EPA vs VW/AUDI TDIs

[hiphawpdrunkie]

If anyone is interested, you can access the transcript of today's Status Conference here: http://www.cand.uscourts.gov/filelib...Transcript.pdf

Judge Breyer acknowledges that there are "approximately 90,000 cars with 3-liter engines" and that there is an expectation that the parties "work expeditiously [to resolve] these outstanding issues." Not a whole lot of detail, but underscores my earlier point that those of us with V6 TDIs might need to wait it out a bit longer to get some clarity on where we stand.

Robert Giuffra, VW's counsel, did go out of his way to state that VW's intent is to "compensate fully all customers and remediate all environmental issues."


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[QUBE5]

QUBE5, looks like you are relieved of your duties until June 21!


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Hopefully VW/Audi work out the details for the 3.0L TDIs before the June 21st deadline.

The 3.0T is not included, meh.

Not yet, but the 3.0L TDIs are expected to be addressed and included in the agreement by the June 21, 2016 deadline.

If anyone is interested, you can access the transcript of today's Status Conference here: http://www.cand.uscourts.gov/filelib...Transcript.pdf

Judge Breyer acknowledges that there are "approximately 90,000 cars with 3-liter engines" and that there is an expectation that the parties "work expeditiously [to resolve] these outstanding issues." Not a whole lot of detail, but underscores my earlier point that those of us with V6 TDIs might need to wait it out a bit longer to get some clarity on where we stand.

Robert Giuffra, VW's counsel, did go out of his way to state that VW's intent is to "compensate fully all customers and remediate all environmental issues."


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thanks for the link hiphawpdrunkie.

[QUBE5]

Reuters has some of the details of todays agreement.....


http://www.reuters.com/article/us-vo...-idUSKCN0XI24G

The framework of the deal was hammered out by VW with the Justice Department, state of California, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Federal Trade Commission as well as lawyers for car owners who filed class action civil lawsuits. The deal is expected to settle more than 600 class suits in U.S. courts.

Federal Judge Charles Breyer outlined the agreement during a hearing in a San Francisco courtroom. He did not disclose the amount of money involved, and ordered lawyers for all parties not to disclose details until they were final.

Judge Breyer set a deadline of June 21 to nail down the final details of the agreements, and many questions must be answered. Among them is whether Volkswagen will be allowed to resell repurchased vehicles and how to fix nearly 90,000 Porsche, Audi and VW cars and SUVs also made by the company that are equipped with six-cylinder diesel engines that do not comply with U.S. clean air standards.

The judge said he expects the issues of Justice Department fines and resolving the 3.0 liter engines will be addressed "expeditiously."

The judge said the settlement includes VW's offer to buyback 482,000 2.0-liter vehicles, fix them if regulators agree on that step after further testing, or cancel outstanding leases.

The U.S. settlement will include an environmental remediation fund to address excess emissions, and additional "substantial compensation" to owners to sell back or have their vehicles fixed, Breyer said. The size of the fund and the amount of the compensation to owners were not disclosed.

VW said in a statement it reached "an agreement on the basic features of a settlement with the class action plaintiffs in the lawsuit in San Francisco. This agreement will be incorporated into a comprehensive settlement in the coming weeks."

VW said the deal "will have no legal bearing on proceedings outside of the United States." VW previously offered $1,000 in cash and other compensation to nearly 600,000 U.S. owners, but did not offer compensation to other owners.

"Volkswagen is committed to winning back the trust of its customers, its dealers, its regulators and all of America," said VW lawyer Robert Giuffra.

Breyer said VW will commit additional funds to "promote other green automotive technologies."

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said the deal "does not in any way resolve the consumer and environmental penalty claims of the states, or the states' claims for injunctive relief."

Volkswagen spokeswoman Jeannine Ginivan said customers do not need to take any action immediately. Based on the court schedule outlined on Thursday, the earliest buybacks would begin is likely in July.

Reuters reported that owners will get around two years to decide whether to sell their vehicles back including the 2009-2015 diesel Jetta and will be offered the estimated value of the vehicles from September 2015, before the scandal erupted, along with an unspecified premium.

_______________________________


http://www.reuters.com/article/us-vo...-idUSKCN0XI2PX

The proposal would give customers the options to have Volkswagen buy back or fix their vehicles, or cancel their leases and return the cars. Consumers will be eligible for additional compensation in addition to those options.

The proposal encompasses about 480,000 vehicles with 2.0 liter engines, and does not address about 90,000 additional vehicles with 3.0 liter engines, according to U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, who is overseeing consolidated litigation over the vehicles in federal court in California.

Breyer said during Thursday's hearing he expected the parties would work together "expeditiously" to reach an agreement on those vehicles, as well as other fines and penalties.

For vehicles covered by the deal, it will take time to hammer out the details, said Elizabeth Cabraser, who was appointed to lead litigation on behalf of plaintiffs.

"We have a ways to go" on issues like notifying class members and filing formal court documents, Cabraser said during Thursday’s hearing, "but we are now able to start on that way.”

Breyer has asked the parties to submit a motion outlining the deal and formally requesting his preliminary approval by June 21, and has scheduled a July 26 hearing on the motion.

Also Covered by NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/22/bu...tomobiles&_r=0

[zcd2.7t]

Reuters has some of the details of todays agreement.....

Re-post...

[QUBE5]

Reuters has an interesting article on how VW dealers feel about the diesel emissions scandal settlement. They seem to believe resale values will rebound once repairs are implemented.....

