What is confusing me is that BOSCH told VW not to use the device they sold them because it was illegal?!!!!!!!
It's not the component per se, it's a combination of the component and the manipulated software controlling it. The so-called "defeat device" is a bit of a misnomer really.
This is a can of worms alright and whilst nothing has been said it is certain that this was discovered by another car company, almost certainly a U.S. Manufacturer, and they have gone to the U.S. Government with the data. All car manufacturers examine their competition and strip the cars bare to see what's what and this must be the logical answer as to how this came out.
Interestingly I had a 2009 Audi A4 diesel and although I really liked it I had some problems with the particulate filter over the three years I had it and now makes me wonder if the car was running dirtier than the emission data suggested.
I wonder where it will end if VAG have been fiddling their emission data then as others have said in this country HMRC will probably be looking at it as will the MOT this could close VAG down potentially.
As for what to buy the last couple of days I have been in Germany driving an Audi A3 with a petrol engine and it was absolutely blinding I did 300+km and when I filled it up to give it back to the car hire firm I only had to put 20 Euro's of fuel in. The bloke at SIXT told me they are as efficient as diesel and cheaper to fix.
How did V W think that they'd get away with this in the long term ? .. I suppose it' a matter of big and popular company arrogance... a touch of the Elliott Ness's ... The Untouchables
1973, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took VW to court over a "defeat device" that cut out pollution controls at low temperatures. $120,000 fine for 25,000 rogue vehicles, but no admission of guilt. 1995, the EPA found General Motors had rigged Cadillacs to switch off pollution controls when the aircon ran. $45 million fine. 1998, Caterpillar, Cummins, Detroit Diesel, Mack, Navistar, Renault, and Volvo paid over $1 billion to settle when they were found to be doing what VW is now accused of. 1998, Honda fined $267 million by EPA for defeat devices. 1998, Ford fined $7.8 million for the same trick. 2014, Hyundai and Kia were fined $350 million for claiming overstated fuel economy figures. 2014, Ford had to give payments to 200,000 customers, ranging from $200 to $1050 for fuel efficiency estimate "errors".
Head of VW in USA blames it on two software engineers and no one at board level knew about it.
Right. Bosch knew about it, as did a technician. Merkel's government knew about it. It's like corruption at FIFA. If the board didn't know about it, then it seems they're not competent.
Hard to believe that "two software engineers" would be able to put a device in every car without anyone else knowing. Maybe VW just lets random employees do whatever they want to the car design.
I was in a Volkswagen group museum/concept showroom thing today. The type where they have a a few cars for people to photograph and various bits and pieces about how they care about the environment and the future, and there's no direct selling. Many of the cars had remarks about their "excellent" emissions ratings. There was a wall with suggestions for future development (I think the slogan was "Think Now"). Most people seemed to think VW should give them free Bugattis. None seemed to mention cheating in emissions tests...
Comments
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34365794
http://www.cheatsheet.com/automobiles/volkswagens-dieselgate-fallout-ensnares-mega-supplier-bosch.html/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Autos Daily 2015-10-01&utm_term=Autos Daily
Can't find anything definitive online.
Interestingly I had a 2009 Audi A4 diesel and although I really liked it I had some problems with the particulate filter over the three years I had it and now makes me wonder if the car was running dirtier than the emission data suggested.
I wonder where it will end if VAG have been fiddling their emission data then as others have said in this country HMRC will probably be looking at it as will the MOT this could close VAG down potentially.
As for what to buy the last couple of days I have been in Germany driving an Audi A3 with a petrol engine and it was absolutely blinding I did 300+km and when I filled it up to give it back to the car hire firm I only had to put 20 Euro's of fuel in. The bloke at SIXT told me they are as efficient as diesel and cheaper to fix.
Here's a bit of previous:-
1973, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took VW to court over a "defeat device" that cut out pollution controls at low temperatures. $120,000 fine for 25,000 rogue vehicles, but no admission of guilt.
1995, the EPA found General Motors had rigged Cadillacs to switch off pollution controls when the aircon ran. $45 million fine.
1998, Caterpillar, Cummins, Detroit Diesel, Mack, Navistar, Renault, and Volvo paid over $1 billion to settle when they were found to be doing what VW is now accused of.
1998, Honda fined $267 million by EPA for defeat devices.
1998, Ford fined $7.8 million for the same trick.
2014, Hyundai and Kia were fined $350 million for claiming overstated fuel economy figures.
2014, Ford had to give payments to 200,000 customers, ranging from $200 to $1050 for fuel efficiency estimate "errors".
"Have you been mis-sold TDi?"
Hard to believe that "two software engineers" would be able to put a device in every car without anyone else knowing. Maybe VW just lets random employees do whatever they want to the car design.
I was in a Volkswagen group museum/concept showroom thing today. The type where they have a a few cars for people to photograph and various bits and pieces about how they care about the environment and the future, and there's no direct selling. Many of the cars had remarks about their "excellent" emissions ratings. There was a wall with suggestions for future development (I think the slogan was "Think Now"). Most people seemed to think VW should give them free Bugattis. None seemed to mention cheating in emissions tests...