Volkswagen is the largest car manufacturing company in the world, with a long history of innovation and success in the industry. However, as someone who cares deeply about the environment, I was surprised to learn that such a large and influential company would engage in greenwashing practices. However, in 2015, the company was hit with a major scandal that shook the automotive world and caused serious damage to the company’s reputation. This scandal was known as the Volkswagen diesel emissions scandal, or Dieselgate, and it involved the company’s deliberate manipulation of emissions data to make their diesel cars appear more environmentally friendly than they actually were.
The scandal began to unfold in September 2015, when the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice of violation to Volkswagen, accusing the company of using illegal software to cheat emissions tests. The software, known as a “defeat device,” was designed to detect when a car was being tested for emissions and adjust the engine’s performance to reduce emissions. However, during normal driving conditions, the software would allow the engine to emit up to 40 times the legal limit of nitrogen oxides (NOx).
The scandal was a classic case of greenwashing, in which a company promotes itself as environmentally friendly while engaging in practices that are harmful to the environment. Volkswagen committed the cardinal sin of greenwashing by lying to consumers and regulators about the environmental impact of their cars. The scandal not only damaged the company’s reputation, but also highlighted the need for greater transparency and accountability in the automotive industry.
Since the scandal, Volkswagen has made strides towards sustainability by investing in electric vehicles and setting ambitious carbon reduction targets. Their journey from emissions cheater to climate leader is a positive step towards a more sustainable future for the automotive industry. Let the Volkswagen scandal serve as a call to action for all of us to hold companies accountable for their environmental impact, demand transparency and sustainability, and work towards a greener future.
Resources:
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-34324772
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-commentary/volkswagen-committed-the-cardinal-sin-of-greenwashing-lying/article26500698/
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a15339250/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-vw-diesel-emissions-scandal/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/georgkell/2022/12/05/from-emissions-cheater-to-climate-leader-vws-journey-from-dieselgate-to-embracing-e-mobility/?sh=b9c813768a55
Pictures:
https://freebiesupply.com/logos/volkswagen-logo/
https://www.dieselprogress.com/news/Where-the-VW-emissions-money-is-going/5027557.article