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-vo...-idUSKCN0XI2TJ

"Once the cars get fixed, their resale value will rebound dramatically. I think the resale value will be one of the smaller issues," said Los Angeles dealer Mike Sullivan. "Most people don't want to get rid of the car, most want to keep it."

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Owners will get to share their opinion about the settlement prior to Justice Breyer signing off on it....

Associated Press has also covered this:http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...MPLATE=DEFAULT

Details of the agreement are expected to come out over the next couple of months. Breyer set a June 21 deadline for attorneys from the U.S. Justice Department and for Volkswagen owners to file additional paperwork about the agreement.

After that, owners will get the chance to comment before Breyer signs off on any deal.

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The AP also has a Question & Answer article which focuses on the main questions owners may have about the settlement...

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...MPLATE=DEFAULT

Here are some questions and answers about what happened in Judge Charles Breyer's courtroom in San Francisco:

I OWN ONE OF THESE CARS. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Nothing yet. The Judge ordered all the lawyers to work out details by June 21. They will then be made public, and you'll have a chance to comment before another court hearing on July 26. The judge said owners shouldn't do anything until they get a formal notice. Breyer issued a gag order on the lawyers so information doesn't leak out.

WHAT CARS ARE COVERED BY THIS?

At this point the deal covers 482,000 VW models with 2-liter diesel engines dating to 2009. U.S. models include the 2009-2015 Jetta and Audi A3, the 2010-2015 Golf, and the 2012-2015 Beetle and Passat. Another 90,000 cars with 3-liter diesel engines also have cheating software, but lawyers are still negotiating what to do with those.

HOW MUCH WILL OWNERS GET FROM VW?

Aside from the choice between buybacks and repairs, there will be compensation. But it's unclear just how much it will be. Also unclear is how much VW will pay to buy the cars back, although owners likely will get the cars' value before the scandal broke on Sept. 18, 2015. A person briefed on the deal said Wednesday that owners of the 482,000 would share in more than $1 billion in compensation that would vary by the age and miles on the vehicle. But a key lawyer in the case cautioned against using the $1 billion figure.

IF I GO FOR THE FIX, WILL IT HURT MY CAR'S MILEAGE OR PERFORMANCE

That likely will depend on how old your car is. Older vehicles will need more extensive work on the exhaust system and could even need a chemical system to treat nitrogen oxide that would have to have a storage tank. Newer models may just need a software update. Exhaust and treatment systems likely would hurt mileage and acceleration. Software may not. It's all under negotiation.

WILL VOLKSWAGEN BE PUNISHED FOR CHEATING?

Yes. Breyer said that fines and penalties also have to be negotiated. VW is on the hook for up to $20 billion in environmental fines in the U.S. alone, although it's likely the company would negotiate a lower figure as part of any settlement. VW also must set up a fund that would pay to make up for the excess pollution from the dirty diesels, and it will have to pay more to another fund to promote green auto technology. VW also faces ongoing criminal investigations in the U.S. and elsewhere.

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Audi has updated their FAQ on their "Audi diesel information" site with today's recent settlement information....

https://www.audiusa.com/about/diesel...tion/v6-diesel

What happened at the April 21, 2016 federal court hearing?
The Court announced that certain agreements in principle had been reached regarding resolution of TDI emissions issues relating to 2.0L TDI vehicles. Audi continues to work expeditiously toward an approved remedy for the 3.0L TDI V6 vehicles

Can you share additional details regarding the proposed settlement?
Specifics of the agreements in principle are still being finalized. Until finalized, details must remain confidential in accordance with the Court’s direction.

When do you expect to have more details regarding the specifics of any settlement?
The Court has directed the parties to file publicly additional documents regarding these agreements by June 21st. Until then, details must remain confidential in accordance with the Court’s direction.

We believe the agreements in principle announced today (4/21) are an important step on the road to making things right.

What steps do I need to take right now?
As noted on April 21, 2016 by the Court, customers in the United States do not need to take any action at this time.

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[QUBE5]

NY Times released a fascinating article today about how the cheating started at VW. It also hints that a fix will cause a lot of expensive maintenance for the TDI's emissions systems ...

http://nyti.ms/1UfyEmY

What is now clear is that the current crisis at Volkswagen traces back to the PowerPoint presentation a decade ago.

Volkswagen engineers at the company’s research and development complex in Wolfsburg realized that the emissions equipment in their newest diesel engine would wear out too quickly if it were calibrated to meet American pollution standards. The emissions rules in the United States are more stringent than those in Europe.

A technology expert at Volkswagen offered a solution in the PowerPoint presentation. Just a few pages long, the 2006 presentation included a graph that explained the process for testing the amount of pollution spewing from a car. In a laboratory, regulators would try to replicate a variety of conditions on the road.

The pattern of those tests, the presentation said, was entirely predictable. And a piece of code embedded in the software that controlled the engine could recognize that pattern, activating equipment to reduce emissions just for testing purposes.

[QUBE5]

Just released today, VW's Annual Report 2015 , check it out here: http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/...e/Y_2015_e.pdf



Live Stream(audio only) of the Investor Conference is available at 11:30 am UTC : http://volkswagen.gomexlive.com/vw_live_ag/?lang=en




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According to VW's 2015 Annual Report and Reuters, VW may have to sell some of the company's assets due to the costs associated with the diesel emissions scandal.....


http://www.reuters.com/article/us-vo...-idUSKCN0XP12B

Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) could face "further significant financial liabilities" beyond the 16.2 billion euros ($18.4 billion) it has provisioned for its diesel emissions scandal and may need to sell assets as a result, it said in its annual report.

"The funding needed to cover the risks may lead to assets having to be sold due to the situation and equivalent proceeds for them not being achieved as a result," it said in its risks and opportunities report published on Thursday.

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The AP has more details of today's events....


http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...MPLATE=DEFAULT

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -- Volkswagen said Thursday it had set aside 7.8 billion euros ($8.8 billion) to buy back or fix diesel-powered cars that had been rigged to cheat in emissions tests.

The sum is part of 16.2 billion euros the company deducted from last year's earnings to cover the costs of the emissions scandal, in which its cars were fitted with software that enabled them to pass tests but then turned emissions controls off during everyday driving.

The German automaker further broke down the set-aside for 2015 by saying it included 7.0 billion euros for fines and legal costs worldwide.

Analysts say the final bill will likely be much higher, when including the impact of lower sales. Volkswagen says it is reporting costs that it knows about at the present time.

The company said last week that it lost 1.5 billion euros on an after-tax basis after a profit of 11.1 billion euros in 2014.

Volkswagen is currently working out a settlement with U.S. authorities in federal court in San Francisco, and has said that would include an offer to buy back as many as 500,000 of the just under 600,000 defective vehicles.

CEO Matthias Mueller said Thursday that recalling and fixing the cars that were rigged to cheat on the tests "will remain our most important task until the very last vehicle has been put in order."

He used the company's annual news conference to also sketch out a wide-ranging transformation of the company that would see it focus more on electric vehicles and services like car-sharing as it seeks to get past its scandal over cheating on diesel emissions tests.

He stressed that the company's car business remains "fundamentally sound" but detailed a promised plan to emphasize digital services and zero-emissions vehicles. The company would soon form a legally independent company to promote business in mobility services, which can include things like ride-sharing apps and car-sharing, he said.

Mueller said that the company would "make electric cars one of Volkswagen's new hallmarks" with 20 new models by 2020.

Volkswagen had previously emphasized diesel technology, which has suffered a blow since it became clear Volkswagen engines could not meet U.S. emissions standards without cheating. The company has admitted using engine software that disabled emissions controls when vehicles were not being tested. That improved performance and mileage but meant the vehicles spewed far more than the legal limit of pollutants.

Mueller apologized again for the scandal, telling the company's annual news conference in Wolfsburg, Germany, that "we disappointed many people who trusted Volkswagen."

The company said its robust cash reserves of 24.5 billion euros at year end left it in a strong financial position. Chief Financial Officer Frank Witter said that the company would not propose any capital increase to shareholders at its annual meeting in June.

[QUBE5]

The German Transportation Minister, Alexander Dobrindt, today threatened to go public and name foreign vehicle manufactures who have high diesel emissions in Germany, the German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported. After VW admitted to cheating the US's emissions tests, Germany's KBA tested diesel vehicles in Germany and found several manufactures' diesel vehicles to also have high levels of emissions.....

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-vo...-idUSKCN0XQ2KE

Germany's motor transport authority KBA conducted blanket tests of foreign and domestic car brands in the wake of Volkswagen's vehicle emissions-test cheating, but found many foreign car brands also showed high pollution levels.

Following the KBA vehicle tests, Germany's top manufacturers agreed to recall 630,000 vehicles to tweak diesel engine software technology blamed for causing high pollution.

While Germany's KBA has the authority to order a recall of vehicles which were given pan-European road certification via German channels, it relies on the cooperation of foreign authorities to chase down vehicles from foreign car brands which may have gained pan-European road worthiness certification via other markets.

"We are in contact with all the relevant authorities. I expect that they too will clamp down as we did, and demand recalls," Dobrindt is quoted telling the paper.

If authorities in foreign countries fail to respond to German requests for recalls of vehicles with excessive pollution levels, Germany will go public with some of the results, the paper said.

"I will talk to my international colleagues. Should a voluntary recall fail, we will discuss the matter publicly", Dobrindt told the paper.

[QUBE5]

In an interview for Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, Germany's Finance Minister berated VW's executives for still taking bonuses despite the diesel emissions scandal and the massive financial impact it will have on the company and its employees....


http://www.reuters.com/article/us-vo...-idUSKCN0XR0DW

"I have no sympathy for managers who first drive a large blue chip-listed company into an existence-threatening crisis and then defend their own bonuses in a public debate," Schaeuble told German weekly Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.

"That shows that something is not working."

Volkswagen plans to pay the 12 current and former members of its management board 63.24 million euros ($72.44 million) for 2015, a year when Europe's largest carmaker posted a record loss due to legal and compensation costs for cheating diesel emissions tests.

The company withheld a small part of bonus payments but will award them at a later date if certain performance criteria are fulfilled, including a recovery of the Volkswagen's share price.

The bonus payouts have sparked public outrage in Germany and a spat within Volkswagen's supervisory board.

Lower Saxony, VW's second-largest shareholder, had called for executive bonuses to be scrapped or cut as Europe's largest automaker counts the multi-billion-euro costs of "Dieselgate".

Joerg Bode, a former supervisory board member who had represented Lower Saxony, told weekly Welt am Sonntag that ex-CEO Martin Winterkorn and his colleagues should pay back the part of the bonuses that had been generated by "cost cuts through fraud".

Current supervisory board member Bernd Osterloh said last week that the carmaker should look beyond contractual obligations and that the management board should volunteer to cut their bonus payments. "It is also about morals," he had said.

Osterloh also said that the supervisory board should also discuss changes to its own remuneration system once the dieselgate scandal has been resolved.

"As soon as business is back to normal we should think about changing the (remuneration) system (of the supervisory board)," Osterloh was quoted by Welt am Sonntag as saying.

A swift change to fixed salaries and abolishing variable pay components tied to dividends would be a wrong signal as that would effectively lead to a hike in remuneration, the Volkswagen labor chief told the paper.

[spijun]

Audi is stronger and better than ever


AUDI AG: Strongest starting quarter with over 450,000 deliveries


https://www.audiusa.com/newsroom/new...000-deliveries

[QUBE5]

VW's/Audi's US 2.0L TDI Goodwill Package sign up period has now EXPIRED(Owners had to register by April 30, 2016). If you own a 3.0L TDI and haven't already signed up/registered for your Goodwill Package, remember to sign up and register for the VW/Audi 3.0L Goodwill Package by July 31, 2016.





(Main post has been updated)

[spijun]

Study says 97% of diesel cars fail to meet emissions standard

http://www.motor1.com/news/62363/stu...ons-standards/
http://www.theguardian.com/business/...-nox-emissions
http://www.epictimes.com/04/25/2016/...lution-limits/

[Thatcher's TDI]

Thanks QUBE5 for keeping this thread updated. 8 months into this Dieselgate, but I think the 3.0 TDI settlement won't happen for another 3 or 4 more months.


Thanks Audi for dragging your feet. Your showing you really care about your customers (sarcasm) .

[QUBE5]

Thanks again Thatcher for your support.

Hopefully, the public will hear more about a resolution for the 3.0L TDIs in the next week or at the "status conference" court hearing on May 19th(8am). However, if the details aren't shared with the public at that time, then those details should be made public by June 26th(but there could always be delays, unfortunately).

[QUBE5]

The UK Government just released a report explaining the results from a series of emissions tests the UK Government conducted on several diesel vehicles from a mix of different brands. The results were pretty interesting. They found that the average European/UK diesel vehicle is emitting 6 times the legal NOx limit for the UK and Europe

5.21 On average our measured road test NOx emissions from Euro 5 vehicles were 1135 mg/km - over six times higher than the 180 mg/km official legislative NEDC laboratory test limit.

5.24 On average our measured road test NOx emissions from Euro 6 vehicles were 500 mg/km - over six times higher than the 80 mg/km official legislative NEDC laboratory test limit. However this average is less than half the figure for the Euro 5 vehicles.

The UK's Department of Transport's Vehicle Emissions Testing Program report can be found here:(Click Here).

Conclusions:

6.1 The investigation led by the Department’s engineers and managed by the Vehicle Certification Agency has assessed the emissions of a large number of diesel cars typically found on UK roads. The oversight of Professor Martinez-Botas has ensured the testing was relevant, the evidence produced was robust and the analysis by TRL Ltd. of the highest quality.

6.2 The tests on the Skoda showed how effective Volkswagen Group's cycle recognition strategy was in detecting the laboratory conditions and altering the emissions so as to pass the test. The evidence collected during this programme has not found any similar systems being used by any other manufacturers outside the Volkswagen Group. The Government is satisfied that the first objective of the investigation has been answered.

6.3 The emissions of NOx from the other tested vehicles, whether in the Euro 5 or Euro 6 technology levels, are surprisingly different when tested on a test-track or on-road under real driving conditions compared to those recorded in the laboratory.

6.4 We have learned through this investigation that manufacturers are using a temperature dependent strategy to regulate the amount of Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) as part of their emissions control. These temperature based systems are used in both the older Euro 5 designs and the very latest Euro 6 engines. Manufacturers argue that temperature based control of the EGR system is essential to ensure the emissions control works reliably during normal vehicle use and over the extended conditions of 100,000 miles.

6.5 The systems work by controlling the mass flow (and hence concentration) of EGR entering the engine as the ambient temperature rises or falls. Manufacturers optimise their EGR calibration to suit each model and engine configuration, and it is not possible to draw any conclusion from the test programme on the effectiveness of a particular manufacturer’s system in ensuring high levels of durability while also maximising the emissions reducing potential of the EGR system in normal use.

6.6 The investigation team has seen evidence from manufacturers to support their justification that without such a temperature dependant control, the EGR components and some of the fundamental elements within the engine would be materially damaged and cease to operate in the designed condition. The consequences of such damage could be a significant cost to the consumer for major repair work.

6.7 It is clear from our investigation that further improvements to European regulations will help avoid any uncertainty in how the systems are allowed to operate in the future. It is noted that the European legislation was recently updated to align it more closely with the USA obligations for these systems. In future this will require manufacturers presenting a vehicle for type approval to declare the presence of any aspect of the emissions control system (for example the EGR control strategy) which might reduce its effectiveness during real world use. The Government will be writing to the European Commission seeking further improvements so as to provide the clarity needed for regulators and manufacturers, while also ensuring the highest levels of environmental performance from vehicles.

6.8 In addition two further important changes to the emissions tests will be introduced in the next two years. The UK has played an active role in helping to develop new tests that will make it very difficult, if not impossible for a vehicle manufacturer to manipulate type approval emissions testing in the future - either through the use of cycle recognition or prohibited defeat devices. This legislation, known as the Real Driving Emissions (RDE) test has been developed at a European level and the UK has pushed strongly for its earliest possible introduction, now scheduled as September 2017.

6.9 The RDE test will be run on real roads, in real traffic, making Europe the first region in the world to introduce regulatory emissions tests on public roads. As the test procedure does not prescribe a set vehicle speed profile it will not be possible for a vehicle to detect that it is on test in the way which the Volkswagen Group software appears to have done. Instead the RDE test procedure allows a wide range of variation in the way in which the vehicle is driven, the terrain and the weather. This is intended to capture over 90% of all typical European driving.

6.10 Importantly, once manufacturers have put vehicles on the market, the legislation will also allow independent, third party organisations to conduct their own RDE tests, to verify that vehicles conform to requirements. If a vehicle is found not to comply with the emissions requirements, then the validity of type approval will be open to challenge.

6.11 Separately a new laboratory test cycle is being finalised that is tougher than the current one. The new test is known as WLTP and is a more demanding assessment with many more periods of acceleration and higher speeds which tend to generate pollutants such as NOx. Flexibilities in the current test, often seen as loopholes, have been removed.

6.12 Despite the new test being more representative of real-world driving, and therefore more demanding, the regulatory emission limits will stay the same and manufacturers will have to improve the way they control emissions to make sure they continue to comply on the new cycle. In general WLTP is expected to more than double the stringency of the NOx emissions limit.4

6.13 The UK is pressing for the implementation of WLTP as soon as possible and we expect that it will be mandatory for new cars from after September 2017.

The approval of new vehicles for environment and for safety sits within an EU framework of regulations known as EU type approval. This framework is currently being revised in the European Council and the Government will be pressing not only for appropriate measures to improve the supervision of the testing and assessment of new vehicles, but also to ensure vehicles leaving the production line and those coming into the UK from wider markets are also compliant.

Also covered by The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/environme...em-diesel-cars

[sweetmeat]

stealing QUBE5's thunder...

Bloomberg reporting a fix for the 3.0 is near. Potentially a new catalytic converter to compliment the inevitable software fix.... Time will tell.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl...orsche-diesels

[QUBE5]

stealing QUBE5's thunder...

Bloomberg reporting a fix for the 3.0 is near. Potentially a new catalytic converter to compliment the inevitable software fix.... Time will tell.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl...orsche-diesels

I believe this is the same proposed remedy that was discussed to be for impacted Porsche 3.0L TDI models a few months ago. If I remember correctly, the EPA needed to test the driving(on road/at speed) emissions of the remedy. So, the EPA may have finally tested and approved this remedy, but your right sweetmeat, time will tell.

I'm concerned though that this "remedy" will contribute to more expensive maintenance, just like the UK Government's emissions conclusion about tampering with the temperature timer and how that impacts the internal engine components. Hopefully more details are shared soon.

[QUBE5]

VW sounds optimistic about meeting the June 21st deadline for having an agreement with US regulators.......

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-vo...-idUSKCN0Y31X3

Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) hopes to reach a final settlement with the U.S. authorities over the diesel emissions scandal next month so that it can get moving on a recovery plan which will see the launch of several new crossover and electric vehicles, its sales chief said on Thursday.

VW aims to expand its electric-vehicle offerings in the United States to meet a growing demand for green cars and help restore its image, VW brand sales chief Juergen Stackmann said in an interview published on Thursday.

"A final agreement with U.S. authorities would certainly provide relief and, at the same time, give the go-ahead to look and plan ahead", Stackmann said.

VW reached an outline agreement with the U.S. authorities last month to buy back or fix about a half million polluting diesel cars and set up environmental and consumer compensation funds but a final deal must be reached by June 21.

[spijun]

WOW:
https://www.volkswagen-media-service..._auth=yxyRUs4g

Volkswagen Group delivers 3.36 million vehicles in period to April
http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/...ern_April.html

[QUBE5]

Some VW diesel emissions news/articles that appeared over the weekend.....



CNBC - Norway’s $850bn oil fund to sue Volkswagen

The world's largest sovereign wealth fund is planning to sue Volkswagen in a rare legal action from Norway's $850bn oil fund that underscores investor anger over the emissions scandal at the German carmaker.

"We have been advised by our lawyers that the company's conduct gives rise to legal claims under German law. As an investor it is our responsibility to safeguard the fund's holding in Volkswagen," said Petter Johnsen, chief investment officer for equity strategies at Norges Bank Investment Management, the manager of the oil fund.

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Attorneys in Louisiana are advising their clients against the VW settlement.....


Attorneys advising their Louisiana clients against class action settlement with VW

“This is not a good deal,” said Mandeville lawyer Rick Dalton, who represents more than four dozen VW owners across the state who filed suit May 5 against Volkswagen Group of America in the 19th Judicial District Court in Baton Rouge. “They (consumers of VW vehicles) did nothing wrong.”

Dalton’s co-counsel in the case, Lafayette lawyer Kevin Duck, said details of the proposed settlement agreement are to be made public next month and are expected to include a buyback provision for those whose vehicles cannot be repaired or a cash payment for those whose automobiles can be fixed at VW’s expense.

“Fixing the vehicle doesn’t get you what you paid for,” said Dalton, adding that the repair will result in reduced engine performance and lower gas mileage.

Duck said the loss of vehicle performance and mileage will have an effect on the resale price of the vehicle.

For those who choose to keep their VWs and have them repaired by the company, Dalton said he expects the cash offer that will accompany that option to be in the neighborhood of $5,000.

“It’s not a fair amount. It’s nothing, in my professional opinion,” he said.

For those owners whose cars cannot be repaired, Duck said, the proposed buyback simply will be a repurchase at current market value.

“Essentially a trade-in without compensation,” he said.

Details of the agreement are to be made public by June 21.

Experts have said repairing older-model diesels will be complicated and expensive and likely will reduce their performance and fuel mileage.

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VW's recent cost cutting measures, which were put in place because of the costs associated with the diesel emission scandal, are now having an impact on VW's relationship with its suppliers.....


Automotive News - Suppliers, irked by cuts, take VW to task

Last October, the German newspaper Handelsblatt revealed the German automaker was demanding price cuts of $3.4 billion from its suppliers to cover the growing cost of its diesel emissions scandal.

So it's not surprising that Volkswagen's North American purchasing operation got rock-bottom ratings in Planning Perspectives Inc.'s survey of senior supplier executives.

Only 12 percent of respondents reported good relations with VW -- which ranked the worst among 10 automakers overall. Volkswagen did not respond to requests for comment last week.

John Henke, president of Planning Perspectives, said VW had gotten low ratings even before it launched its cost-cutting campaign last October. "They have always been the worst possible customer," Henke said. "They believe that suppliers have to do business with them because they're big. It's utterly stupid."

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A VW diesel emissions scandal editorial published over the weekend....

Missoulian(AP) - Should U.S. consumers shun Volkswagen because it cheated on emissions tests?
Yes: VW should be punished for major environmental crime


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News related to emissions cheating...



South Korea is stating that Nissan also cheated emissions tests in their country for a small number of vehicles....


South Korea says Nissan manipulated emissions, proposes fine and recall

South Korea said it would punish Nissan Motor Co (7201.T) with a fine and a recall of its Qashqai diesel sport utility vehicles after accusing it of manipulating emissions, an allegation that the Japanese automaker denied.

"South Korea's environment ministry said it believed Nissan had used a so-called defeat device in Qashqai to turn off its exhaust reduction system under regular driving temperatures.

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Opel is to be questioned this week by German authorities over allegations of emissions test rigging...

German minister has summoned Opel to investigative committee: spokesman

Germany's transport minister has summoned carmaker Opel to appear in front of an investigative committee following media reports about suspected emissions rigging, a spokesman said on Friday, adding that the appointment was due to take place next week.

German magazine Der Spiegel said the Opel Astra, one of the best selling cars for General Motors in Europe, has engine software which switches off exhaust treatment systems when the outside temperature is below 17 degrees centigrade, or under acceleration.

[sdiver68]

WOW:
https://www.volkswagen-media-service..._auth=yxyRUs4g

Volkswagen Group delivers 3.36 million vehicles in period to April
http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/...ern_April.html

Take out sales of the redesigned q7 and Audi sales are flat on the year.

[hiphawpdrunkie]

The status conference originally scheduled for this Thursday was moved to May 24, 2016. I suspect we will find out what is to become of our 3.0L TDIs during that status conference.


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[hiphawpdrunkie]

VW filed a motion yesterday to dismiss a majority of the Justice Department's claims, as they pertain to the 3.0L TDI engines. VW is arguing that the Justice Department failed to plead that VW officials "knowingly" installed a defeat device in the 3.0L vehicles. If VW's arguments are persuasive, the Justice Department could amend its complaint to overcome the gaps alleged by VW, but that would push out any potential resolution by some months.


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[sdiver68]

VW filed a motion yesterday to dismiss a majority of the Justice Department's claims, as they pertain to the 3.0L TDI engines. VW is arguing that the Justice Department failed to plead that VW officials "knowingly" installed a defeat device in the 3.0L vehicles. If VW's arguments are persuasive, the Justice Department could amend its complaint to overcome the gaps alleged by VW, but that would push out any potential resolution by some months.

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Seems like a stretch given Judge Breyer's aggressive approach, the multitude of State and other Federal lawsuits, and the 85,000 class action / potential individual lawsuits filed. But if there's 1 thing we can count on from VAG it's denial and delay.

Thanks for the heads up! Your info is often not found other places.

[QUBE5]

The status conference originally scheduled for this Thursday was moved to May 24, 2016. I suspect we will find out what is to become of our 3.0L TDIs during that status conference.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

VW filed a motion yesterday to dismiss a majority of the Justice Department's claims, as they pertain to the 3.0L TDI engines. VW is arguing that the Justice Department failed to plead that VW officials "knowingly" installed a defeat device in the 3.0L vehicles. If VW's arguments are persuasive, the Justice Department could amend its complaint to overcome the gaps alleged by VW, but that would push out any potential resolution by some months.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks for the update hiphawpdrunkie!

Seems like a stretch given Judge Breyer's aggressive approach, the multitude of State and other Federal lawsuits, and the 85,000 class action / potential individual lawsuits filed. But if there's 1 thing we can count on from VAG it's denial and delay.

Thanks for the heads up! Your info is often not found other places.

I completely agree with you, sdiver68. I think it's a last-ditch effort to avoid the likely and expensive outcome.

Audi basically admitted to the authorities that the 3.0L TDI uses a temperature timer, and since the US authorities consider the use of a temperature timer a defeat device, that makes Audi guilty here..... However, now it sounds like Audi is attempting to act like like they didn't admit to anything or at least the DOJ didn't prove/argue that they did. The US courts really don't like people who try to backtrack on their responsibility, especially last minute, but perhaps they'll look differently on this corporation. I don't see this going over well, but I could be wrong. I'd be really surprised if the DOJ made a mistake with how it handled the 3.0L TDI's "defeat device"(considering how huge this case is), but we will see.


One thing is for sure though,....all 3.0L TDI owners have been in limbo for several months now, and it's all due to VW's/Audi's actions....this newest delay may be only for a few more days, but I'm really not impressed with the fact that Audi is constantly asking for more time and it's starting to look like that these extension requests are being requested in a way to intentional delay the proceedings as long as possible now....I really hope we don't hear of yet another delay when we are approaching the June 21st date(but it looks possible).

