Recently, the news has been filled with reports of a
scandal. That, in itself, is not so surprising, as it seems a scandal of some
sort likes to erupt every week or so. What is surprising, however, is the
company behind the scandal. Volkswagen, a major car company dating back 78
years, has not only been accused, but also admitted to subverting the US Environmental
Protection Agency’s emissions tests. Through use of what has been dubbed a “defeat
device,” the company’s diesel cars detect when they are being subjected to a
test and alter their output accordingly.
Volkswagen’s history stretches back quite a while, with its
origins lying in Nazi Germany. Pre-World War II, the new company was set up by
the Deutsche Arbeitsfront to create a cheap family car. When the War broke out,
however, Volkswagenwerk GmbH, as it was known at as at the time, switched to
making things for the military. This, like many other companies at the time,
was supplemented by concentration camp labor. (They eventually had to pay restitution
for that last one.) Eventually, the war concluded, and the British took control
of the company, renaming it Volkswagen along the way. After it got passed back
to Germany’s control, the company began expanding, pumping out its famous
Beetle car, acquiring several auto groups, and creating new cars. (Not to
mention doing what must have been some truly excellent PR, since “Nazi Germany”
is not the first thing most people think of when the company is brought up.)
Now, Volkswagen is one of the largest car companies in the world, and facing a
massive scandal.
In the race to create more environmentally friendly vehicles,
car companies have looked at various, less polluting, methods to fuel said
vehicles. Volkswagen’s answer was to promote its diesel cars, trumpeting their low
emissions as a selling point. Yet not was all as it seemed. By installing
software on the car control module, Volkswagen
was able to detect when their cars were being put to the test, using factors
such as steering conditions, time car is running, and atmospheric pressure. When
this happened, the cars would cut emissions, appearing to be good for the
earth. But when not on the test, emissions shoot up by as much as 40 times.
This way, the company’s cars would appear to be bother environmentally friendly
and fuel efficient, while the former was anything but.
The fallout from this discovery has, so far, been immense. A
few days after the discovery, the auto group admitted that this “defeat device”
had been installed on its cars, prompting a mass recall, potential fines, and
plummeting stock. This situation has not been limited to the US, with other
countries beginning their own investigations. Additionally, the CEO of
Volkswagen group has resigned. Effects have not been limited to just
Volkswagen, either. Other automotive companies have seen stocks fall, and this
entire situation calls into question how environmentally friendly diesel really
is. What else there is to come remains to be seen.
Sources:
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