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Exactly. The most devastating part of all of this for me (a US citizen) is that the German CEO resigns in disgrace and there are ongoing criminal investigations

by nmrm2 11y ago

Exactly. The most devastating part of all of this for me (a US citizen) is that the German CEO resigns in disgrace and there are ongoing criminal investigations in Germany, but in the USA the CEO holds fast and blames engineers. It seems like the German government is more competent that the US at enforcing laws against corporations, even when those laws are USA laws... *EDIT: This comment is poorly worded. What I mean to say is, Germany is doing a better job at holding PEOPLE AT THE TOP responsible, whereas the USA is predictably allowing CxOs to plead ignorance and hide behind the corporate veil. Meanwhile in Germany, http://www.wsj.com/articles/german-prosecutors-open-investigation-into-former-volkswagen-ceo-martin-winterkorn-1443439708 http://www.wsj.com/articles/german-prosecutors-open-investig...

rconti 11y ago
You realize this is the exact opposite of what the rest of the world is saying, right? Is this the first article you've read on the matter? I've been following it with great interest, and many others have expressed shame that it's the US that is catching a European company cheating, and threatening prosecution. This all happened because of the work of the West Virginia lab, plus CARB and EPA's investigation, and the EPA's refusal to issue an emissions certification to 2016 diesel VW passenger cars which has led to likely tens of thousands of un-sellable cars sitting on US dealer lots. The German government has been shown to have looked the other way repeatedly and to be complicit in fighting on behalf of the automakers instead of the environment. The European emissions and mileage tests have been shown to be an utter and complete sham. The story you're peddling is really the exact opposite of reality. Take a look around at the other stories that have been posted on HN on the matter.
- LoSboccacc 11y ago
  actually the european started this asking for help since they had the equipement for static test, but not the equipement to fool the defeating device into thinking it was actually on a road.
  - rconti 11y ago
    Good call. It wasn't European governments, and it wasn't an attempt to punish automakers for malfeasance, though. The ICCT (an NGO) that appears to be based on Europe, commissioned the West Virginia study to try to figure out how more stringent US Diesel standards were being met, so they could encourage automakers to meet the same standards in Europe. http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/foreign/2015/09/24/vw-caught/72715074/ http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/foreign/2015... "In 2013, his organization [the ICCT] commissioned a study of VW diesels by West Virginia University after questions were raised about European diesel emissions standards and whether European vehicles were emitting too much nitrogen oxides linked to smog. Testers looked at three diesel cars for the U.S. market: a 2012 VW Jetta, a 2013 VW Passat and a BMW X5. The group expected the cars they tested would perform better than those in Europe, because U.S. regulations are tougher. They were surprised the two Volkswagens had significantly higher-than-expected emissions, while the BMW performed well. They were so certain they had done something wrong that they tested the cars two more times with similar results."
rdancer 11y ago
This was an engineering problem. There may be an assumption that while there are about a dozen people in the US who work for VW in an engineering capacity, the US part of the group is in essence purely a marketing operation.

by nmrm2 11y ago

rconti 11y ago

You realize this is the exact opposite of what the rest of the world is saying, right? Is this the first article you've read on the matter? I've been following it with great interest, and many others have expressed shame that it's the US that is catching a European company cheating, and threatening prosecution. This all happened because of the work of the West Virginia lab, plus CARB and EPA's investigation, and the EPA's refusal to issue an emissions certification to 2016 diesel VW passenger cars which has led to likely tens of thousands of un-sellable cars sitting on US dealer lots. The German government has been shown to have looked the other way repeatedly and to be complicit in fighting on behalf of the automakers instead of the environment. The European emissions and mileage tests have been shown to be an utter and complete sham. The story you're peddling is really the exact opposite of reality. Take a look around at the other stories that have been posted on HN on the matter.

LoSboccacc 11y ago
actually the european started this asking for help since they had the equipement for static test, but not the equipement to fool the defeating device into thinking it was actually on a road.
- rconti 11y ago
  Good call. It wasn't European governments, and it wasn't an attempt to punish automakers for malfeasance, though. The ICCT (an NGO) that appears to be based on Europe, commissioned the West Virginia study to try to figure out how more stringent US Diesel standards were being met, so they could encourage automakers to meet the same standards in Europe. http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/foreign/2015/09/24/vw-caught/72715074/ http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/foreign/2015... "In 2013, his organization [the ICCT] commissioned a study of VW diesels by West Virginia University after questions were raised about European diesel emissions standards and whether European vehicles were emitting too much nitrogen oxides linked to smog. Testers looked at three diesel cars for the U.S. market: a 2012 VW Jetta, a 2013 VW Passat and a BMW X5. The group expected the cars they tested would perform better than those in Europe, because U.S. regulations are tougher. They were surprised the two Volkswagens had significantly higher-than-expected emissions, while the BMW performed well. They were so certain they had done something wrong that they tested the cars two more times with similar results."

rdancer 11y ago

This was an engineering problem. There may be an assumption that while there are about a dozen people in the US who work for VW in an engineering capacity, the US part of the group is in essence purely a marketing operation.