[tla]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/19/business/volkswagen-is-ordered-to-recall-nearly-500000-vehicles-over-emissions-software.html

The Environmental Protection Agency issued the German automaker a notice of violation and accused the company of using software known as a “defeat device” in 4-cylinder Volkswagen and Audi vehicles from model years 2009-15. The device is programmed to detect when the car is undergoing official emissions testing. Only during such tests are the cars’ full emissions control systems turned on. During normal driving situations, the controls are turned off, allowing the cars to spew as much as 40 times as much pollution as the legal standard required under the Clean Air Act, the E.P.A. said.

Agency officials said the car company had admitted to the use of the defeat device.

It's not something I would have expected a prominent company like VW to do.

[Dazzler]

   Jeepers, that opens a can of worms... I assume VW is selling too many cars in the USA 

[tla]

Actually, I would be interested to know if the defeat device was used in other countries.   Are the emissions standards in the U.S. stricter than in Europe?

[Surferdude]

WJW!

[The Gonz]

What a callous and cynical thing to do. That should hurt the company's reputation for its ethics, surely!
Yes indeed, how many others are doing this?

[PhireSideZA]

I think this will uncover quite a few more 'hidden' features relating to other car manufacturers in time. If one company does it, how many others would also be guilty?

[elantraelite]

Maybe this is explains why Hyundai's figures always seem higher than some manufacturers?

[beerman]

What a callous and cynical thing to do. That should hurt the company's reputation for its ethics, surely!
Yes indeed, how many others are doing this?

I thought their steadfast refusal to acknowledge the fault in their autos until push came to shove already did that.

The fact is as long as there is a test that is known, auto manufactures will tune their cars to do well in it. This might be one step too far, but in general how many people achieve the sticker figures in real life?

[tla]

As a follow-up:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/21/business/international/volkswagen-chief-apologizes-for-breach-of-trust-after-recall.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=second-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news

The chief executive of Volkswagen apologized on Sunday for what he said was a breach of trust that resulted in the company’s being accused by the United States authorities of illegally installing software in its diesel-power cars to evade standards for reducing smog.

“I personally am deeply sorry that we have broken the trust of our customers and the public,” Martin Winterkorn, the chief executive of the German automaker, said in a statement.

It also answered my question about the relative standards between the US and Europe:

Until recently, Professor Dudenhöffer said, the United States applied stricter standards to diesel engines than those applied by European regulators. But the European authorities, concerned about the health effects of diesel pollution, have tightened standards, prompting complaints from the auto industry.

[AlanHo]

Hitler Reacts To The VW-EPA Scandal Dieselgate - YouTube

[Mike SX]

Excellent, well explained and dubbed (as long as you're not German....) apparently a distorted subtitled Film Clip.
Thanks, Alan 

[Dazzler]

What Mike said! 

[beerman]

Looks a bit like this one.....

Hitler Hates Indy - YouTube

[The Gonz]

Looks a bit like this one.....

Hitler Hates Indy - YouTube

[beerman]

Its funny because he is talking about Dazz.....

[AlanHo]

Why we should all buy petrol cars

Diesel cars: Is it time to switch to a cleaner fuel? - BBC News

[eye30]

VW emissions scandal hits 11m vehicles

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34325005

Volkswagen says 11 million vehicles worldwide are involved in the scandal that has erupted over its rigging of US car emissions tests.

It said it was setting aside €6.5bn (£4.7bn) to cover costs of the scandal.

[Lakes]

I find that hard to believe . i think it would be California state only, as the rest of USA do not seem like they care at all. they even have Diesel Performance over there called black cloud. they still had the old style diesel Fuel over there and did not change till long after Australia. all US Trucks Diesel Power, Detroit Diesel!! CAT, so on. the population of the state of Texas same as the whole of Australia, but Texas only same size as the aussie state on New South Wales , you can fit Texas five times into the state of West Aussie  . i told them in Texas that and they would not be leave me.
most of USA they don't have public transport systems just rely on there own cars no one would ride a pushy, too lazy.

[The Gonz]

Indeed California's emission standards are more stringent than in the rest of the country.
California Emissions - HowStuffWorks

Oh, and they need to see this:

[Surferdude]

I find that hard to believe . i think it would be California state only, as the rest of USA do not seem like they care at all. they even have Diesel Performance over there called black cloud. they still had the old style diesel Fuel over there and did not change till long after Australia. all US Trucks Diesel Power, Detroit Diesel!! CAT, so on. the population of the state of Texas same as the whole of Australia, but Texas only same size as the aussie state on New South Wales , you can fit Texas five times into the state of West Aussie  . i told them in Texas that and they would not be leave me.
most of USA they don't have public transport systems just rely on there own cars no one would ride a pushy, too lazy.

All true, John. But as I understand it their regulations concerning new cars are stringent, federally.

[Dazzler]

Its funny because he is talking about Dazz.....

That made me watch it!   
Lot better than the other version!

[Lakes]

Thanks , Gonz & Trev .
that's a good comparition Gonz, thing about USA is it is huge when you combine Canada , Mexico , & South America ,a friend went on a guided motor bike tour that had MC supplied started in Alaska went to bottom of South America started in norther Hemisphere ended in Southern Hemisphere.

Also the Comparision does not show Alaska, that is a state of USA .

[diablo]

Volkswagen’s chief executive, Martin Winterkorn to step down as a result of this cock-up  - i.e. getting found out.

The Volkswagen/Audi group are 50% owned by the Porsche family so it looks like they pushed him out.

[Lakes]

Diablo they also just bought Ducati ( i think just under a year ago ) they say they bought out Ducati, because BMW bought out Husky so they want a slice of the MC market too.

[asathorny]

Volkswagen’s chief executive, Martin Winterkorn to step down as a result of this cock-up  - i.e. getting found out.

The Volkswagen/Audi group are 50% owned by the Porsche family so it looks like they pushed him out.

Aye lad, but he'll have been pushed out with his pockets bulging with gold...  That's the real world that these high flying crooks live in 

[Dazzler]

I've heard that VW have put aside 6.5 Billion!!! to cover this situation! 

[beerman]

and that is the first estimate.....

Which is never enough.

Especially when you consider that a lot of the countries affected have car industries and free trade agreements don't stop fines for misconduct.

[Wingerdave]

Indeed California's emission standards are more stringent than in the rest of the country.
California Emissions - HowStuffWorks

Oh, and they need to see this:

So, Tasmania is Cuba on this map?

[Dazzler]

Indeed California's emission standards are more stringent than in the rest of the country.
California Emissions - HowStuffWorks

Oh, and they need to see this:

So, Tasmania is Cuba on this map?

At least you knew it was called Tasmania (I doubt many Yanks would)

[Paolo5]

So, Tasmania is Cuba on this map?

Now that's ridiculous! Who would ever ask a girl to show you their map of Cuba?