Volkswagen under investigation over illegal software that masks pollution

[Amalgam]

http://www.carpoint.com.au/news/2016...REQzJk5uZT0xNQ..

Volkswagen Oz deflects blame over diesel emissions fix

Volkswagen Group Australia has blamed the federal government for the delay in approving a recall to fix the software in about 70,000 vehicles affected by its Dieselgate emissions scandal.

UPDATE 16/08/2016, 4:15pm: The Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development has responded to Volkswagen's claims that it had delayed the recall of Australian vehicles affected by the diesel emissions scandal.

A spokesperson from the department said Volkswagen Australia’s initial submission did not address all matters around the recall. As such, the department requires further detail from the manufacturer in order to ensure full consumer confidence.

“This case is a particularly complex rectification process,” the spokesperson said.

“The emissions system in a vehicle is technically very complex, and significant test information is required to ensure that any emissions cheating software is removed.

“Any fix that changes the emissions control system has the potential to have negative impacts on the vehicle, especially in relation to fuel consumption and longevity of parts.”

The department would not provide a timeline on when or if Volkswagen’s proposed fix would be approved.

“This information is technically complex and the department has had to return to Volkswagen and approach vehicle regulators in other countries to obtain sufficient information to make an informed decision in the best interests of Australian vehicle owners,” the spokeswoman said.

The sheer hubris of VAG (Au) to poke gorrilla in the room with a sharp stick.

[minke]

77 markets (not US) all have the same 'fix' on the table. 76 have approved. Australia is the only hold out. It's the whole ISOFIX top tether saga all over again.

[Greg Roles]

Man I'm so over this just reflash my car already, so I can re-reflash it.

[AdamD]

“This information is technically complex and the department has had to return to Volkswagen and approach vehicle regulators in other countries to obtain sufficient information to make an informed decision in the best interests of Australian vehicle owners,” the spokeswoman said.

One would presume that Australian authorities were privy to exactly the same information as those in other countries regarding the fix, so why did they need to speak to overseas regulators? Incapable of making a decision independently?

[woofy]

77 markets (not US) all have the same 'fix' on the table. 76 have approved. Australia is the only hold out. It's the whole ISOFIX top tether saga all over again.

Very bad analogy, just because the others didn't do it, doesn't mean it wasn't the right thing. With the top tether the other countries are now going that way as well.

[feenix74]

One would presume that Australian authorities were privy to exactly the same information as those in other countries regarding the fix, so why did they need to speak to overseas regulators? Incapable of making a decision independently?

Not necessarily, it would not surprise me if the submissions to each country's transport regulator was just the bare minimum information required to get the approval (VW is trying to get this sorted quickly not necessarily thoroughly). I would assume many of the 76 approvers are european transport regulators who probably feel obliged to rubber stamp the approval (the German Chancellor has just made a personal call to our President/Prime Minister/Fearless Leader, reminding them of how much debt we owe the ECB and asked nicely that we trust the work that the KBA has done and just rubber-stamp approve the VW diesel-gate fix . . .)

The article also states that VWA submitted their fix to the DIRD in June (so it has taken them 8-9 months to submit) but now saying the delay is DIRD's fault because it has taken them 2 months so far to assess the proposed fix. Yep, that is always one way to win friends and influence at the regulator by blaming them for your own tardiness in submitting a proposed fix to an error you have made.

[stefcio007]

anyone had a read of this ? Fuel quality crackdown inadvertently leads to hundreds of deaths in Sydney and Melbourne

[Ryeman]

I assume the defeat device was fitted to all the listed engines but only proved useful for the purpose of passing the U.S. emissions regulators and that they would all pass OUR testing without the device due to our lower standards, and that is the reason VW claim there was nothing illegal out here........in other words it was an irrelevance and thus they can claim there will be no effect once neutralised/removed AND therefore claims for compensation are irrelevant.
Otherwise I still know nothing and continue to be completely confused.

[Ryeman]

The ACCC takes on VW
Australia sues Volkswagen unit over alleged emissions fraud
Australia sues Volkswagen unit over alleged emissions fraud - BBC News

[woofy]

I heard the ACCC thing on the news this morning. They said it was because the cars didn't meet Oz standards for emissions. But unless I'm completely wrong, they did actually meet the standards here with or without the software active, just not the US ones. So the only thing I could imagine that the court would uphold is that they advertised them to be at a certain emissions and they weren't. Which is not the same thing.

[Ryeman]

I guess the brochures of the time are getting a going over to start with, particularly any mention of 'clean diesel' technology.
Basically misrepresentation.

(I suspect VW fitted the device to all simply to simplify mass production, and for us it was not actually needed to meet the then emissions standards and that's why they claim its removal will have no effect and therefore compensation is not applicable.)

[Ryeman]

I guess the brochures of the time are getting a going over to start with, particularly any mention of 'clean diesel' technology.
Basically misrepresentation.

(I suspect VW fitted the device to all simply to simplify mass production, and for us it was not actually needed to meet the then emissions standards and that's why they claim its removal will have no effect and therefore compensation is not applicable.)

[feenix74]

Game on. So the ACCC appears to be taking the line that the inclusion of the defeat device is deceptive and misleading by VW, not that it necessarily does not meet the emission standards.

Volkswagen emissions scandal: VW taken to court by ACCC over diesel data - Business - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

[ian]

The latest in the VW Saga.

[ian]

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