guilty to criminal charges stemming from the emissions fraud. Volkswagen admitted to conspiring for nearly a decade to deceive U.S. officials with illegal software that allowed vehicles to pass government emissions tests and then pollute far beyond legal limits on the road.
In addition to the fine, the judge’s sentence includes the assignment of an independent monitor to audit Volkswagen’s regulatory-compliance practices for at least three years.
Larry Thompson, a deputy attorney general under former President George W. Bush, has been named to lead the independent monitoring team at Volkswagen, Assistant U.S. Attorney John Neal said.
The auto maker will remain on probation for three years and has agreed to cooperate with ongoing U.S. government probes and prosecutions of individuals tied to the scandal.
With the criminal fine, Volkswagen’s legal settlements stemming from its emissions fraud could exceed $25 billion in the U.S. alone depending on how many vehicles the auto maker is forced to repurchase. Volkswagen, which remains under investigation in Germany, has reached settlements in the U.S. with consumers, regulators, dealers, state attorneys general and federal prosecutors.
Volkswagen has admitted to installing so-called defeat devices on nearly 600,000 diesel-powered vehicles in the U.S. that duped environmental regulators. The auto maker has acknowledged putting the devices in some 11 million vehicles globally.
Volkswagen agreed to the penalties meted out Friday in a plea deal with federal prosecutors disclosed earlier this year. Judge Cox accepted Volkswagen’s guilty plea in March to criminal charges, but postponed sentencing until Friday. Volkswagen pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the U.S., commit wire fraud and violate the Clean Air Act; obstruction of justice; and import violations.
09-10-2017, 07:07 PM
#589
Race Director
Rather than starting a new one, going to try revivifying this zombie thread....
Volkswagen, the German auto giant, is preparing for a swift expansion in its output of electric cars next year — and the biggest jump in production will be in China. General Motors is making China the hub of its electric car research and development. Renault-Nissan, the French and Japanese carmaker, and Ford Motor have hustled to set up joint electric-car ventures in China.
Global automakers see the future of electric cars, and it looks Chinese. The biggest players are shifting crucial scientific and design work to China as the country invests heavily in car-charging stations and research and pushes automakers to embrace battery-powered vehicles.
China underscored that ambition over the weekend, when it said it would eventually ban the sale of gasoline- and diesel-powered cars at an unspecified date.
China’s Electric Car Push Lures Global Auto Giants, Despite Risks
Volkswagen, the German auto giant, is preparing for a swift expansion in its output of electric cars next year — and the biggest jump in production will be in China. General Motors is making China the hub of its electric car research and development. Renault-Nissan, the French and Japanese carmaker, and Ford Motor have hustled to set up joint electric-car ventures in China.
Global automakers see the future of electric cars, and it looks Chinese. The biggest players are shifting crucial scientific and design work to China as the country invests heavily in car-charging stations and research and pushes automakers to embrace battery-powered vehicles.
China underscored that ambition over the weekend, when it said it would eventually ban the sale of gasoline- and diesel-powered cars at an unspecified date.
But the auto industry’s response — moving electric car design and production to China — represents a big risk.
From high-speed trains to wind turbines, China has long prodded American, European and Japanese companies to hand over their know-how in exchange for access to its exciting new market. Then Chinese companies have used that knowledge and lavish government support to take on
foreign rivals.
China wants the big players to share their electric car knowledge, too. The foreign automakers face new Chinese regulations that put heavy legal pressure on them to transfer electric-car technology to their local partners. Chinese officials are also set to impose stringent regulations that would force automakers like Volkswagen and G.M. to sell new-energy cars in the country if they want to continue selling the old-fashioned gasoline-powered types as well.
Still, Western companies say that they know the risks of transferring technology — and that the opportunities could help them reach their own electic car ambitions faster.
[...]
Electric cars are part of a broader debate about the country’s industrial ambitions. Under a plan called Made in China 2025, China hopes to become a dominant player in a number of other futurist new technologies, like artificial intelligence and robotics. Chinese officials argue that the push will help develop China’s economy and make it less dependent on foreign technology, a dependence that could expose it to security
risks.
[...]
The joint ventures alone may not make China a leader in electric cars. G.M., Volkswagen and other major automakers have made regular cars with Chinese partners for decades, and China had hoped its automakers would learn how to make their own worldbeating brands. Instead, Chinese automakers grew comfortable making Chevrolets and Volkswagens for local drivers. Only recently have foreign automakers begun exporting Chinese-made cars to buyers back home.
