VW struggles with US regulators on emissions-cheating software

The US Justice Department has sued Volkswagen for up to $48 billion for allegedly violating environmental laws – a reminder of the carmaker’s problems almost four months after its emissions scandal broke.

Before Volkswagen can worry about bringing new diesels to the USA, it first has to figure out what to do with the diesels it’s now in trouble for installing cheat software on.

Diess went on to say that the company is working to fix the 11 million diesel cars that were equipped with technology that masked pollutants that otherwise would have caused drivers to fail emissions tests. Matthias Müller, who took Winterkorn’s position after he resigned, also said in a statement at the time, “My most urgent task is to win back trust for the Volkswagen Group-by leaving no stone unturned and with maximum transparency, as well as drawing the right conclusions from the current situation”. Left unsettled is what advice to give half a million American VW owners still running vehicles that produce emissions that are as much as 40 times over the legal limit.

He also noted that Volkswagen was engaged in ongoing, constructive talks with the Environmental Protection Agency and CARB. To that end, he welcomed to the stage executives from LG electronics (Internet of Things connectivity) and Door Bird (a German manufacturer of connected door bells), and made note of the company’s recent purchase (along with other German automakers) of 3D map-making company HERE.

Its diesel cars had been marketed to consumers as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional fuel, and at one point its owners were entitled to federal tax credits for reducing emissions. As smartphones, tablets and cameras have become essential elements of daily life, they are migrating into the auto as on-board computers evolve and software becomes more intelligent. When not being tested, the cars released pollution well in excess of permitted levels.

The number of vehicles involved in the United States is estimated at around 600,000.

After an emissions cheating scandal that rocked the world, Volkswagen wants to say it’s sorry.

However, the Volkswagen Tiguan turned in a stellar performance, with a 131.6 percent increase in sales for the month, marking the best month ever for the SUV.

Diess brought an LG exec onstage to highlight the concept car’s home-connectivity features.

Diess introduced BUDD-e, a concept microbus.

“I find it frustrating that, despite public statements professing cooperation and an expressed desire to resolve the various investigations that it faces following its calculated deception, Volkswagen is, in fact, resisting cooperation by citing German law”, Jepsen said in a statement.

As an electric vehicle, the e-Golf Touch is unexceptional, but as “a smartphone on wheels” it’s certainly impressive.

Volkswagen sold far more of its non-compliant cars in Europe than it did in America.