Volkswagen Engineers Blow Whistle, Admit to CO2 Cheating

Mark Stevenson
by Mark Stevenson

A number of Volkswagen engineers cheated on tests used to determine carbon dioxide emissions because goals set by former group CEO Martin Winterkorn were too demanding and difficult to achieve, reported German outlet Bild am Sonntag.

The report was “broadly confirmed” by Volkswagen, stated The New York Times. It’s believed goals set by Winterkorn, which would have made Volkswagen vehicles cleaner than required by European regulations, pressured the engineers to manipulate the tests as they were afraid to admit they could not meet those goals.

The engineers pumped up tire pressures to reduce rolling resistance and put diesel in motor oil to make the vehicles more fuel efficient, thus producing less carbon dioxide. The practice “began in 2013 and carried on until the spring of this year,” reported Automotive News.

Group CEO Matthias Müller, who replaced Winterkorn, admitted November 2 that Volkswagen misstated CO2 emissions levels for its vehicles. Some 800,000 Volkswagen cars are included in the admission, which could cost the company $2.1 billion more in penalties.

On Friday, Volkswagen said it would foot the tax bills of those who owned affected vehicles, reported Reuters.

Mark Stevenson
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  • Geo Geo on Nov 08, 2015

    Admitting that you cheated because your job requirements were unreasonable isn't exactly "blowing the whistle". It's incriminating yourself and then blaming someone else for your actions.

    • RideHeight RideHeight on Nov 08, 2015

      But it should get them their Persilschein for the new regime.

  • Greyjohn Greyjohn on Nov 08, 2015

    but can we talk about putting diesel fuel in motor oil though? whaaaaa?

    • See 2 previous
    • PrincipalDan PrincipalDan on Nov 09, 2015

      @Robert.Walter As the engineer said in "Down Periscope" while trying to get the old diesel sub to pick up the pace. (Pouring whiskey in the oil.) "Whiskey! Good for another 500 RPM!"

  • George B George B on Nov 08, 2015

    There's a difference between cheating and gaming the system and that difference is 1) not breaking explicit rules and 2) not hiding the test conditions. If the tires are inflated to less than their maximum pressure, that defensible. If the motor oil viscosity and level fall barely within vehicle specs, then that's allowed unless explicitly not allowed. Taping over body gaps or using skinny tires looks like cheating to me, but if you disclose it to regulators and they allow it, no foul. What you can't do is break an explicit rule and lie about it.

  • Scott_314 Scott_314 on Nov 12, 2015

    The thing about life events is that often things happen incrementally, and it's only in retrospect that it's black and white. People probably should get fired / charged, but it's worth having a little bit of understanding. I'm an engineer, and it can be really tough. Management says "what's the highest level you can get." Engineer says "well under certain conditions I've seen us to get to 11. But I recommend we assume 9". Two days later the same manager says "I spoke to upper management. We've carried 11 in our assumptions, but we need you to get us to 12." Engineer says "well to do that it's gonna require we sacrifice this and that". Manager, not fully understanding what the engineer just said, says "do it." Six months later the prior engineer has moved to another position and a new manager comes to his replacement. "Mr Engineer! Your predecessor did a great job and got us to 12! You can do one better!" Engineer says "not likely, but I can try". And on it goes. Blame is shared, at the time it seemed SOMEWHAT reasonable, and now the SHTF.

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