Road testing with civilian drivers can stop the cheating.
The German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) has published the findings of tests conducted on the BMW 320d (Fuel Consumption Combined liter/100 km 4.3–3.9 (4.1–3.8), CO2 g/km 113–102 (109–99)) and confirmed that the vehicle examined complies with all legal requirements.
The tests were carried out following criticism of the car’s emissions’ performance in December 2017 by an environmental lobby group “Deutsche Umwelthilfe” (Environmental Action Germany).
Klaus Fröhlich, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Development, explained: “As a matter of principle, BMW Group vehicles are not manipulated and comply with all respective legal requirements. Our diesel engines are clean. The public and policymakers can rely on that – and, most of all, so can our customers and employees…. This naturally also applies to the recently criticized BMW 320d – as proven by the results of extensive test-bench and road testing. About BMW Group vehicles, TÜV Süd already confirmed back in 2015: “The NOx figures (…) for all vehicles tested are within the technically explainable and expected tolerance and, in the opinion of TÜV SÜD, demonstrate very robust emission performance.”
Fröhlich did not mention that there is ample credible evidence that German diesel makers were in effect a cartel the furthered their economic self-interests, thereby supporting by omission or commission the Volkswagen Dieselgate s=fraud where the company deliberately installed defeat devices on diesel engines so that they would meet regulations on tests but perform better while polluting the air for all unsuspecting residents. In June of 2017, the respected ‘FAKE-News’ German Magazine Der Spiegel [https://twitter.com/derspiegel] first reported the “irregularities.” It also pointed out the existence of a cheating cartel consisting of Audi, BMW, Daimler, Volkswagen and Porsche that lasted for many years. The outgoing German government was complicit in allowing the cartel and the illegal emissions to remain entrenched in the view of critics – including AutoInformed – because so many jobs were at stake. Ad in the fact that it hurt formidable French competitors – Peugeot, Citroen, Renault – and the motives for malfeasance increase.
BMW claims “The BMW Group has no illegal activities or technical provisions of any kind that influence the test mode for recording emissions.’ Well yes but it went along with schemes to limit the amount of exhaust gas aftertreatment that Der Spiegel discussed. “
The KBA test results also BMW claims “suggest that the emissions readings criticized by “Deutsche Umwelthilfe” resulted from forced driving situations and flawed execution of tests and are therefore not representative.” Does forced mean the way owners actually drive the vehicle? No wonder on the road testing will increase in all regions to check for emissions compliance.
