482,000 VW TDIs Produce 5 to 35Xs the NOx Beyond Federal Emissions Requirements

“Since model year 2009, VW has employed a defeat device to circumvent CARB and the EPA emission test procedures.”

George Honeymen - aka PriusCpilot - CleanMPG – Sept. 18, 2015

2015 VW Golf SportWagen’s 2.0L TDI engine - Maybe not as Clean Diesel as we had hoped.

Just when the promise of Diesel was gaining new legs thanks to lower diesel fuel prices, new low carbon fuels and engines that could easily meet the strictest emissions standards in the world, the EPA issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) letter to the largest seller of diesel engines in the U.S. and the largest auto manufacturer in the world.

During dynamometer testing for both Emissions and Fuel Economy certification, 2.0L VW TDIs from 2009 – 2015 worked in a “Dyno-Mode” tune that performed satisfactorily and easily met the legal limits for a variety of pollutants including NOx.

When the ECU detected that the car was not on a dynamometer - the Electronic Stability Control program detected the rear wheels were not spinning while the engine was turning the front wheels with no steering input - the emissions controls were allowed to relax providing both the power and efficiency TDI owners have come to rely on. This in turn allowed between 5 and 35 times the legal limit of NOx to be emitted while driven in the manner that we all drive as evidenced by the WVU/ICCT report that follows.

WVU ICCT Report detailing the initial findings can be found in the following: In-Use Emissions Testing of Light-Duty Diesel Vehicles in the United States

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In an EPA teleconference call with media, Cynthia Giles, an enforcement officer at the EPA stated, "Put simply, these cars contained software that turns off emissions controls when driving normally and turns them on when the car is undergoing an emissions test."

The “Defeat Device” or “Dyno-Mode” programming within the Bosch EDC17 ECU has been a part of OEM testing for years. It was the relaxing of the emissions control systems code that caused the problems.

Vehicles affected include the following:

• Jetta (2009 – 2015)
• Jetta SportWagen TDI (2009 – 2014)
• Beetle TDI (2012 – 2015)
• Beetle Convertible TD
• Golf (2010 – 2015)
• Golf SportWagen (2015)
• Passat (2012 -2015)

Regarding the EPA Notice of Violation letter sent to VW, the EPA states to receive a Certificate of Compliance (COC) for a given vehicle family with a particular power train, a manufacturer must list all Auxiliary Emissions Control Devices (AECDs) including sensors that measure temperatures, vehicles speed, engine RPM, transmission gear, manifold vacuum, or any other parameter for the purpose of activating, modulating, delaying, or deactivating the operation of any part of the emissions control system.

The COC application must also include a justification for each AECD the parameters sense and control and a detailed justification of each AECD that results in a reduction effectiveness of the emissions control system and a “rationale for why it is not a defeat device.”

According to the EPA, a defeat device is an AECD that reduces the effectiveness of the emissions control system which may reasonably be encountered in normal vehicle operation.

This is the damning part of the Clean Air Act (CAA) that VW engineers may have knowingly or unknowingly violated.

Within the EPA Notice of Violation linked above, there is a clause stating that persons who violate mandates within the Clean Air Act are subject to a civil penalty of up to $3,750 for each violation. Considering this NOV involves 482,000 VW TDIs, this equates to a civil penalty of up to $1.8-billion USD. That is huge but that is not the only penalties involved. Later in the same document, a Civil penalty of up to $37,500 could be assessed for each vehicle that was sold without a proper Certificate of Compliance (COC). This equates to a possible fine of up to $18-billion USD.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) also weighed in with a letter to Volkswagen regarding CARB Notification of Non-Compliance.

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September 18, 2015

Volkswagen AG
Audi AG
Volkswagen Group of America

David Geanacopoulos
Exec. VP and General Council, Governmental Affairs
Volkswagen Group of America
2200 Ferdinanad Porsche Drive
Herndon, VA 20171

Sturt Johnson
GM, Engineering and Environmental Office
Volkswagen Group of America
3800 Hamlin Road
Auburn Hills, MI 48326

Re: Admission of Defeat Device and California Air Resource Board’s Requests

Dear Mr. Geanacopoulos and Mr. Johnson:

