In recent months, Volkswagen ride the rough waves of the emissions scandal, that involved hundreds of thousands of its cars being fitted with a device which effectively deceived emissions testing under lab conditions.
The scandal was not only a big hit on demand for Volkswagen vehicles, but also for diesel-powered vehicles, which saw a steep decline. Volkswagen’s sales have plummeted in the recent past, as the company desperately looked for a way to either eliminate the issue completely, or to at least mitigate some of its worries.
Recently, the company recommended a couple of quick software updates and a hardware update for some engine variants. The solution was put under consideration by the European body for environmental protection, which consequently accepted the fix, much to the relief of Volkswagen stakeholders.
However, Volkswagen executives ensured the EPA they recognized the fact that the company’s troubles in the US were far from over. They acknowledged America's stricter approach towards Co2 emissions and damage to the environment. Volkswagen’s executives went on to pledge to find a solution to the crises they were facing in the region, and put an end to the bad publicity they have continuously been subject to.
The situation went from bad to worse for the company as the US filed a complaint with the Department of Justice against the German automaker, in lieu of the emissions scandal. The complaint asserts that around 600,000 diesel vehicles produced by Audi, Porsche and Volkswagen had illegal devices in the engine, that consequently led to CO2 emissions significantly higher than EPA regulations. The complaint also highlighted a violation of the Clean Air Act, whereby the automaker designed its motor vehicles in a manner that contradicts an agreement it made with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Volkswagen has recently announced that its engineers have constructed a catalytic converter, that could potentially provide a suitable fix for around 430,000 cars accused of cheating emissions tests in the United States. German Daily Bild am Sonntag reported on Sunday that cars equipped with the first generation EA 189 engine, will be fitted with the catalytic converter that would help fix the emission problem created in those vehicles.
While the company refused to comment on the report by Bild am Sonntag, the paper reported that Volkswagen’s CEO, Matthias Mueller, will hope to convince at least a few EPA officials at a meeting in Washington, scheduled for Wednesday, in light of these recent findings. The relationship between the company and regulatory body has been quite strained in the past four months, as the company has struggled to come to an agreement with US authorities, on a fix for affected vehicles in the scandal.
