Actually, VW is one of the least polluting offenders: http://www.theicct.org/news/press-release-vehicle-tests-show-dramatic-variation-nox-emissions-modern-diese

Actually, VW is one of the least polluting offenders: http://www.theicct.org/news/press-release-vehicle-tests-show-dramatic-variation-nox-emissions-modern-diesel-cars-new-eu http://www.theicct.org/news/press-release-vehicle-tests-show... Volvo, Renault, Hyundai, Opel and Audi are much worse, as you can see in the last graph. There's also a highly polluting Jeep at the top: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/sep/30/wide-range-of-cars-emit-more-pollution-in-real-driving-conditions-tests-show https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/sep/30/wide-ran... So this whole "let's make an example out of VW" has nothing to do with the scale of the crime.