Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'Defeat Device'.
Found 10 results
-
It seems Volkswagen wasn't the only German automaker that was using a defeat device in their diesel vehicles. Over the weekend, German paper Bild am Sonntag obtained documents that revealed Diamler may have been using illegal software modifications to pass emission tests. U.S. investigators looking into Daimler found two engine management functions, Slipguard: Recognized whether or not the vehicle was being tested in a lab Bit 15: Turned off the emissions cleaning after 26 kilometers (16 miles) of driving Bild also cited emails from Daimler engineers questioning whether or not the functions were legal or not. “The authorities know the documents and no complaint has been filed, The documents available to Bild have obviously selectively been released in order to harm Daimler and its 290,000 employees," a Diamler spokesman told Reuters. The spokesman declined to comment on the content of the documents, saying that it " had agreed upon strict confidentiality with the Department of Justice." Diamler has been under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice and Stuttgart prosecutors over allegations of possible cheating. Source: Bild via Reuters -
It seems Volkswagen wasn't the only German automaker that was using a defeat device in their diesel vehicles. Over the weekend, German paper Bild am Sonntag obtained documents that revealed Diamler may have been using illegal software modifications to pass emission tests. U.S. investigators looking into Daimler found two engine management functions, Slipguard: Recognized whether or not the vehicle was being tested in a lab Bit 15: Turned off the emissions cleaning after 26 kilometers (16 miles) of driving Bild also cited emails from Daimler engineers questioning whether or not the functions were legal or not. “The authorities know the documents and no complaint has been filed, The documents available to Bild have obviously selectively been released in order to harm Daimler and its 290,000 employees," a Diamler spokesman told Reuters. The spokesman declined to comment on the content of the documents, saying that it " had agreed upon strict confidentiality with the Department of Justice." Diamler has been under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice and Stuttgart prosecutors over allegations of possible cheating. Source: Bild via Reuters View full article
-
Emails Reveal EPA Suspected FCA Of Using Defeat Device In 2015
William Maley posted an article in Fiat
It seems the EPA has had its eye on Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and their EcoDiesel V6 for quite a while. Jalopnik and Reuters obtained emails from the EPA via the Freedom of Information Act that revealed the government agency had suspicions about possible cheating at FCA back in November 2015 - almost two months after the EPA announced Volkswagen's cheating with its diesel engines. In an email sent on January 7, 2016 to Vaughn Burns, FCA North America’s head of vehicle emissions, certification, and compliance, director of the EPA's Transportation and Air Quality compliance division Bryon Bunker expressed concerns about FCA's slow response to explaining why their EcoDiesel engine was producing excess nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. “I am very concerned about the unacceptably slow pace of the efforts to understand the high NOx emissions we have observed from several [redacted] vehicles with the [redacted],” said Bunker in his email. Bunker also noted at meeting with FCA back on November 25, 2015 that at one of the auxiliary emission control devices used possibly violated EPA regulations. A few days later, FCA’s head of vehicle safety and regulatory compliance, Mike Dahl sent an email to Christopher Grundler, director of the EPA’s office of transportation and air quality saying that he wanted to discuss the issues brought up by the EPA. Dahl noted that the company was hard at work investigating the issue. There is also this tidbit from Dahl's email. The emails between the EPA and FCA go back and forth throughout 2016 talking about the possible violations and additional testing. Jalopnik notes that the EPA was planning to make an announcement in December, but it is unclear whether it was to deal with the violation. Source: Jalopnik, Reuters -
It seems the EPA has had its eye on Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and their EcoDiesel V6 for quite a while. Jalopnik and Reuters obtained emails from the EPA via the Freedom of Information Act that revealed the government agency had suspicions about possible cheating at FCA back in November 2015 - almost two months after the EPA announced Volkswagen's cheating with its diesel engines. In an email sent on January 7, 2016 to Vaughn Burns, FCA North America’s head of vehicle emissions, certification, and compliance, director of the EPA's Transportation and Air Quality compliance division Bryon Bunker expressed concerns about FCA's slow response to explaining why their EcoDiesel engine was producing excess nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. “I am very concerned about the unacceptably slow pace of the efforts to understand the high NOx emissions we have observed from several [redacted] vehicles with the [redacted],” said Bunker in his email. Bunker also noted at meeting with FCA back on November 25, 2015 that at one of the auxiliary emission control devices used possibly violated EPA regulations. A few days later, FCA’s head of vehicle safety and regulatory compliance, Mike Dahl sent an email to Christopher Grundler, director of the EPA’s office of transportation and air quality saying that he wanted to discuss the issues brought up by the EPA. Dahl noted that the company was hard at work investigating the issue. There is also this tidbit from Dahl's email. The emails between the EPA and FCA go back and forth throughout 2016 talking about the possible violations and additional testing. Jalopnik notes that the EPA was planning to make an announcement in December, but it is unclear whether it was to deal with the violation. Source: Jalopnik, Reuters View full article
-
Porsche now finds itself under the spotlight of German regulators for possibly using a defeat device on their gas models. German publication Wirtschafts Woche reports that Germany’s Transport Ministry and Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) were tipped off by people close to Porsche about possible cheating on emissions tests. According to the story, some Porsche vehicles have software that can detect when they are on a dynamometer (or rolling road) based on whether or not there the steering wheel was turned. If this sounds familiar, that's because Audi is accused using something similar on some of their models. Porsche has responded to the questions about this and said the software is used detect steering movements is to improve the overall driving experience and not to fool emission tests. In a statement to Bloomberg, Porsche said it is cooperating with the investigation. Source: Wirtschafts Woche, Bloomberg View full article
