F.U. Volkswagen!

[dales]

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/ ... s-epa-says

Talaie/Getty Images


Volkswagen Jetta models — like this TDI from 2011 labeled "clean diesel" — were found to have software that cheated official emissions tests, the EPA says. More than 480,000 cars are affected.






Updated at 2 p.m. ET

The Environmental Protection Agency says Volkswagen intentionally violated the Clean Air Act by using sophisticated software in its diesel-powered cars that detects emissions testing — and "turns full emissions controls on only during the test."

Installed in four-cylinder cars, the software, which the EPA calls a "defeat device" that's meant to trick official tests, allowed diesel Jettas, Beetles and other cars to "emit up to 40 times more pollution" "than allowed under U.S. emission standards.

After the automaker was confronted with emission test results this month, the agency says, it admitted that the vehicles contain defeat devices.

Volkswagen must now fix the emissions control systems, the agency says, adding that the automaker could be liable for civil penalties and other punishment. The cars in question are popular Volkswagen and Audi models that were made from 2009 to this year.

The affected four-cylinder, diesel cars include:

• Jetta (model years 2009–2015)
• Beetle (model years 2009–2015)
• Audi A3 (model years 2009–2015)
• Golf (model years 2009–2015)
• Passat (model years 2014-2015)

"Using a defeat device in cars to evade clean air standards is illegal and a threat to public health," said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.

The news that the Volkswagens produce far more pollution than is legal is sure to rattle some VW owners who bought their cars at least in part because of their perceived impact on the environment.

The U.S. government also has reason to feel duped: Volkswagen's "clean diesel" TDI engines earned a $1,300 federal tax credit for people who purchased a Jetta sedan or wagon back in 2009, the first year affected by the recall.

When applied to a base price of around $22,000, the hefty tax credit helped explain why the TDI vehicles were hard to keep in stock.

The cars were first found to produce too much nitrogen oxides, or NOx, by researchers at West Virginia University who were working with the International Council on Clean Transportation, the EPA says. After the WVU analysis found irregular NOx levels in diesel Volkswagens, the EPA and the California Air Resources Board took up their own study.

As for drivers of the cars, the EPA says, "these violations do not present a safety hazard and the cars remain legal to drive and resell."

The agency adds, "Owners of cars of these models and years do not need to take any action at this time."

[dales]

[dales]

Volkswagen Tells Dealers To Halt Sales Of New TDI Cars Amid Diesel Cheating Scandal

Following the government investigation of Volkswagen’s diesel emissions, The Detroit News reports the automaker ordered its U.S. dealerships to halt sales of new 2016 and remaining 2015 TDI car models with 2.0-liter diesel engines.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board, VW dodged federal emissions requirements for some 482,000 of its diesel cars — including the Passat, Jetta, Golf, Beetle, SportWagens and Audi A3 — manufactured from 2009 to 2015. The models contain a “defeat device” which exists to detect when the car is under testing conditions, allowing for it to activate the full emissions-control systems only in those circumstances.

In other words, environmental officials say that the street cars are emitting between 10 and 40 times the amount of allowable nitrogen oxide pollution, which is not only illegal but harmful to both the environment and public.

The EPA is taking action on 2016 diesel models. Christopher Grundler, director of the EPA Office of Transportation of Air Quality, said that the government will not grant VW a “certificate of conformity” to sell the 2016 models with 2.0-liter diesel engines, meaning they cannot be sold.


VW dealers have been waiting for the 2016 models to replenish showrooms. Most U.S. VW dealers don’t have any remaining 2015 diesel cars to sell.

VW is barred from selling 2016 model vehicles with the 2.0 liter diesel engine until “they get answers to the questions of how these vehicles are being operated. Volkswagen couldn’t explain why we’re getting these excess emissions,” Grundler said.[because you knowingly installed a device to defeat the EPA Emissions Testing of you unrepentant dope!

Meanwhile, whatever 2015 models remain on lots have also been ordered not to be sold. As Automotive News notes, four-cylinder TDI models account for 20 to 25 percent of VW’s U.S. sales, so this is going to hurt.

In addition, VW has ordered an outside investigation to find out what happened and “reverse the damage this has caused,” CEO Martin Winterkorn said in an apologetic statement.

According to the EPA, the agency is now checking to see if other automakers are bypassing the laws on diesel engines as well.

While no official recall is underway just yet, the News reports:


EPA said VW violated federal law and, in theory, could face fines of up to $18 billion — $37,500 per vehicle — as well as criminal prosecution. Both agencies issued notices of non-compliance to VW Friday, a step necessary before ordering a recall.

The EPA will not take action to stop VW owners from driving their personal cars until a solution is made available, but VW did remove its “clean diesel” advertisements from YouTube and television.

[Joe Guy]

Jene Korrupten Deutsch Ingenieur Arschlöchers!!

[dales]

Kraft durch Freude Wagen

[Joe Guy]

Kraft Dressing Roquefort!

[dales]

[oldr_n_wsr]

I have been wondering when something like this would happen. I didn't a manufacturer would be the one to do it.

Back when EPA shit first starting being tested for, the gearheads would undo the "modifications" they did to their cars just to pass inspection, then put back all the cool, horse power producing mods. Back then it was labor intensive, now it's just a piece of software.

I remember a guy in sales who had a BMW and had a "performance" PROM that he needed copying. I copied it for him but he had to put the original PROM back in the car when he went for inspection.

[dales]

Now it seems that Obama's "Cash for Clunkers" Program factors into this fustercluck!

Report: Taxpayers Paid $20.7 Million For ‘Clunker’ Volkswagen Diesels

By Aaron Cole on September 25, 2015



Far more drivers signed up for the "cash for clunkers" program than anyone thought, overwhelming showrooms, blowing through the initial $1 billion set aside by Congress and leaving dealers panicked over when or if the government would make good on the hefty rebates." (AP Photo/The Saginaw News, Chris Fryer)

Justin Hyde at Yahoo Autos has fine, fine reporting that U.S. taxpayers paid more than $20 million in incentives for Volkswagen diesel models under the “Cash for Clunkers” program.

According to the report, 4,599 VW Jetta and Jetta Sportwagen diesel cars qualified for the maximum $4,500 incentive under the program. Those cars were equipped with a 2-liter turbocharged diesel engine that the Environmental Protection Agency said used an illegal defeat device to cheat emissions.

The Yahoo report follows a report by the L.A. Times that shows that more than $51 million was paid to Volkswagen by the U.S. for now-bogus “green” claims.

The 2009 “Cash for Clunkers” program, which offered $3 billion in incentives for new, more fuel-efficient cars, has consistently been under fire as critics have attacked the program’s efficacy and necessity to pull the economy out of its recession.

If substantiated, Volkswagen could be on the hook for some, all or more of that $70 million in total incentives because it’s clear that the feds are really mad this time.

Yeah, they were "really mad" at GM for it's ignition switch fiasco which resulted in people actually dying. GM got a measly slap on the wrist a very small fine with not one of the conspirators facing any jail time.

[oldr_n_wsr]

Yeah, they were "really mad" at GM for it's ignition switch fiasco which resulted in people actually dying. GM got a measly slap on the wrist a very small fine with not one of the conspirators facing any jail time.

Didn't the gov have some kind of controlling interest in GM at the time?

[Crackpot]

Not really but the govt did know about the problem for all those years.

[Guinevere]

Someone should sue those dirty bastards at Volkswagen......

[Sue U]

Don't worry, someone has.