Business Wars Dieselgate | Running on Fumes | 2
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Oct 1, 2025 Volkswagen's 'clean' diesel vehicles face scrutiny as emissions tests reveal shocking discrepancies. Internal strategies to conceal a software defeat device spark regulatory investigations. Whistleblowing comes into play as an insider discloses the truth, leading to massive fines and a major corporate shakeup. The fallout sees billions set aside for settlements and a pivot towards electric vehicles. The scandal underscores the broader problems within the diesel industry, challenging the narrative of sustainability.
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Real-World Test Catches Clean-Diesel Lie
- West Virginia University researchers rigged a Jetta with a portable emissions system and found NOx up to 35x the legal limit.
- Their real-world tests exposed a huge gap between lab results and on-road emissions for Volkswagen diesels.
Lab Results Can Mask Real Harm
- The episode frames two truths: lab truth and real-world truth.
- Volkswagen engineered emissions to pass lab tests but fail in everyday driving, revealing systemic deception.
Compliance Officer Grapples With Study Fallout
- Oliver Schmidt, Volkswagen's U.S. compliance officer, learned a WVU study showed massive on-road NOx discrepancies.
- VW tried to discredit the study and hide the defeat device while telling regulators partial truths and offering ineffective fixes.
