Business Wars Dieselgate | Truth or Dare | 1
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Sep 24, 2025 The podcast delves into Volkswagen's ambitions under CEO Martin Winterkorn as they aimed to outpace rival automakers. It uncovers the pressures that led to cutting regulatory corners and highlights the infamous defeat device in their EA 189 engine. Internal objections were silenced amidst a culture of fear, even as VW promoted a green image externally. The narrative contrasts public success with private failures, leaving listeners eager for how the deception will unfold as researchers and regulators start to intervene.
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Clean Diesel Debut And Deception
- At the 2008 L.A. Auto Show, Volkswagen presented the Jetta TDI as a breakthrough "clean diesel" with 41 MPG and ultra-low emissions.
- The car's marketed environmental performance was later revealed to be based on deception.
Pressure From Ambitious Strategy 2018
- Volkswagen needed a cheap, efficient emissions solution to hit aggressive growth targets in Strategy 2018.
- Engineers couldn't deliver on the timeline, which created pressure that led to rule-bending.
Why Diesel Was Essential In The U.S.
- VW's Strategy 2018 depended on making diesel popular in the U.S., despite stricter NOx limits there.
- The company rejected Mercedes' Bluetech for cost and ego, forcing a risky in-house solution.
