Driving the Truth

Approximately 60,000 Audi A6 and A7 diesel model vehicles have seen their deliveries suspended amid fears of an emissions irregularity which echoes the Dieselgate scandal of its parent company, VW, which first came to light over two years ago. According to Audi, information regarding the most recent emissions concerns was first discovered during an internal…

VW has enjoyed less success convincing Eastern European motorists to have their affected vehicles serviced following the diesel scandal than their Western counterparts – according to a story published in the independent online newspaper, the EU Observer. Several theories have surfaced which try to explain the reasons for this apparent polarisation. Some believe that the…

A report, published by the European Data Journalism Network shows the 100 European sites which are subjected to the most dangerous levels of NOx, correlating these with the highest number of premature deaths in the region. NOx is chiefly a by-product of the combustion of fossil fuels, reacting with surrounding air and sunlight. Diesel vehicle…

When you think of German driving, you probably conjure up images of cars whizzing by at high speed on the German Autobahn with no speed limits or other restrictions. That was the “good old days”. Now, increasingly, in the wake of the Volkswagen diesel crisis, driving in Germany is subject to limitations. Starting in January…

In June 2018, Volkswagen AG (VW) accepted the payment of a fine in Germany in the amount of EUR 1 billion (US$1.2 billion) for its involvement in the diesel scandal. While sounding like a lot of money by almost anyone’s standards, the German fine is far less than that imposed in the United States. Some…

Investigation In the wake of the Volkswagen (VW) diesel scandal, the European Parliament conducted a comprehensive review. In 2016, following investigations and hearings, the Parliament issued a report entitled ‘Report on the Inquiry into Emissions Measurements in the Automotive Sector’. In the report, the Parliament outlined different areas of responsibility and failures that led to…

Owners of the diesel cars affected by VW’s emissions scandal may be unaware the non-compulsory ‘fix’ being offered by the manufacturer in Europe has little to no effect on the levels of NOx gases that their cars produce. A documentary ‘VW Secret File’, produced and aired by DW (Deutsche Welle) revealed the software fix represents…

Since Jan 2017, VW has stated that there will be no compensation for European owners. Later, in June 2017, the manufacturer agreed to extend vehicle warranties by two years. To qualify for this extension, owners would have to agree to their vehicles receiving the ‘fix’. The reason for the lack of clear responsibility in the…

In an article published by DW Akademie, a worrying prediction for the effect of NOx diesel emissions on public health has been made in light of the VW emissions scandal. In 2015, a study found that illegal nitrogen oxide emissions were: “…linked to 38,000 premature deaths…” This figure was taken from a total of 107,600…

A German court has ordered the defendant manufacturer to buy back a Skoda Yeti and pay the owner the amount of 21.818,33 € plus interest,  the purchase value of the car minus a reduction for the value of the kilometres already driven. The owner had bought the car equipped with defeat device. The court found that the…