In order to protect public health and the environment from harmful pollutants, the California Air Resource Board (CARB) rigorously implements its vehicle regulations through its certification, in use compliance, and enforcement programs. In addition, to the new vehicle certification process, CARB regularly tests automobiles to ensure their emissions performance is as expected throughout their useful life, and performs investigative testing if warranted. CARB was engaged in dialogue with our European counterparts concerning high in use emissions from light duty diesels. CARB deployed a number of efforts using portable measurement systems and other approaches to increase our understanding for the California fleet. In 2014, the International Council for Clean Transportation (ICCT) and West Virginia University (WVU) identified through their test program, and brought to the CARB’s and the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) attention, concerns of elevated oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions over real world driving. The ICCT actions were consistent and complementary to our activities. This prompted CARB to start an investigation and discussions with the Volkswagen Group of America (VW) on the reasons behind these high NOx emissions observed on their 2.0 liter diesel vehicles over real world driving conditions. As you know, these discussions over several months culminated in VW’s admission in early September 2015 that it has, since model year 2009, employed a defeat device to circumvent CARB and the EPA emission test procedures.

VW initiated testing to replicate the ICCT/WVU testing and identify the technical reasons for the high on-road emissions. VW shared the results of this testing and a proposed recalibration fix for the Gen1 (Lean NOx Trap technology) and Gen2 (Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology) with CARB staff on December 2, 2014. Based on this meeting, CARB and EPA at that time agreed that VW could implement the software recall; however, CARB cautioned VW that if our confirmatory testing showed that the fix did not address the on-road NOx issues, they would have to conduct another recall. Based on this meeting, VW initiated a voluntary recall in December 2014 which, according to VW, affected approximately 500,000 vehicles in the United States (~ 50,000 in California). The recall affected all 2009 to 2014 model-year diesel fueled vehicles equipped with Gen1 and Gen2 technology. This recall was claimed to have fixed among other things, the increased real world driving NOx issue.

CARB commenced confirmation testing on May 6, 2015 to determine the efficacy of the recall on both the Gen1 and Gen2 vehicles. CARB confirmatory testing was completed on a 2012 model-year Gen2 VW, test group CVWX02.0U4S, to be followed with Gen1 testing. CARB staff tested this vehicle on required certification cycles (FTP, US06 and HWFET) and over-the-road using a Portable Emission Measurement Systems (PEMS). On some certification cycles, the recall calibration resulted in the vehicle failing the NOx emissions to some degree but NOx emissions were still significantly higher than expected.

To have a more controlled evaluation of the high NOx observed over the road, CARB developed a special dynamometer cycle which consisted of driving the Phase 2 portion of the FTP repeatedly. This special cycle revealed that VW’s recall calibration did increase Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) dosing upon initial startup; however, dosing was not sufficient to keep NOx emission levels from rising throughout the cycle. This resulted in uncontrolled NOx emissions despite the SCR reaching sufficient operating temperatures.

CARB shared its test results with VW on July 8, 2015. CARB also shared its results with the EPA. Several technical meetings with VW followed where VW disclosed that Gen1, Gen2 and the 2015 model-year improved SCR vehicle (known as the Gen3) had a second calibration intended to run only during certification testing. During a meeting on September 3, 2015, VW admitted to CARB and EPA staff that these vehicles were designed and manufactured with a defeat device to bypass, defeat, or render inoperative elements of the vehicles’ emission control system. This defeat device was neither described nor justified in the certification applications submitted to EPA and CARB. Therefore, each vehicle so equipped would not be covered by a valid federal Certificate of Conformity (COC) or CARB Executive Order (EO) and would be in violation of federal and state law.

Based upon our testing and discussions with VW, CARB has determined that the previous recall did not address the high on-road NOx emissions, and also resulted in the vehicle failing certification standards. Therefore, the recall is deemed ineffective and is deemed unapproved. VW must immediately initiate discussions with CARB to determine the appropriate corrective action to recertify the emission non-compliance and return these vehicles to the claimed certified configuration. CARB program and enforcement staff is prepared to work closely with VW to find corrective actions to bring these vehicles into compliance.

CARB has also initiated an enforcement investigation of VW regarding all model-year 2009 through 2015 light-duty diesel vehicles equipped with 2.0 liter engines. We expect VW’s full cooperation in this investigation so this issue can be addressed expeditiously and appropriately.

