WV loses 20% ($18 bn) of its value after EPA claims they falsified emissions data, and could face up to another $18 bn in fines.
Volkswagen shares tumbled more than 20 percent on Monday, their biggest ever one-day fall, as the German carmaker was plunged into turmoil by accusations from U.S. authorities that it falsified emissions data.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Friday Europe’s biggest carmaker used software for diesel VW and Audi branded cars that deceived regulators measuring toxic emissions and could face up to $18 billion in penalties.
It’s just time, money and software to do it. Problem is, epa had started cracking down on it. Aftermarket is moving toward smaller individuals writing tunes over big outfits to be low observable.
Ford did the same thing with the powerstroke for a while. That’s why the 6.0 was rushed to market in the truck segment. Policy was CMFM.
ive got one of the cars in question. Im not even pissed about the emissions because from what I understand from reading on the VW TDI forums our cars(even with this increase in NOx emissions) only produce something like .01% of all NOx emitted into the atmosphere. Highway vehicles produce like 5% of the total NOx, farming emits about 80% and factories and what not emit the rest. Of the 5% our cars are less than 1% of that number(and most likely quite a bit lower than even that). Im not even really pissed at VW for gaming the system. I dont have a real high regard for the EPA either.
What I am pissed about are the proposed fixes could decrease fuel mileage by something like 20%, increase DEF usage by 300%(currently at 1% of fuel usage, but industry standard is around 3%) and could decrease the life of the emissions equipment(DPF-diesel particulate filter, SCR-catalytic converter basically, EGR system). I dont think VW has tested the emissions system on the car to constantly run at 100% so no way they know what the life span of that stuff could be and that stuff is $$$$ when it needs to be replaced.
I’m not rushing out to sell my car or do anything drastic. I will see what VW comes up with and most likely disregard it if its a computer flash. If its a buy back because they cant make the system work reliably 100% of the time, well I guess ill go car shopping.
Listening to a radio show, the fines the EPA are proposing might cause VW to shut down the Chattanooga plant. One listener did some math and the fine was broken down to be a few thousand dollars more than the original price of cars VW has sold.
Interesting that this is happening not long after the Chattanooga plant decided not to unionize.
They will NEVER pay that much in fines. The other instances of this happening(and I dont know how many vehicles were included in the previous cases of this happening) the fines were both under 1 billion. It was Ford and somebody else who got caught doing this in the past.
And as far as the Chattanooga plant not unionizing, VW corporate WANTED the plant to unionize if I remember correctly.
oh im with you. I think there is possibly more conspiracy here than anything else.
Im wondering IF the EPA looks into ALL car manufacturers(not just VW and not just diesel) that they will find that EVERY car has this little trick in it.
well these VW TDI’s are a bit of a different animal, especially with all the crazy emissions stuff thats on them. I think right now there is only 1 or 2 people tuning these newer VW TDI motors because of how complex they are. Its not a Subaru where a re-flash and a catless down pipe give you almost 100hp.
This is sad because the only VWs worth owning were the TDI models. The others are just too unreliable and their parts prices rival BMW and other luxury car parts prices (in my experiences).
If it is your daily driver, you do not NEED to re-flash your turbo VW or any car. I have ran several turbo Volvos and Saabs and none got re-flashed. I have never had to replace a turbo on a Volvo or Saab, either and many of those cars went well over 200k miles.
The govt is probably picking on VW for not allowing the UAW in their TN plant. Just like they picked on Toyota and in the end…nobody in their test lab could make the Camrys do what they said was causing the problems.
Doing some reading they might have a legal out if they take it to court. The way the law is worded, technically vehicles only have to meet emissions at the time they’re tested, which the VWs do…
So GM kills people with faulty ignition switches, then covers it up, then only gets a $35m fine. VW has software that runs a test protocol for emissions testing and potentially has an $18B fine, even though the emissions levels are still in what is considered a “clean” range? Hmm, I guess you have to know how to play the game to have some “fairness”:
