Another day, another automaker controversy. This time, the spotlight of public indignation and governmental retribution is on Volkswagen, for knowingly cheating emissions testing over several years and on multiple vehicles throughout its product lines (including Audi and Porsche). Why the furor? No reports have yet linked VW’s actions to deaths or injuries, as happened with the General Motors ignition switch debacle and the Takata exploding airbag recall. VW just cheated on a test. Why does this matter enough to put one of the largest global automakers in danger of losing everything?
VW’s actions embody the ultimate corporate stereotype—focused only on profits, at the expense of consumers, partners, and, importantly these days, the environment. It has long been known in the automotive industry that Volkswagen aspires to surpass Toyota as the top-selling global automaker and has been pulling out all the stops to do so over the last several years. Diesel has always been one of VW’s signature technologies, and an area of the automotive market in which it has historically performed strongly. But competition in the industry is cutthroat, and VW’s competitors never allowed it to rest on its laurels, particularly when other aspects of VW’s product line, such as small crossovers, have suffered in comparison to other brands. It appears that VW’s top brass made the decision to get ahead by breaking the rules, rather than investing in the research and development needed to achieve its fuel efficiency claims legitimately, in order to make that grab for the worldwide sales crown.
This content has been archived. It is available through our partners, LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law.
To view this content, please continue to their sites.
Not a Lexis Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
Not a Bloomberg Law Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law are third party online distributors of the broad collection of current and archived versions of ALM's legal news publications. LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law customers are able to access and use ALM's content, including content from the National Law Journal, The American Lawyer, Legaltech News, The New York Law Journal, and Corporate Counsel, as well as other sources of legal information.
For questions call 1-877-256-2472 or contact us at [email protected]
