Volkswagen Hasn't Found Their Fall Guys (or Gals) Yet

Aaron Cole
by Aaron Cole

According to Reuters, Volkswagen may have suspended engineers — including top engineers for Audi, Volkswagen and Porsche — without any evidence.

According to the report, more than 10 engineers were suspended in the fallout after it became clear the automaker cheated its way through emissions tests in the U.S. and Europe. It’s not clear if the suspended engineers would be reinstated at the company.

Reuters reported that VW’s internal investigation revealed that the illegal “defeat devices” began appearing in cars around 2008 after engineers discovered that their engine, which was costly to produce, wouldn’t pass emissions tests.

Volkswagen’s advisory board is expected to meet Wednesday, the same day German authorities told the automaker to submit their proposed fix for the illegal engines.

Bloomberg reported that the fixes for the cars could range from inexpensive ECU reprogramming to replacement cars. Different regulations could dictate how significant the fix would need to be.

Aaron Cole
Aaron Cole

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  • RideHeight RideHeight on Oct 06, 2015

    Biggest tragedy in all this VW kerfuffle is that they make some damned handsome cars. Who wouldn't want that nice sedan in the photo to sit in their driveway? Especially in an actual color like their gorgeous deep blue?

  • SCE to AUX SCE to AUX on Oct 06, 2015

    "more than 10 engineers were suspended" Valkyrie.

  • DeeDub DeeDub on Oct 06, 2015

    Maybe they should hire OJ to find the real killers, I mean culprits.

  • Cowboysanchez Cowboysanchez on Oct 06, 2015

    The guy that led the team that found the problem was Colombian. El Tiempo is proud that one of their countrymen "put Volkswagen on the ropes". http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/ee-uu-y-canada/volkswagen-escandalo-el-colombiano-que-puso-a-la-empresa-contra-las-cuerdas/16394269

    • VolandoBajo VolandoBajo on Oct 07, 2015

      Los colombianos no son idiotas. Y son muy amables tambien. As to the suspension of engineers without proof, there used to be a document that floated around sub rosa in project management circles, titled something like the seven stages of project management. It began with wild-eyed enthusiam, and finished off with search for the guilty; punishment of the innocent; and promotion of the non-participants. Sounds like they are two thirds of the way through these last three steps at VW, and are getting ready to pull the trigger on the final step. I don't know what I did with my copy of the full list. Maybe another of the B&B (if I dare to call myself one of them) might be able to post the entire list.

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