Owning a vehicle with keyless entry is often a convenience: Forget your key? Just enter a code. But for the owners of more than 100 million Volkswagen vehicles, that convenience has been turned into a doorway for hackers. [More]
volkswagen
Government Warns VW Sellers: Don’t Mislead Diesel Owners About Buyback Program
By 8.9.16
As part of a $15 billion settlement with the federal government, Volkswagen agreed to buy back hundreds of thousands of vehicles equipped with emissions-cheating “defeat devices.” While the lure of receiving more than the current value of their vehicle is presumably high for customers who feel duped by VW, federal regulators want to ensure these consumers receive what they’re entitled to through the settlement. [More]
Report: More Volkswagen, Audi Vehicles May Have Emissions Cheating Software
By 8.8.16
Volkswagen may be poised to start putting that whole emission-cheating “defeat device” business behind it with a $15 billion agreement, but a new report suggests the carmaker may have other skeletons under its hood. [More]
Even Fixed VW Diesels Might Emit More Pollutants Than Law Allows
By 7.19.16
As part of its $15 billion settlement package to begin resolving its use of so-called “defeat devices” in 500,000 diesel-engine vehicles in the U.S. to skirt emission standards, Volkswagen has agreed to pay $2.7 million to establish a fund to reduce nitrogen oxide in any area of the U.S. were VW’s emissions-cheating vehicles were located. But it turns out those funds aren’t just for past emissions, they’re also for future ones. [More]
Volkswagen May Compensate Dealers Over Diesel Emissions Scandal
By 7.18.16
Last month, Volkswagen agreed to compensate owners of more than 500,000 vehicles equipped with “defeat devices” used to skirt emission standards. Now, the carmaker is reportedly promising to also make it up to dealers affected by the scandal through an unspecified restitution plan. [More]
California Rejects VW’s Plan To Fix Emissions Cheating 3.0L Diesel Vehicles
By 7.14.16
It’s back to the drawing board for Volkswagen when it comes to finding an adequate fix for thousands of vehicles equipped with emissions cheating defeat devices in California, as state regulators rejected the carmaker’s remedy proposal. [More]
Volkswagen’s Emissions Scandal Tab Just Grew By $86M
By 7.7.16
Last week, Volkswagen agreed to pay at least $15 billion to settle federal allegations that it used so-called “defeat devices” in nearly 500,000 diesel-engine vehicles in the U.S. to skirt emissions standards behind it. While the settlement is a first step for VW, the second step came this week when the carmaker agreed to pay an additional $86 million to settle similar charges in California. [More]
Volkswagen To Pay At Least $15B To Settle Federal Allegations In Dirty Diesel Scandal
By 6.28.16
Nine months after the Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board revealed that Volkswagen had used so-called “defeat devices” in nearly 500,000 diesel-engine vehicles in the U.S. to skirt emissions standards, the carmaker has finally reached a partial settlement package with the agencies, along with the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Comission, to the tune of $15 billion. [More]
Report: VW To Pay $10.2B To Settle Emissions Issues
By 6.23.16
It doesn’t pay to cheat. That’s the lesson Volkswagen will likely learn next Tuesday, when the (extended) deadline expires for filing a final settlement agreement to resolve its use of emissions-cheating “defeat devices” in more than 500,000 vehicles in the U.S. According to one report, VW’s “clean diesel” debacle will cost the carmaker $10.2 billion. [More]
VW Focusing On New Electric Car Offerings To Make Up For Emissions Scandal
By 6.16.16
After admitting to equipping more than 11 million vehicles worldwide — around 500,000 in the U.S. — with illegal “defeat devices” designed to cheat emissions standards, Volkswagen is trying to undo that damage by focusing more on greener, electric vehicles. [More]
Volkswagen Gets More Time To Sort Out Buy-Back/Fix Plan For Cheating Diesels
By 6.16.16
In April, Volkswagen and federal regulators came to a proposed settlement agreement that would see the embattled carmaker offer to buy back hundreds of thousands of vehicles equipped with emissions-cheating “defeat devices.” However, that plan was still far from final, and didn’t explain how VW would actually fix these cars. The court had given the company and the government until June 21 to reach a final agreement, but now that deadline has been extended — just the latest extension for the carmaker that admitted to using emissions-cheating software in more than 11 million vehicles worldwide. [More]
Report: Carmakers Continue To Equip Vehicles With Defective Takata Airbags
By 6.1.16
Fourteen automakers have recalled nearly 40 million vehicles equipped with more than 80 million defective Takata airbags that can deploy with enough force to shoot pieces of shrapnel at drivers and passengers, leading to 10 deaths in the U.S. and hundreds of injuries. While the Japanese parts maker, federal regulators, and carmakers have worked to replace these dangerous safety devices, a new report reveals that at least four carmakers continue to equip new vehicles with affected airbags. [More]
Today In Automakers Befriending Ride-Sharing Apps: Toyota Investing In Uber, VW Teaming Up With Gett
By 5.25.16
What’s an automaker to do when it wants to get into the ride-sharing game, and make some money off people who might not ever buy a car but will definitely ride in one, without starting from scratch? Grab a buddy, of course: Toyota is plunking money into Uber and Volkwswagen says it’s teaming up with Gett. [More]
VW’s Emissions-Cheating Scandal Could Cost Carmaker More Than $18B
By 4.28.16
It doesn’t pay to cheat. That’s the moral of Volkswagen’s ongoing emissions-cheating scandal after the carmaker announced Thursday that its tab for fixing vehicles, compensating owners, and paying fines to federal regulators in the U.S. could exceed the $18 billion previously earmarked to address the scandal. [More]
VW Exec Created A Power Point Presentation On How To Cheat Emissions Tests In 2006
By 4.27.16
Back in September, shortly after Volkswagen admitted it had equipped 11 million vehicles worldwide with “defeat devices” in order to evade emissions tests, an internal investigation found that some employees of the carmaker knew of the illegal software in 2011. But, according to a new report, at least one person with the company knew how to cheat emissions tests in 2006, and that person allegedly created a study guide of sorts to share his information. [More]
Daimler Reviewing U.S. Emissions Certification Process
By 4.22.16
Shortly after it was revealed that Volkswagen equipped 11 million diesel-engine vehicles worldwide with emissions-cheating “defeat devices,” rumors began swirling that similar irregularities were present in Daimler vehicles. While the carmaker hasn’t been accused of wrongdoing by regulators, it announced today that it would review its emissions certification process and investigate possibly issues. [More]
Volkswagen Offers To Buy Back Emissions-Cheating “Clean Diesel” Cars
By 4.21.16
Owners of one of Volkswagen’s 500,000 diesel vehicles equipped with “defeat devices” designed to cheat emission standards will have two options when it comes to fixing their vehicles: allow the carmaker to buy it back or have it modified to meet emissions standards. [More]
Would $5,000 Make You Forget That Your VW Car Exceeds Emission Standards?
By 4.20.16
With only one day to go before Volkswagen is supposed to present a workable fix for more than 500,000 diesel vehicles equipped with “defeat devices” designed to cheat emission standards, the carmaker has reportedly reached a deal with U.S. regulators that includes the company paying billions of dollars to compensate owners. [More]
