'Backfire' Documentary Focuses Lens On Volkswagen Diesel Scandal

I don't agree with that attitude of holding people accountable "for the last several centuries." Such attitudes are how you get a movement for slave reparations (as payment for the wrongs of US slavery going back to 1619), and religious zealotry over events that took place in the 20th century, the Middle Ages, the 1st century AD, or 2000 BC. Jews, Christians, and Muslims can all find something to blame the other for during those time periods. Volkswagen has played the nationalist pride card, though, in recent years by proclaiming its superior 'German Engineering.' This claim is now debunked, and VW should - and will - be held accountable. Germany - especially the reunified version - has been a good world citizen over the last several decades. I don't wish to throw stones at the forefathers of this generation.

@SCE to AUX Agreed, they will pay dearly for every single time they've said a variation of "zee Clean Diesel technology" line in the recent past. But Germans as a whole are not to blame. Sure, theyre a bit arrogant, but the same could be said (at least at times) of the US, France, United Kingdom (just listen to Jeremy Clarkson lol), Japan, etc. Nobody's perfect, and if we want to start pointing fingers at every nation/people who have f'ed up in the past, nobody would be without blame. Its important to learn from history so the same mistakes are not repeated, not so we can punish those who's ancestors made those mistakes.

Germany was contrite for what they did in WW2, and VW is seeing a massive fallout and will end up paying pretty heavily (though nobody will know until the dust is settled). However, to suggest VW should pay for Germany's arrogance and hubris, whether it's the nations or the country's, is a bit over the top? I even feel bad for the VW employees that had nothing to do with this, the corporate culture came from the top down.

Gee...thanks for lumping every German for the last several centuries into this. I am sure my mother and grandparents had a hand in Volkswagen's actions...

@threeer Every major Western nation has had its run as an arrogant, hubristic, expansionist power that was utterly callous, sometimes sadistically boastful, of the consequences for little people who got in its way or became its chattel. Germany just came late enough to the game to have fairly advanced technologies and news media in place for it to make a memorable splash. Otherwise the profoundly uneducated like Rday would be unaware that anything interesting had happened.

Because what's going on with VW is happening NOW, while the GM and Ford situations you bring up (which didn't happen the way you want to claim they happened) were 40 years ago. If you think VW should be let off because of something some other automaker did decades ago, then you're completely irrational and should be ignored.

@JimZ They don't get a free pass, and I'm not downplaying the importance here, but to the mass market, Volkswagen lied about "emmpeegees", not emissions. The only people who really understand (and care) about the details are those of us in the forums, government regulators, litigators and environmentalists. I'd argue that Takata's shrapnel airbags, GMs ignition locks, Jeep's exploding-upon-impact fuel tanks and Toyota's acceleration issues are far more serious, and all within the last ten years. Volkswagen deceived, GM knowingly installed defective ignition locks, Honda ignored warnings about shrapnel and Toyota blamed others. But you know what Volkswagen did that was worse than those in the eyes of consumers? They doubled-down on the lies and stupidity and got caught instead of accepting responsibility and moving on. That is what has the ire of the media, government regulators and the dealership body - all of whom have very large megaphones. Like all of the other scandals, this too shall pass and the righteous indignation (on both sides) will fade. The only question now is what the total dollar cost will be, because as GM, Ford, Chrysler, Honda, Toyota, Audi and countless others have demonstrated - these situations are survivable.

@hreardon what makes you think you can speak to what the "mass market" thinks?

@hreardon I'm not sure if I agree with that last part hreardon. At the heart of all the other scandals you mention was a denial by each company that any intentional act had been committed, referring both to the cover up and the danger itself. I think the difference is, unfortunately, that Horn publicly apologized and admitted everything right up front (I have yet to see an account that shows the people that the epa were in communication with knew why the cars were failing tests, obviously some people in Germany did). That puts the regulators in a bit of a hot seat, the claims lawyers in the drivers seat pr wise, and gives the media a no counterpoint needed angle on a story. Also, it's a bit of a novelty. The one thing I personally like about how they handled it was Horn's early response, but I would never recommend another company follow that strategy. You are right that consumers don't care about emissions. Anyone who's ever seen an industry customer profile can confirm that. Last on they list, and only there bc it's on the list. This enrages those to whom it does matter, but it is obviously the case when you look at buying patterns. Now mpg, that matters big time, although even then it's entirely situational where it falls on the list.

VW is not going anywhere in the U.S market. May lose some retail points (dealerships) but even those will get shelved and or sold to one of the private equity groups buying stores now to reopen at a later date.

Indeed. 10 days from now we'll know something, or perhaps not. I did learn recently that average people don't seem to have a clue about the scandal based on talking to two women that I know (one in her 30s that drives a Versa sedan and one in her 60s that drives a newer Saab). So based on that lack of knowing anything about it, I can see VW surviving amongst the masses. It's only the owners/VW enthusiasts that seem to be keeping up with it on a daily basis waiting for a shred of news.