[QUBE5]

Here is a little more info on the US Court's May 19th "status conference" delay....



http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl...-claims-by-u-s

The U.S. claims over 3.0 liter engines, covering about 85,000 vehicles, are “inconsistent” and lacking facts to support that “any of the VW defendants knew about any defeat devices in 3.0L subject vehicles,” VW said in court papers late Monday.

Dismissal of these claims wouldn’t affect the current “settlement agreement in principle” over almost 500,000 vehicles with 2.0 liter engines reached with consumers and government agencies, the company said. It also wouldn’t impede settlement negotiations over the 3.0 liter engines, VW said.

The company asked U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco to dismiss the claims “without prejudice,” meaning they could be brought again later. Breyer has given VW a June 21 deadline to come up with a plan for getting the polluting vehicles fixed or off the road. Any action on the VW motion to dismiss won’t thwart reaching that deadline, the company said.

[QUBE5]

VW's hybrid vehicles are now facing their own share of legal issues in the US.....

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-au...-idUSKCN0Y92CE

The U.S. International Trade Commission on Wednesday said it launched an investigation into whether Volkswagen AG (VOWG_p.DE) and its subsidiaries infringed hybrid electric vehicle patents owned by Baltimore-based Paice LLC.

The commission said it has not made any decisions on the merits of the case. But a ruling against Volkswagen could be a significant setback to the automaker's strategy to shift towards hybrid vehicles after a crushing emissions fraud scandal halted sales of its diesel vehicles in the United States last year.

Paice is seeking an ITC order that would block the import and sale of Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche brand hybrid vehicles in the U.S. market. It filed its initial request on April 15.

"But after learning everything it needed from Paice, VW abruptly ended the collaboration and never licensed Paice's technology," the company said, adding that the automaker shifted its efforts to develop diesel technology instead.

[QUBE5]

Germany is investigating several vehicles for high emissions....

http://www.dw.com/en/high-emissions-...any/a-19269909

Germany’s transport ministry has found 30 car models to have conspicuously high amounts of carbon emissions, and higher levels of fuel consumption than their manufacturers have indicated, according to media reports.

German weekly news magazine Spiegel reported Friday that the commission charged by the transport ministry to conduct exhaust measurements on diesel cars following Volkswagen’s Dieselgate scandal had raised red flags on the car models, and would now perform further tests on the models to substantiate its findings.

Fiat Chrysler didn't even show up to the Thursday meeting with German authorities over high emissions....

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-fi...-idUSKCN0YB0NP

Fiat Chrysler was due to attend the meeting in Germany on Thursday over possible emissions irregularities of its diesel vehicles. It canceled the appointment by sending a lawyer's letter.

Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt slammed the group's "uncooperative behavior" as "completely incomprehensible."

Also covered by Bloomberg: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl...emission-probe

[QUBE5]

VW's US Court "status conference" will be @ 8am PDT. After the proceedings, which will be a few hours from now, more information related to the May 24th "status conference" will be available here,.


______________________________________

Some diesel emissions scandal news that appeared over the weekend...



VW Investors are calling for a separate investigation into the diesel emissions scandal....

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-vo...-idUSKCN0YE18P

Three investor groups called on Monday for a new, independent investigation into Volkswagen's emissions test-rigging scandal, saying the inquiries launched by the German carmaker so far may not be far-reaching or transparent enough.

______________________________________


More details of Fiat Chrysler's emissions issues with Germany were published by Bild am Sonntag...

http://www.autonews.com/article/2016...les-ban-threat

Bild am Sonntag said on Sunday that several tests by the German motor transport authority KBA had found evidence that the exhaust treatment system in some of FCA's models would switch itself off after 22 minutes. Emissions tests normally run for around 20 minutes, the newspaper added.

In a separate report on Saturday, Bild had cited German transport ministry sources as saying that the carmaker could, in a worst case scenario, be threatened with a sales ban in Germany if it keeps disregarding emissions rules.

Also covered by Bloomberg:http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl...-car-emissions

[QUBE5]

Reuters is reporting that progress has been made in the settlement....

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-vo...-idUSKCN0YF1ZW

Volkswagen AG and lawyers for owners and the U.S. government are expected to tell a federal judge at a court hearing on Tuesday that they have made significant progress toward reaching a final agreement by late June, two sources briefed on the matter told Reuters.

Lawyers are also expected to tell U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer that a settlement over the excess diesel emissions scandal will include "substantial compensation" for owners of 482,000 polluting vehicles, the sources said. An agreement in principle for buybacks and potential fixes was announced in April.

Breyer said engineering studies and testing are continuing toward reaching a resolution for 80,000 larger 3.0 liter vehicles but offered no timetable for a resolution. Those vehicles emit up to 9 times legally allowable pollution

[hiphawpdrunkie]

I was contemplating joining the audio line for this morning's status conference, but didn't want to shell out $30. I'll link the transcript later this afternoon.


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[QUBE5]

I was contemplating joining the audio line for this morning's status conference, but didn't want to shell out $30. I'll link the transcript later this afternoon.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks hiphawpdrunkie! It sounds like the transcript should have some juicy details.

[hiphawpdrunkie]

Here you guys go: http://www.cand.uscourts.gov/filelib...Transcript.pdf


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[QUBE5]

Thanks again hiphawpdrunkie for linking to today's "status conference" transcript.




A few main points from the "status conference" today....

First, the settlements address noncompliant 2-liter-engine cars currently on the road. By Volkswagen offering to buy back or to terminate the lease for each vehicle, or, at no cost to the consumer, and subject to Government approval after further testing, by the consumer choosing to have Volkswagen modify the vehicles to reduce the emissions in accordance with the requirements set by EPA and CARB.