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Wayne added the following:

This all began from an ICCT report indicating that 15 unnamed Turbo Diesel equipped cars and CUVs in Europe - 3 of them American - emitted on average about seven times higher NOx than European Euro 6 limits. This is the same group that led U.S. regulators to investigate a gap between VWs 2.0L TDIs emissions on the DYNO tests vs. on the road ones here in the U.S. in the ICCFT/WVU report above.

Real-world exhaust emissions from modern diesel cars

The Fix

The easy fix appears to be forcing the Dynamometer Testing programming to all other driving scenarios with the older EA189 2.0L TDI engines. With this change, owners “may experience a slight power loss and an increase in DEF consumption for SCR equipped TDIs. In the case of Lean NOx Trap (LNT) equipped VW TDIs, heavier EGR will introduce some drivability issues and consumers may experience more regenerations resulting in a measureable decrease in real world fuel consumption. This outcome remains to be seen however.

For the newer 2015 and 2016 EA288 2.0L TDI engines, removal of the SW switch code may be all that is necessary since it does not switch to anything anyway.

As of now, VW is cooperating with the investigation but was unable to add any additional detail until they themselves have come up with a remedy.

The Fallout

Consumer Reports pulled their Recommended Ratings on all Jetta and Passat TDIs they have tested and rated as such. They will not reinstate the Recommended Rating for either until they can retest them with properly operating emissions systems.

Thousands of 2016 VW TDIs are being held back until a proper fix has been initiated although all 2015 and 2016 TDIs with the EA288 may already be emissions compliant. See the update below.

With one recall being initiated unsuccessful, the next one will receive far more scrutiny from the Government agencies.

Other OEMs selling turbo diesel passenger cars using the same Bosch EDC17 ECU – all of them in North America – will be looking into their own EPA compliance as necessary.

The fines could reach as high as those levied against BP/TransOcean/Halliburton for the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill placing VW as an entity at risk of immediate bankruptcy. Considering the hundreds of deaths caused by faulty ignition switches in GM models and the subsequent $900 million fine, I would expect something more akin to that ruling vs. the maximum extent of the law, bury the Corporation at all costs type of a levy. NOx emissions between 5 and 35 times the legal limit from older TDIs is terrible but nobody was killed or injured that we know of because of it.

These levels of civil penalties could bankrupt the largest automotive company in the world if enforced to the full extent of the law as written within the Clean Air Act. Very doubtful the civil penalties will reach this level.

The non-compliance findings are moving to Europe… The U.S. EPAs Tier II/Bin5 maximum NOx emissions at 50,000 miles and through 120,000 miles is 0.031 and 0.043 g/km respectively. In Europe, the latest Euro6 regs are set at 0.080 g/km. Even with lower NOx emissions specs, the same Bosch ECU programming could be in force there and at 5 to 35 times beyond the EPA limits, the same problem has been confirmed in Europe.

VW has pulled all of their YouTube TDI adverts and will probably be removing all of their very popular and recent Clean Diesel advertising featuring older woman going for a test drive in VW TDIs from American airwaves soon.

The EPA did not require VW to initiate an immediate recall on the 2009 – 2015 VW TDIs as there is no remedy yet. VW initiated a stop sale ale decree for 2015s on sale at VW dealerships nationwide despite them being emissions complaint. See below.

If saving fuel for yourself or as a country is still a goal, a modern turbo diesels efficiency and usable low RPM torque build is still offered with any of the VW and Audi products in question. With the allegations as laid out and no remedies as of yet, it may be some time before Clean Diesel rises to the level it was known for just a day ago.

Addendum(s)

Saturday September 19, 2015 - Earlier today, VW issued the following statement:

I spoke with 2 VW Dealership Groups from the East and West Coast this morning asking if a Stop Sale order was issued. Neither had received such an order at the time. Later that same day, the Detroit Free Press reported that Volkswagen issued a Stop Sale Order for all remaining 2015 VW TDI models.

VW to U.S. dealers: Halt sales of some '15 diesel cars.

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Sunday September 20, 2015 - This morning CEO of Volkswagen AG, Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn issued the following statement:

Consumer Reports How it was done - Volkswagen Emissions Cheat Exploited 'Test Mode'

Every car since 2009 has an ECU with a Dyno Test-Mode built in it. VW exploited the Dyno-Test mode tune for the EPA Test Cycles and used a completely different MAP when not on the test cycle.