From high-speed trains to wind turbines, China has long prodded American, European and Japanese companies to hand over their know-how in exchange for access to its exciting new market. Then Chinese companies have used that knowledge and lavish government support to take on
foreign rivals.
China wants the big players to share their electric car knowledge, too. The foreign automakers face new Chinese regulations that put heavy legal pressure on them to transfer electric-car technology to their local partners. Chinese officials are also set to impose stringent regulations that would force automakers like Volkswagen and G.M. to sell new-energy cars in the country if they want to continue selling the old-fashioned gasoline-powered types as well.
Still, Western companies say that they know the risks of transferring technology — and that the opportunities could help them reach their own electic car ambitions faster.
[...]
Electric cars are part of a broader debate about the country’s industrial ambitions. Under a plan called Made in China 2025, China hopes to become a dominant player in a number of other futurist new technologies, like artificial intelligence and robotics. Chinese officials argue that the push will help develop China’s economy and make it less dependent on foreign technology, a dependence that could expose it to security
risks.
[...]
The joint ventures alone may not make China a leader in electric cars. G.M., Volkswagen and other major automakers have made regular cars with Chinese partners for decades, and China had hoped its automakers would learn how to make their own worldbeating brands. Instead, Chinese automakers grew comfortable making Chevrolets and Volkswagens for local drivers. Only recently have foreign automakers begun exporting Chinese-made cars to buyers back home.
03-29-2018, 05:29 AM
#590
Race Director
NEW YORK -- The concept unibody pickup Volkswagen introduced Wednesday at the New York auto show would share a platform and powertrain with the brand's three-row Atlas crossover, but is nearly 16 inches longer with nearly 10 inches of ground clearance.
The VW Atlas Tanoak concept -- which shares a name with a tall species of evergreen native to the U.S. Pacific Coast -- features a 276-hp, V-6 engine mated to an eight speed transmission, and has 2 extra inches of ground clearance compared with a standard Atlas.
Like the Atlas, it is built on the company's flexible MQB platform. Volkswagen said it doesn't yet have plans to put the concept into production, but is using it to gauge potential consumer interest, given the brand's volume aspirations of reaching 5 percent of the U.S. light-vehicle market within 10 years. Volkswagen currently has a 2 percent share of U.S. light-vehicle sales.
Speaking at a press event Tuesday evening, Volkswagen Group of America CEO Hinrich Woebcken said the Atlas Tanoak concept is being used to measure whether there are opportunities for Volkswagen to expand into segments where it doesn't now play, just as the sedan-heavy brand has moved aggressively into crossovers in the last few years.
For what is billed as a midsize pickup, the Atlas Tanoak concept is not small. At 214.1 inches long, 79.9 inches wide and 72.6 inches tall, it is larger in every respect than what would be its main competitor, the Honda Ridgeline. The Tanoak has a stretched 128.3-inch wheelbase -- 11 inches longer than the Atlas. The dual-cab concept pickup also has a 64.1-inch bed, about a half inch longer than the Ridgeline, with 50.4 inches of space between the wheel wells and a spare wheel mounted below the cargo bed.
A cargo rail is mounted over the bed, and can be slid the length of the bed, doubling as a cargo carrier for large objects such as canoes or ladders. The all-wheel-drive Tanoak concept rides on 20-inch wheels.
Although it's based on the Atlas and shares its name, the Tanoak concept has a more rugged appearance both in exterior and interior styling than the brand's three-row family hauler. The LED daytime running lights extend into the side profile, and a raised hood, center-mounted winch and carabiners give added rugged appearance, as do wheel arch extensions with incorporated side market lights.
Volkswagen designers had fun with the exterior lighting components on the concept pickup as well. According to the company, when the door is opened, the white VW logo on the grille gradually brightens, then the white light runs over the two crossbars of the grille and into the headlight surrounds. As soon as the moving light strips reach the headlights, the LEDs on the two front light strips swipe out from the logo and back until the LED headlights and lighting elements in the bumper activate. The active LED lighting features are replicated at the rear.
The rear door handles of the dual cab are integrated into the C-pillars, in essence hiding the rear doors of the five-seat pickup concept.
