In a recent press conference, Volkswagen AG chairman, Hans Dieter Poetsch, openly expressed that the company’s need to cheat emissions tests in the US stemmed from the country’s “impossible” regulations.
According to a report by Automotive News, Poetsch, claimed that a decision was made in 2005 to “launch a large-scale promotion” of diesel cars in the US. However, he also admitted that the company’s engineers had then found it impossible to meet the US’ tough regulations, which were even stricter than those in Europe at the time. Volkswagen’s own cost and timing targets presented an equal challenge.
“Looking back, we regrettably have to recognise that the developers involved in the EA 189 project quite simply could not find a way to meet the tougher NOx (nitrogen dioxide) limits in the United States by permissible means,” the chairman explained.
The rest, as you know, was history. Volkswagen had developed and utilised a cheating software to manoeuvre around the tough regulations. The first model to feature the device was the Jetta in 2009. Equipped with the infamous EA 189 four-cylinder diesel engine, the car entered the US market and was quickly acclaimed for its great fuel efficiency and low NOx emissions.
To date, it is believed that up to 450 internal and external investigators are involved in the ongoing case. Investigations are also underway to uncover responsible decision makers, and also those who knew about the company’s illegal activities and did nothing to report it.
Poetsch said, “we are not talking about a one-off mistake but a whole chain of mistakes that was not interrupted at any point along the timeline. We still do not know that these people involved in this issue from 2005 to the present day were fully aware of the risks they were taking and of the potential damage they could expose the company to.”
Thus far, nine key executives believed to be involved in the dieselgate saga have been suspended prior to the conclusion of the case. The Group’s former CEO, Martin Winterkorn was amongst the first to go. More recently, Audi’s Ulrich Hackenberg, the father of the MQB platform, was ousted.
Said to be “largely concluded” in Europe, Volkswagen says it will be a long time before full details of the dieselgate scandal is disclosed.
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hahahaha, VW couldn’t meet the regulation don’t sell la, all the executives think about $$$$$ only, where care about consequences.
Yea. Cheat is cheat. Why just not sell?
Like the 2.6 billion scandal. Graft is still graft.
No matter what reason you can make of.
Consumer buying want the low emission.
Volkswagen is cheating consumer, not the standard.
Feasible point, bt the others didnt cheat n u did… So no sympathy
diam la bodoh
not capable lah cakap not capable, why blame the regulation… bodoh sial
I was forced to rob a bank this morning. Because my country is in deep trouble and the government doesn’t care about nothing except corruption. I was forced!!
hahahaha… this is the worse excuse ever! “oh your laws are too stringent and ridiculous… so I am going to take it on myself to flout in”… sounds very familiar…
Lame excuse!!! Than why the hell the whole world got the cheat product?
Stop producing car if you not competent.
I like your statement! Like my puppy Ahmet Mezlan.
Come come come, I will hire you as my new pet to present on press, news, any media.
BN need you!
Silly excuse by supposedly smart pipu. just like a glorious daughter claimed she ‘unknowingly’ attended a meeting with putri invader, ‘unknowingly’ was not introduced to who she was, ‘unknowingly’ gave putri invader to hold posters of our dear leader, ‘unknowingly’ took many selfies with putri invader, ‘unknowingly’ did not know what a big deal it was, ‘unknowingly’ caused much grief for claiming its small matter & even forcibly get her party macais in Sabah to back her up, and ‘unknowingly’ hope 1Mdb can prolong enuff to cover her ass for pissing of 99% of Sabahans.
Veli smart pipu indeed.
This reason sounds very familiar we keep hearing it in Malaysia. It is always others who make you behave or react like this so how to trust you with our lives? I think VW needs to employ more dedicated and intelligent people including the very top…. stop buying VW from now onwards?
It is Proton that forced Perodua & UMW Toyota to sell cheap cars.
its not cheating if u dont get caught.
but now?
too much too late to say that u r being forced to do so.
sad case vw.
The affected cars were not just in US, but also in Europe as well. Next will be Europe forced VW to cheat too?
The same rules apply to all car manufacturers, why didn’t Toyota, BMW, Mercedes, Ford “forced” to cheat?
Liar liar pants on fire. And they claim dsg no issue. Sorhai owner will believe till their car break down.