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Monday, September 21, 2015 - Possibly only VWs EA189 TDIs are affected and 2015 and 2016 EA288 2.0L TDIs are Emissions Complaint with a hitch.

Volkswagen of America CEO Michael Horn: TDI EPA/CARB Emissions Speech.

This was not just a 2016 Volkswagen Passat reveal. VW U.S. President and CEO, Michael Horn, was on hand to provide a very public statement regarding the EPA/CARB emissions issue:

On the same day, the CEO of Volkswagen AG, Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn released the following video statement:

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Wednesday September 23, 2015 - This morning former CEO of Volkswagen AG, Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn issued the following statement regarding his resignation:

Concurrently, the Executive Committee of Volkswagen AGs Supervisory Board issued the following statement including 9 key points currently in process and to be worked through over the near term:

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Friday September 25th, 2015 - Statement by ARB regarding enhanced testing of modern light-duty diesel engines

That same afternoon Volkswagen AG named Matthias Müller as their new CEO. This was decided by the Supervisory Board at its meeting in Wolfsburg today (Friday). Müller is currently Chairman of Porsche AG in Stuttgart. He will continue in this function until a successor has been found.

Matthias Müller: "My most urgent task is to win back trust for the Volkswagen Group – by leaving no stone unturned and with maximum transparency, as well as drawing the right conclusions from the current situation. Under my leadership, Volkswagen will do everything it can to develop and implement the most stringent compliance and governance standards in our industry. If we manage to achieve that then the Volkswagen Group with its innovative strength, its strong brands and above all its competent and highly motivated team has the opportunity to emerge from this crisis stronger than before."

Müller has been Chairman of the Executive Board of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG and a member of the Executive Board of Porsche Automobil Holding SE since 2010. In his function as Chairman of the Executive Board of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Müller was appointed member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG effective March 1, 2015.

Matthias Müller's current contract as a Board member of Volkswagen AG will continue to apply in his new function as CEO. This contract runs until the end of February 2020. Matthias Müller succeeds Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, who offered his resignation on Wednesday.

In addition, the company announced a major restructuring, initiating the investigation and they are working on a solution as fast as possible.

• Volkswagen AG announced a major restructuring.
• Volkswagen AG released details on the beginning of the investigation.
• Volkswagen AG released that they are working on a solution as fast as possible.

Bosch distances itself from the VW NOx emissions debacle

BMW Speaks On Its Own Behalf Regarding Emissions Compliant Turbo Diesels

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Sunday September 27th, 2015 - VW launches the VW Diesel Info site to keep customers and those interested updated with information regarding affected TDI vehicles.

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Tuesday September 29, 2015 - VW announces plans to fix older European TDIs very shortly.

New VW CEO of North American Region announced.

Dr. Winfried Vahland Appointed as President and CEO of Volkswagen of North America

As part of decentralization of its company activities, Volkswagen Group is strengthening the North American region and is combining its activities in the USA, Mexico and Canada into the newly formed North American Region (NAR). The Supervisory Board has appointed Prof. Dr. Winfried Vahland to take over all responsibility for the North American Region. In this role as President and CEO of Volkswagen NAR, Prof. Dr. Winfried Vahland will be responsible for all Group activities in the newly formed region from November 1, 2015.

With the creation of the new North American Region (NAR), on top of the existing structure of the markets, Volkswagen Group is strengthening its activities in the USA, Mexico and Canada. The step is a further measure in the process of decentralizing managerial responsibility, and it creates another strong pillar in the global structure of the group, in addition to the European and Chinese regions. The aim among other things is to have the ability to react better to customer demands and tastes in the future; closer proximity to the markets and their customers will enable this. Having recently led the Chinese region and the ŠKODA brand to success in his roles as Group CEO for China and ŠKODA CEO, Winfried Vahland is one of the group’s best managers to take responsibility for the new region. As NAR President, he will be a member of the Volkswagen Passenger Car brand’s Board of Management. He will take over his new NAR role on November 1, 2015. The exact structure of the NAR is currently being developed.

Apparently current VW of America (VWoA) CEO Michael Horn is out.

Prof. Dr. Winfried Vahland graduated from the Technical University Darmstadt with a major in Mechanical Engineering and Economics, and began his professional career with GM in 1984. He joined Audi AG in 1990 and Volkswagen AG in 1993. From 1997, he was Vice President for Volkswagen in Brazil. He was appointed Member of ŠKODA AUTO’s Board of Management in 2002, and became Vice Chairman one year later. In 2005, he assumed the position of President and CEO of Volkswagen Group in China. More recently, since 2010, he has been responsible for the brand’s new direction as CEO of ŠKODA AUTO.