The Tanoak's cabin diverges further from the Atlas. Screens dominate the dashboard and most of the cockpit, with large touchscreens for the infotainment system and Volkswagen's digital cockpit instrument cluster, along with a touchscreen below for HVAC and other controls. On the center console, Volkswagen designers have redesigned the Atlas' shifter grip as well as its 4MOTION off-road control knob into a sturdy sliding mechanism, so that it can be more easily operated with gloved hands.
http://www.autonews.com/article/2018...180329652/1168
The VW Atlas Tanoak concept -- which shares a name with a tall species of evergreen native to the U.S. Pacific Coast -- features a 276-hp, V-6 engine mated to an eight speed transmission, and has 2 extra inches of ground clearance compared with a standard Atlas.
Like the Atlas, it is built on the company's flexible MQB platform. Volkswagen said it doesn't yet have plans to put the concept into production, but is using it to gauge potential consumer interest, given the brand's volume aspirations of reaching 5 percent of the U.S. light-vehicle market within 10 years. Volkswagen currently has a 2 percent share of U.S. light-vehicle sales.
Speaking at a press event Tuesday evening, Volkswagen Group of America CEO Hinrich Woebcken said the Atlas Tanoak concept is being used to measure whether there are opportunities for Volkswagen to expand into segments where it doesn't now play, just as the sedan-heavy brand has moved aggressively into crossovers in the last few years.
For what is billed as a midsize pickup, the Atlas Tanoak concept is not small. At 214.1 inches long, 79.9 inches wide and 72.6 inches tall, it is larger in every respect than what would be its main competitor, the Honda Ridgeline. The Tanoak has a stretched 128.3-inch wheelbase -- 11 inches longer than the Atlas. The dual-cab concept pickup also has a 64.1-inch bed, about a half inch longer than the Ridgeline, with 50.4 inches of space between the wheel wells and a spare wheel mounted below the cargo bed.
A cargo rail is mounted over the bed, and can be slid the length of the bed, doubling as a cargo carrier for large objects such as canoes or ladders. The all-wheel-drive Tanoak concept rides on 20-inch wheels.
Although it's based on the Atlas and shares its name, the Tanoak concept has a more rugged appearance both in exterior and interior styling than the brand's three-row family hauler. The LED daytime running lights extend into the side profile, and a raised hood, center-mounted winch and carabiners give added rugged appearance, as do wheel arch extensions with incorporated side market lights.
Volkswagen designers had fun with the exterior lighting components on the concept pickup as well. According to the company, when the door is opened, the white VW logo on the grille gradually brightens, then the white light runs over the two crossbars of the grille and into the headlight surrounds. As soon as the moving light strips reach the headlights, the LEDs on the two front light strips swipe out from the logo and back until the LED headlights and lighting elements in the bumper activate. The active LED lighting features are replicated at the rear.
The rear door handles of the dual cab are integrated into the C-pillars, in essence hiding the rear doors of the five-seat pickup concept.
The Tanoak's cabin diverges further from the Atlas. Screens dominate the dashboard and most of the cockpit, with large touchscreens for the infotainment system and Volkswagen's digital cockpit instrument cluster, along with a touchscreen below for HVAC and other controls. On the center console, Volkswagen designers have redesigned the Atlas' shifter grip as well as its 4MOTION off-road control knob into a sturdy sliding mechanism, so that it can be more easily operated with gloved hands.
http://www.autonews.com/article/2018...180329652/1168
12-05-2018, 11:25 AM
#592
Moderator
https://jalopnik.com/volkswagen-says...ust-1830860050
Pretty much every major car company is planning a big pivot to electric vehicles in the coming years, but few are going as big as the Volkswagen Group. It’s planning nearly 30 cars on one platform alone by 2022, and more on other EV architectures in development like the Porsche Taycan. So how does VW balance that with developing more gasoline and diesel cars? Simple: It doesn’t.
Bloomberg today reports that Volkswagen’s next generation of internal combustion engines, due out starting in 2026, will be its last. After that it will focus primarily on EV development.
VW and its brands won’t go cold turkey, of course. According to this story, the plan is to continue revising conventional engines as necessary, especially for developing markets that lack a charging infrastructure. Just don’t expect all-new ones in the decades to come:
It may sound surprising, but it really isn’t. We’ve heard similar rumblings from other automakers, though they haven’t been as brazen in announcing it as VW has. But as it seeks to atone for its diesel cheating sins, and as it keeps a focus on the all-important Chinese market where EVs will eventually be the majority, VW is making no attempt to hide how it sees the future as an electric one.
