Report: Taxpayers Paid $20.7 Million For 'Clunker' Volkswagen Diesels
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.
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Oh man I wonder what will pop up on my FB feed from the concerned VW fan about this. Already I've seen a crop of owner testimonials about how they aren't sure about these "claims" being made about how VW "might" have cheated the EPA's mandated tests but they sure are glad to tell me how their Volkswagen saved their lives in a bad accident even if they pollute more. I'm undecided if its actually an earnest if misguided attempt by VW fans at damage control or an actual back channel attempt by VW to change opinion on the matter.
As noted above, C4C was about fuel economy & oil consumption only. Emissions don't factor into that. But what about the cars traded in? Old cars don't meet modern emissions requirements. Were those cars worse than these VWs? I agree with the implied accusation that TTAC published 'another VW article' just to pile on another angle on today's hot topic and generate traffic. I don't see this as newsworthy. I don't see it as "truth."
Aaron, I know you're groping for the most insulting headlines possible, because what else is this site for? But simple logic puts the lie to this one. The "clunkers" involved in the program were the old cars being traded in and scrapped, not the new cars being subsidized. I know, I know-- what do facts have to do with a snappy headline?
I know get all these dirty TDI's off the road and give everyone who was duped a Hellcat , I am shocked VW did not try to woo BTR as their new CEO, he knows all.