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Wednesday September 30th, 2015 - Green Car Journal Rescinds 2009 and 2010 Green Car of the Year awards for the Jetta TDI and Audi A3 TDI

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Thursday October 1, 2015 – Executive Committee of VW AG’s Supervisory Board - More musical chairs on the VW AG board.

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Friday, October 2, 2015 – Diesel emissions: Individual customer information for Germans on Audi website

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Monday October 5th, 2015 - VW, Audi Excluded From 10 Best Engines Testing

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Tuesday October 6th, 2015 - VW Group CEO Addresses Wolfsburg Employees: "We will overcome this crisis."

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Wednesday October 7th, 2015 - Volkswagen Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG Statement

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Thursday October 8, 2015 - VWoA testimony before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

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VW to Return 10 Best Awards for Controversial 2.0L TDI

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Friday October 9, 2015 - 2013 Passat and 2015 Golf TDI 48-State Guinness World Records Stand!

Guinness World Records Adjudicator Philip Robertson certifying the 2015 VW Golf TDIs final tank detail and 81.2 MPG overall result.

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Monday October 13, 2015 - VW Refocuses on Electric

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Wednesday October 14th, 2015 - Former ŠKODA CEO Promoted to CEO VW North America Region Role Quits Before Taking the Reigns

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Thursday October 15, 2015 - German Transportation Authorities Force a VW Recall Timetable

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Friday October 23, 2015 - Volkswagen confirms that the EA288 engines designed for EU5 and EU6 are not affected

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Wednesday October 28th, 2015 - Matthias Müller unveils next steps for the Volkswagen Group

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Thursday October 29th, 2015 - Testimony of Christian Koch, President and CEO of VW Group of America Chattanooga Operations before the Tennessee Senate Committee on Finance, Ways and Means Appropriations Subcommitte

VW Chattanooga Manufacturing Facility

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Monday November 2, 2015 - EPA, California Notify Volkswagen of Additional Clean Air Act Violations

VW AG (Corporate in Germany) issued the following in response to the EPA letter regarding 3.0L TDIs linked above.

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Tuesday November 3rd, 2015 - VW Statement Regarding Internal investigations to identify irregularities in CO2 emisisons level testing

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Monday, November 9, 2015 - VW Provides $1,000 worth of "Goodwill" Prepaid Visa Cards to affected 2009 - 2015 TDI Owners

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Wednesday November 18, 2015 - Dr. Michael Steiner Becomes VW Group Compliance Commissioner

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Friday November 20, 2015 - Volkswagen submits recall plan for 2.0L diesel cars to California Air Resources Board

Statement from CARB on defeat devices on 3L VW, Audi diesel engines

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Wednesday November 25th, 2015 - VW TDI Fixes for the Pre SCR EA189 "European" Turbo Diesel engines affected were presented to the German Federal Motor Transport Authority

​

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Wednesday December 16th, 2015 - VW Lays out Fix schedule for European TDI owners

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Thursday December 17th, 2015 - VW Hires U.S. Attorney Group to Handle U.S. Claims Administration

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Friday, December 18, 2015 - CARB - VW Fix Decision moved back to January, 14th, 2016

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Monday, January 4th, 2016 - U.S. EPA Files the Lawsuit against VW

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Tuesday, January 12, 2016 - Air Resources Board rejects VW 2-liter diesel recall plan and issues Notice of Violation

VW 2.0L TD rejection letter detail

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Tuesday, February 2, 2016 - VW European Emissions Control Repair implementation begins

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Wednesday, March 2, 2016 - Volkswagen considers shareholder lawsuit to be without merit

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Tuesday, March 8, 2016 - Works meeting at the main plant in Wolfsburg: "Safeguarding the future of Volkswagen together"

VW's labor chief says big U.S. fines will hit workers' jobs

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Tuesday, March 9, 2016 - Volkswagen Group of America (VWoA) President and CEO Departs Effective Immediately

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Tuesday, March 29, 2016 - FTC Charges Volkswagen Deceived Consumers with Its “Clean Diesel” Campaign

Seeks Compensation for Those Who Bought or Leased Affected VW and Audi Vehicles over Seven-Year Period

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Thursday April 21, 2016 - VW reaches a basic agreement framework with U.S. Regualtory and Legal agencies

Only an announcement with the details still to be divulged.