The question is, in America at least, will buyers follow? Though VW and other companies are investing heavily in charging infrastructure (Tesla deserves infinite credit for focusing on that early on), with gas being as cheap as it currently is it’s not certain that heavy mainstream demand will exist for these vehicles. Furthermore, there’s a lot of political will behind eliminating EV tax credits very soon, which many automakers are betting on to help speed up widespread electric car adoption.
Either way, even if autonomous cars feel more and more like a false promise, we could very likely see an end to internal combustion engines in our lifetimes. VW is certainly banking on it.
Bloomberg today reports that Volkswagen’s next generation of internal combustion engines, due out starting in 2026, will be its last. After that it will focus primarily on EV development.
VW and its brands won’t go cold turkey, of course. According to this story, the plan is to continue revising conventional engines as necessary, especially for developing markets that lack a charging infrastructure. Just don’t expect all-new ones in the decades to come:
“Our colleagues are working on the last platform for vehicles that aren’t CO2 neutral,” Michael Jost, strategy chief for Volkswagen’s namesake brand, said Tuesday at an industry conference near the company’s headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany. “We’re gradually fading out combustion engines to the absolute minimum.”
[...] VW will continue to modify its combustion engine technology after the new platform is introduced next decade. After 2050, there may still be some gasoline and diesel models in regions where there is insufficient charging infrastructure, according to Jost.
[...] VW will continue to modify its combustion engine technology after the new platform is introduced next decade. After 2050, there may still be some gasoline and diesel models in regions where there is insufficient charging infrastructure, according to Jost.
The question is, in America at least, will buyers follow? Though VW and other companies are investing heavily in charging infrastructure (Tesla deserves infinite credit for focusing on that early on), with gas being as cheap as it currently is it’s not certain that heavy mainstream demand will exist for these vehicles. Furthermore, there’s a lot of political will behind eliminating EV tax credits very soon, which many automakers are betting on to help speed up widespread electric car adoption.
Either way, even if autonomous cars feel more and more like a false promise, we could very likely see an end to internal combustion engines in our lifetimes. VW is certainly banking on it.
12-06-2018, 06:13 AM
#593
Race Director
Furthermore, there’s a lot of political will behind eliminating EV tax credits very soon, which many automakers are betting on to help speed up widespread electric car adoption.
12-06-2018, 07:13 AM
#594
Azine Jabroni
VW should do what Toyota did with the Prius. Make a VW car which is electric and costs $23,000. Take a loss on each car. Dominate.
12-06-2018, 10:45 AM
#595
Ex-OEM King
RIP Tesla.
12-06-2018, 12:09 PM
#596
Team Owner
If #1 and #2 decided to undercut Tesla, yah RIP Tesla.
But i dont think they would do that.... or Trump will raise 25% tariff on Toyota and VW
But i dont think they would do that.... or Trump will raise 25% tariff on Toyota and VW
12-06-2018, 01:07 PM
#597
Ex-OEM King
It's not that they would undercut Tesla in a like for like product so to speak (though they for sure will), it's more that two of the world's largest automakers with an enormous development budget and resource pool are now going after a technology that Tesla has had a monopoly on. That said, they'll be able to more rapidly advance the tech (and the manufacturing of it) than Tesla would ever have hoped to.
12-06-2018, 03:49 PM
#599
Team Owner
^Samsung is not cheaper and being better is highly debatable too.
Tesla is not in very good shape as it is right now. I can't imagine them being any better if VW and Toyota decided to sell similar product at 50% of the price. Assuming their models offers similar features and performance as Model 3.
Tesla is not in very good shape as it is right now. I can't imagine them being any better if VW and Toyota decided to sell similar product at 50% of the price. Assuming their models offers similar features and performance as Model 3.
12-06-2018, 04:32 PM
#600
Azine Jabroni
^Samsung is not cheaper and being better is highly debatable too.
Tesla is not in very good shape as it is right now. I can't imagine them being any better if VW and Toyota decided to sell similar product at 50% of the price. Assuming their models offers similar features and performance as Model 3.
Tesla is not in very good shape as it is right now. I can't imagine them being any better if VW and Toyota decided to sell similar product at 50% of the price. Assuming their models offers similar features and performance as Model 3.
VW would likely dominate the European electric market first, but if they bring a $23,000 EV to the US, everyone might be toast. Trump might try to tariff VW, but Trump probably has no love for GM right now