Second, in addition -- and I want to emphasize this. In addition to the buy-back or modification, the settlement pays substantial monetary compensation to the proposed class of 2-liter-engine owners and lessees.

Third, the settlement requires Volkswagen to pay money into a fund that will support environmental remediation. In addition, Volkswagen will be required to commit other funds to promote green automotive technology.

None of these settlement benefits will be reduced by the payment of attorneys' fees and costs.

With respect to the 3-liter-engine cars, the parties, through the Settlement Master, have reported to the Court that the resolution of what to do with these vehicles began later than for the 2-liter-engine cars. Engineering studies and testing for these cars are ongoing, and the parties are moving as quickly as possible to resolve these issues. I have been assured that the parties are working diligently on resolving the 3-liter-engine cars' issues.

To summarize, the parties are on track to publicly file the proposed settlements on June 21st.

As previously announced, the Court will hold a preliminary approval hearing of the consumer class-action settlement on July 26 at 8:00 a.m.

In the meantime, the Court will also hold a further status conference at 8:00 a.m. on June 30th.

[QUBE5]

VW is trying to delay the case again, and it looks like they are attempting to use Fiat Chrysler's recent defense strategy which Fiat Chrysler utilized against the German authorities accusations of emissions cheating, by stating that US authorities don't have jurisdiction over the vehicles.....

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/26/bu...tomobiles&_r=0

But in a response to the Justice Department, filed Tuesday in San Francisco, the German automaker appeared to back away from its mea culpa, saying that the facts of the case remained unclear and that it was still conducting an internal investigation.

It also challenged the court’s jurisdiction over Volkswagen, and over its subsidiary Audi, saying that cars in the United States were sold through local businesses and not the parent companies. It said that the statute of limitations voided any conduct at Volkswagen before 2010.

Over all, the Justice Department “fails to allege facts sufficient” for any penalties, Volkswagen lawyers said. But the carmaker described the filing as part of the legal process, and said it “has no bearing on Volkswagen’s commitment to resolving the U.S. government’s claims.”

Edit: There is no specific court date delay right now, but I foresee this latest issue VW raised to create a delay since it must be resolved prior to completing the settlement.

[Pittdawg]

I don't see where it says they are pushing for more delays but rather trying to avoid paying penalties. But you may have a point that raising these "new" defenses could have the practical effect of delaying the case.

[QUBE5]

I don't see where it says they are pushing for more delays but rather trying to avoid paying penalties. But you may have a point that raising these "new" defenses could have the practical effect of delaying the case.

Before the parties complete the settlement, this issue which VW raised Tuesday ("It said that the statute of limitations voided any conduct at Volkswagen before 2010.") would have to be resolved, and therefore it will more than likely lead to a least another few days of a delay, similar to VW's last challenge of the US accusations of VW "knowingly installing a defeat device in the 3.0L vehicles".

There is no specific court date delay right now, but I'm expecting this issue VW raised to create one. I hope this clarifies my last post.

[QUBE5]

The assistant Attorney General of Arizona, O.H. Skinner, has chosen a different approach against VW over the diesel emissions scandal, and AZ TDI owners could benefit from it....

http://tucson.com/news/state-and-reg...287f88e69.html

Hoping for a faster — and perhaps more favorable — ruling, attorneys for the state are fighting the desire by Volkswagen to have the lawsuit against the company handled in federal court by a federal judge.

In new legal filings, assistant Attorney General O.H. Skinner is telling U.S. District Court Judge Roslyn Silver that Arizona's case against the German automaker is different than those filed by other states in the wake of disclosures the company cheated on its emission testing.

Most of the other lawsuits are based on Volkswagen violating federal air quality standards. But Arizona's claim is that the company defrauded consumers here by advertising and selling a low-emission vehicle that it never delivered.

Skinner noted that claim — and the potential $40 million in penalties Arizona seeks — are based on the state's Consumer Fraud Act. And that, he said, is best handled by a state judge who is familiar with the law and can handle the issue promptly, rather than in federal court where Volkswagen had the case moved after it was filed last month.

[Pittdawg]

The assistant Attorney General of Arizona, O.H. Skinner, has chosen a different approach against VW over the diesel emissions scandal, and AZ TDI owners could benefit from it....

http://tucson.com/news/state-and-reg...287f88e69.html

But then it becomes a question of damages...how exactly where those owners "damaged" by their vehicles emitting more pollution than advertised? For instance, can a single consumer demonstrate they have breathing problems or other illnesses caused by the pollutants admitted from their specific vehicle? I'm not saying all of these vehicles in the aggregate don't effect air quality but I don't think I've suffered any health damage due my own TDI, at least I hope not!

[Phknlwyr]

Before the parties complete the settlement, this issue which VW raised Tuesday ("It said that the statute of limitations voided any conduct at Volkswagen before 2010.") would have to be resolved, and therefore it will more than likely lead to a least another few days of a delay, similar to VW's last challenge of the US accusations of VW "knowingly installing a defeat device in the 3.0L vehicles".

There is no specific court date delay right now, but I'm expecting this issue VW raised to create one. I hope this clarifies my last post.

The statute of limitations defense will fail miserably. You cannot hide something and then use the SOL as a shield. Most courts will impose an extension of the SOL from a date when a litigant, "knew or should have known about the fraud." Since VW only recently admitted their fraud and that they actively sought to conceal it, they will not be entitled to benefit from the SOL.