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Friday April 22, 2016 - VW AG Status of the investigation

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Thursday April 28, 2016 - Volkswagen starts recall of the first Golf models in Europe

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Friday May 20, 2016 - Volkswagen European Commercial Vehicles launches retrofitting solution for Caddy 1.6 TDI models

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Tuesday May 24, 2016 - Latest VW Statement Regarding Diesel Status in the U.S.

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Friday June 3, 2016 - German VW Passat, CC and Eos models with 2.0L TDI EA 189 engines receive retrofit notices

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Wednesday June 8, 2016 - VW has been given the go-ahead for the modification of an additonal 1.1 million TDI equipped vehicles.

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Monday June 20, 2016 - German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority begin probe into former VW CEO Martin Winterkorn and another Executive for possible negative notification violations.

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Tuesday June 28, 2016 - VW Settles with Regulators, States and Consumers for Emissions Dilemma

A 2016 VW Passat crossing a bridge in Vermont earlier this year. The Company has now crossed a bridge as well.​

There was “some” closure this morning to the largest automotive manufacturer deceit case in history with a fine that was also larger than any ever placed on any automotive manufacturer in history. Repair/fixes were not announced and claims from investors, individual consumers and VWs own US dealerships that are suing outside of the Federal court jurisdiction are not included in today’s release.

VW AG along with the DOJ, FTC, EPA and CARB announced today that VW has reached settlement agreements with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the State of California; the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC); and private plaintiffs represented by the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee (PSC) to resolve civil claims regarding eligible Volkswagen and Audi 2.0L TDI diesel engine vehicles in the U.S.

Of the approximately 499,000 2.0L TDL vehicles that were produced for sale in the U.S., approximately 460,000 VWs and 15,000 Audi’s that are still on the road will be eligible for buybacks and lease terminations or emissions modifications, if approved by regulators. VW will establish a maximum funding pool for the 2.0L TDI settlement program of $10.033 billion. That amount assumes 100% participation and that 100% of eligible customers choose a buyback or lease termination.

The agreements covering the proposed 2.0L TDI settlement program are subject to the approval of Judge Charles R. Breyer of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, who presides over the federal Multi-District Litigation (MDL) proceedings related to the diesel matter.

Volkswagen also announced that it has agreed with the attorneys general of 44 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to resolve existing and potential state consumer protection claims related to the diesel matter for a total settlement amount of approximately $603 million... read more

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Tuesday July 26, 2016 - VW Announces Preliminary Approval of 2.0L TDI Settlement Program in the U.S.

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Sunday August 14, 2016 - VW in Europe Receives Approval for 1.2L EA189 TDI Engine Fix

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Thursday August 25, 2016 - VW and VW Branded Franchise Dealers in the U.S. Reach Agreement to Resolve Diesel Litigation

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Friday September 30, 2016 - VW Resolves Claims with its Dealers in the U.S.

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Tuesday October 25th, 2016 - VW Obtains Final Approval Of 2.0L TDI Settlement Program In The U.S.

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Monday, December 19th, 2016 - Canadian TDI owner Settlement has been Determined

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Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016 - VW Reaches Agreement with U.S. Environmental Regulators to Resolve Civil Claims Related to 3.0L TDI V6 Turbo Diesel Engine Vehicles In The U.S

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Wednesday Feb. 1, 2017 - VW Reaches Settlement Agreements with Private Plaintiffs and (FTC) On 3.0L TDI V6 Vehicles In The U.S.

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Wednesday Feb. 1, 2017 - Bosch reaches settlement agreement for diesel vehicles in the U.S.

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Thursday February 23, 2017 - VW Europe making good progress in its TDI retrofit campaign

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Wednesday, May 17, 2017 - Volkswagen Obtains Final Approval of 3.0L TDI V6 Settlement In the U.S.

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Thursday May 18, 2017 - Bosch obtains final approval of diesel vehicle settlement program in the U.S.

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Monday Oct 23, 2017 - VW Gen 2.1 and 2.2 3.0L TDI Fix receives EPA/CARB Regulatory Approval

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Re: EPA Coming down on VW group for Illegal Disesels softwear.

