The Volkswagen emissions scandal, often known as “Dieselgate,” involved Volkswagen AG (VW) installing unlawful software in its diesel vehicles that distorted emissions statistics. The software dubbed a “defeat device,” was meant to activate pollution controls during laboratory testing and disable them during regular driving. This allowed VW diesel vehicles to spew nitrogen oxides (NOx) at up to 40 times the permissible limit, which has been linked to respiratory ailments and other health issues.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) accused VW of putting the defeat device in four-cylinder diesel engines used in different VW and Audi cars sold in the US between 2009 and 2015. VW first rejected the charges but eventually confirmed that the software had been installed in 11 million vehicles worldwide.
VW suffered substantial consequences as a result of the scandal. The corporation was compelled to pay billions of dollars in penalties, settlements, and customer compensation. In addition, the corporation was subjected to litigation and investigations all around the world, and some executives were accused of criminal activities. The controversy also harmed VW’s reputation and resulted in a drop in sales.
After the event, Volkswagen pledged to invest in electric vehicles and other clean technology to place itself as leader in environmentally friendly transportation.