Dieselgate

When Volkswagen was exposed for diesel cheating, almost 150 cars in Norway lost their type approvals. Volkswagen avoided paying compensation to affected car owners. Instead, they promised to repair the cars so that they would meet the type approvals. But many were still left with "Svarteper".

Systematic cheating

The cheating was exposed by the EPA (The Environmental Protection Agency) when they discovered that Volkswagen cars exceeded US emissions requirements. The investigation showed that TDI engines of the EA189 type were programmed to create lower emissions during the NEDC test cycles than under normal driving conditions. Cars that are tested during the NEDC - New European Driving Cycle - follow a specific driving pattern. It is not difficult to get the software to pick up when cars are being test driven. Several manufacturers have probably discovered this possibility - but none put it into the system as thoroughly as Volkswagen. Diesel cheating in the system.

What did management know?

After the cheating was revealed, heads in the Volkswagen group's management began to roll. Martin Winterkorn, CEO, Heinz Jakob Neusser, head of brand development and Ulrich Hackenberg, Head of Research Audi, had to go. Wolfgang Hatz, head of research and development at Porsche, as well as engine development at Volkswagen, retired while under investigation. As managers, they had a legal responsibility regardless of what they actually knew.

But what did they really know?

Almost two years after the disclosure, it was discovered that Volkswagen had set up a top-secret test facility where only a very few employees had access. The facility was located in Wolfsburg just a stone's throw away from the administration. There is no doubt that senior management did what happened in there - and probably took part in the decisions.

The engineers were just following orders.

The revelations about diesel cheating were about billions of kroner - among other things, Volkswagen was ordered to pay compensation to American Volkswagen owners. Here at home, Volkswagen escaped far cheaper. They had promised to fix affected cars so that they could meet the emission requirements. NAF feared that the modifications would steal horsepower. In that case, the car owners could be entitled to compensation - not least to be reimbursed for parts of the one-off fees. They urged their members to get the dealers to sign a contract that this would not happen. The negotiator refused. In reality, there is no organization in Norway that is powerful enough to prosecute the Volkswagen group. The retail chain was just following orders.

A sad day

It was I who collected the "wife's car" from service on that fateful day in 2017. An Audi Q3 2,0 TDI 177 HP with DSG and four-wheel drive - a fantastic drive - a pleasure to drive. Like a gazelle!

When I started the car at the dealer, I immediately realized what had happened. It was fixed for diesel cheating. The customer service representative had not said anything. There was nothing on the invoice. The trip home was miserable. The soundscape in the nice car was dominated by a penetrating tractor sound. The car lacked traction at low revs. The DSG gearbox no longer seemed to be in step with the engine. The car that previously drove like a gazelle had been transformed into a sow. My only thought was to get rid of it as soon as possible.

This is what readers wrote here terjesbiler.no after getting their cars fixed:

"... there is poorer bottom traction at low revs. More characteristic diesel sound. Generally worse throttle response.”

"- In order to get away at the same speed, you now have to increase the revs. More noise, even more consumption and even more emissions…”

"- Today my audi 2015 allroad with 320 tax-expensive diesel horses EA189 was adjusted. The torque was gone and only responds to a flat pedal and has to howl at high revs to get thrust. The car was destroyed.”

Also affected – Audi A4 B8

2010 Audi A4 CAG-

Several variants of EA189

There are 3 different variants of the EA189 engines – 1,4-litre, 1,6-litre and 2,0-litre. The smallest engines were fitted with an extra pipe in the intake. The largest were only reprogrammed. I have no basis for saying that the cars were destroyed, but the reprogramming of the TDI engines 2,0 177 HP ended disastrously for everyone. Teknikens Värld tested a Volkswagen Passat with the same drivetrain as our car, and declared the fix to be "unacceptable". The test car had not only been changed engine characteristics - it had also had its engine power reduced from 177 to 163 HP. The engine in question is found in cars such as the Audi A6, Audi A4, Audi Q5 and Audi Q3, as well as the Volkswagen Passat and Tiguan. Take into account that customers who chose this fine powertrain also chose plenty of extra equipment.

What happened to the wrecked cars?

Our car ended up as a trade-in car a few days after the unfortunate service. MøllerBil gave a better trade-in price than we could dream of getting at a private sale. We didn't lose money on the misery. The market for fixed diesel cars was not very hot, so the car became a shelf warmer at the dealer. Perhaps it was eventually resold to a professional buyer? The cars with the same engine option are still in traffic and are traded regularly. I have gone through private sales of cars with the same engine to see how the owners characterize the cars.

"- Powerful diesel engine with enough horsepower and torque."

"... lovely and comfortable car and driving experience."

It's hard to understand the excitement. Could the Volkswagen group have made later upgrades to the software to improve the engine characteristics? Is there a black market for resetting the software?

Were we who experienced the fix too critical?

You have to consider that those who bought fixed cars never got to experience them the way they were supposed to be. The quiet noise level, the nice turbo pull at low revs and how the DSG gearbox followed up with lightning-quick shifts. Relatively speaking, perhaps the car I would characterize as "totally destroyed" - compared to itself - was still better than other cars on the market?

One last thought

The diesel cheating scandal involved politics, business and big capital in Europe and the USA. Although the cheating triggered sky-high fines and compensation - and heads rolled - the culprits got away cheaply in Europe. In the USA, the cars were put away in large collection points and abandoned by the owners due to driving bans. Maybe the cars are still there? Creating a "quick fix" was the only solution that would not damage the Volkswagen Group, German business and the financial market. The management of the Volkswagen Group had to know that the fix could deteriorate some of the cars. But why would they start being open and honest about this now? Company cultures don't change overnight! If Volkswagen's management had informed that the cars would change character, it could trigger a new avalanche of replacements - as in the USA.

Volkswagen is powerful in the Federal Republic of Germany. The leadership knew that once the forces were deployed, resistance would be futile.

In retrospect, it seems clear that the diesel scandal was the result of a lack of social responsibility and a bad corporate culture - arrogant, cynical and fraudulent. Volkswagen is powerful, with connections all the way up to the Chancellor. This may have helped give the Volkswagen Group a greater leeway in Europe than in the US – allowing Volkswagen to ride on Germany's enormous political and commercial power within the EU. Firing some managers probably didn't change a thing.