I checked the date and it isn't April Fools, which is the only way I can explain this story. What on earth would compel VW to intentionally degrade emissions system performance except during a test? The only obvious explanation is that keeping emissions in compliance excessively degrades driving performance. The puzzling thing about that is that VW switched NOx emissions systems in 2010, didn't they? So why would a problem like this bridge that changeover? I don't get it.

 

Re: EPA Coming down on VW group for Illegal Disesels softwear.

The American CEO should do jail time , like 30 days

 

Re: EPA Coming down on VW group for Illegal Disesels softwear.

I say jail time because a fine means nothing anymore , and 30 days would be more then long enough

I work in some jails and a couple of hours in there is long enough for me

 

Re: EPA Coming down on VW group for Illegal Disesels softwear.

I don't believe it.

 

Re: EPA Coming down on VW group for Illegal Disesels softwear.

That's pretty damning. I can only reiterate that I can't begin to imagine what they must have been thinking.

 

Re: EPA Coming down on VW group for Illegal Disesels softwear.

I wouldn't mind knowing more about this if you have information. I went searching for info on "dyno mode" and everything I found referred to a special ABS/TCS/VCS/etc. defeat mode so that a vehicle can function normally while running on a dynamometer with the non-drive wheels stationary. (Otherwise the stability and traction control would freak out and cut engine power to control what the vehicle thinks is wheel spin.) That makes complete sense to me. However there is no legitimate explanation I can think of why that would impact the emissions system in any way. Are you talking about something else?

Agreed that the $1.8B fine isn't going to happen....too far-fetched. I think the real damage will depend on how this impacts owners of affected vehicles. If VW can fix it with a few hours in the shop and no drama then this should be a faint memory in a couple of years. I won't speculate on the alternative but if there are impacts all bets are off. We're just going to have to wait and see.

Last issue: What does this mean for incoming 2016 cars? The EPA's notice of non-compliance[PDF] mentions witholding the certificate of compliance for 2016s but it isn't clear if VW's admission resolves that issue or if it remains witheld. I know my MIL will be interested since her new Sportwagen is already overdue.

 

Re: EPA Coming down on VW group for Illegal Disesels softwear.

This is a huge black eye for VW / Audi. I hope they own up to it and take the blame as gracefully as they can.

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1100101_vw-audi-tdi-diesel-cars-had-defeat-device-that-violated-epa-rules-500k-cars-recalled-breaking

 

Re: EPA Coming down on VW group for Illegal Disesels softwear.

There has to be a conspiracy behind this. Why would the largest manufacture of automobiles in the world do something like this deliberately ? Just because we read it on the Internet doesn't mean it is true.

 

Re: EPA Coming down on VW group for Illegal Disesels softwear.

Well with conspiracy theorists there's no use in trying to prove or change minds otherwise. I'm withholding judgement till more info filters out, but I fear this could rank with the 70s/80s Olds-GM debacle in terms of damaging the reputation of diesel tech in the US market. For reasons in addition to this news, I'm not optimistic about ever having the opportunity to own a non-VW diesel car.

 

Re: EPA Coming down on VW group for Illegal Disesels softwear.

Who uncovered this scam?-CA??
When was it uncovered?-2015??
Exactly what was the upside? slightly better real world hy mpg with controls "off"?? that it??

Wow
Just Wow
Occasionally I tend to "see" conspiracies
But it is always the same conspiracy
Big Money skimming cream off every transaction-
screwing the middle class
sourcing crummy products-poisonous-from China so they can buy the jet or 10,000,000 apt in NYNY

Always "The love of money root of all evil" stuff
Wrong of course ISIS for example-isn't about $$-

But in general-GREED-is a powerful motive

Still sooooo damn dumb??
Krauts are many things-but DUMB doesn't come to mind


Arrogance-yeah that is a German shortcoming(WW2- 2 front war- pure arrogance)
They really thought they were sooooo clever that the stupid USA-E-INS
wouldn't tumble to this scam???

Who actually discovered this scam??
CA ??
Took 6 years??

And the upside was??
1) slightly better real world mpg
2) slightly less urea used??
I am really unclear on EXACTLY what the upside is??
It didn't improve EPA numbers-right?
It did improve REAL WORLD mpg-right??

Hard to believe they took such a HUGE risk for a few more mpg-not EPA mpg-just hy mpg?