-
As the Diesel Emits: Porsche Under Investigation For A 'Defeat Device'
William Maley posted an article in Porsche
Porsche now finds itself under the spotlight of German regulators for possibly using a defeat device on their gas models. German publication Wirtschafts Woche reports that Germany’s Transport Ministry and Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) were tipped off by people close to Porsche about possible cheating on emissions tests. According to the story, some Porsche vehicles have software that can detect when they are on a dynamometer (or rolling road) based on whether or not there the steering wheel was turned. If this sounds familiar, that's because Audi is accused using something similar on some of their models. Porsche has responded to the questions about this and said the software is used detect steering movements is to improve the overall driving experience and not to fool emission tests. In a statement to Bloomberg, Porsche said it is cooperating with the investigation. Source: Wirtschafts Woche, Bloomberg -
If there is one thing we have learned during the Volkswagen diesel emission scandal, it is this: Just when you think you have everything figured out, there is always a surprise waiting around the corner to add a new twist. Bloomberg reports that Bosch allegedly asked Volkswagen for legal protection over damages from the defeat device it helped developed. This allegation comes from a revised lawsuit filed by Volkswagen owners in the U.S. against the two companies. The filing says this request was in a letter sent to Volkswagen June 2, 2008. “Plaintiffs do not have a full record of what unfolded in response to Bosch’s June 2, 2008, letter. However, it is indisputable that Bosch continued to develop and sell to Volkswagen hundreds of thousands of the defeat devices for U.S. vehicles” even after it acknowledged in writing that the use of software as a “defeat device” was illegal in the U.S. according to the filing. “Volkswagen apparently refused to indemnify Bosch, but Bosch nevertheless continued to develop the so-called ‘akustikfunktion’ (the code name used for the defeat device) for Volkswagen for another seven years,” the filing goes on to say. In the original suit filed last month, it alleged Bosch played a key role in conspiring with VW on developing the defeat device and concealing information about it when U.S. regulators started asking questions. At the time, Bosch rejected the claims as “wild and unfounded”. What changed within a month? Lawyers representing the owners uncovered more information. Bosch spokesman Rene Ziegler declined to comment on this story to Bloomberg. Source: Bloomberg View full article
-
If there is one thing we have learned during the Volkswagen diesel emission scandal, it is this: Just when you think you have everything figured out, there is always a surprise waiting around the corner to add a new twist. Bloomberg reports that Bosch allegedly asked Volkswagen for legal protection over damages from the defeat device it helped developed. This allegation comes from a revised lawsuit filed by Volkswagen owners in the U.S. against the two companies. The filing says this request was in a letter sent to Volkswagen June 2, 2008. “Plaintiffs do not have a full record of what unfolded in response to Bosch’s June 2, 2008, letter. However, it is indisputable that Bosch continued to develop and sell to Volkswagen hundreds of thousands of the defeat devices for U.S. vehicles” even after it acknowledged in writing that the use of software as a “defeat device” was illegal in the U.S. according to the filing. “Volkswagen apparently refused to indemnify Bosch, but Bosch nevertheless continued to develop the so-called ‘akustikfunktion’ (the code name used for the defeat device) for Volkswagen for another seven years,” the filing goes on to say. In the original suit filed last month, it alleged Bosch played a key role in conspiring with VW on developing the defeat device and concealing information about it when U.S. regulators started asking questions. At the time, Bosch rejected the claims as “wild and unfounded”. What changed within a month? Lawyers representing the owners uncovered more information. Bosch spokesman Rene Ziegler declined to comment on this story to Bloomberg. Source: Bloomberg -
Volkswagen's diesel emission scandal went deeper this week as the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (known as the KBA) announced on Tuesday that the software Volkswagen uses on their diesel vehicles was deemed illegal. This decision opens up the possibility of lawsuits and penalties against the company, but the extent of this is unknown at this time. As the New York Times states 'it was a turbulent day for the company.' Aside from the KBA announcing the software Volkswagen used was deemed illegal, the company announced monthly sales in the U.S. dropped 25 percent. Volkswagen also announced that 50 employees have stepped forward and provided information about the software and who knew what as part of an amnesty program that ended in November. Then came Standard & Poor's announcement that it had downgraded Volkswagen's debt from A- to a BBB+, three notches away from junk status. The rating agency said the downgrade “reflects our view that VW’s manipulation of engine emissions exposes the group to material, wide-ranging adverse credit impacts.” Source: New York Times View full article
-
Volkswagen's diesel emission scandal went deeper this week as the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (known as the KBA) announced on Tuesday that the software Volkswagen uses on their diesel vehicles was deemed illegal. This decision opens up the possibility of lawsuits and penalties against the company, but the extent of this is unknown at this time. As the New York Times states 'it was a turbulent day for the company.' Aside from the KBA announcing the software Volkswagen used was deemed illegal, the company announced monthly sales in the U.S. dropped 25 percent. Volkswagen also announced that 50 employees have stepped forward and provided information about the software and who knew what as part of an amnesty program that ended in November. Then came Standard & Poor's announcement that it had downgraded Volkswagen's debt from A- to a BBB+, three notches away from junk status. The rating agency said the downgrade “reflects our view that VW’s manipulation of engine emissions exposes the group to material, wide-ranging adverse credit impacts.” Source: New York Times
