Category Archives: fuel economy or emissions

VW America CEO Michael Horn Out in Dirty Diesel Scandal

Posted on 10 March 2016 by Ken Zino

Thus the history of sudden death departures at VW in North America continues. When sales previously slumped, Horn became CEO after the abrupt resignation of Jonathan Browning when VW brand sales fell in 2013. The decade before VW said it would triple sales here in 10 years. The lack of trucks and SUVs doomed the plan from the start. Continue reading →

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Volkswagen CEO, other Execs Knew of Diesel Scandal Months – if Not Years – Before Public Exposure of the Fraud

Posted on 2 March 2016 by Ken Zino

The German defense appears weak to AutoInformed (caveat we know little about German law) because former CEO Martin Winterkorn on 27 July 2015 discussed with Volkswagen employees the diesel emissions problem at a regular meeting about “damage and product issues.” Herbert Diess, Volkswagen passenger car CEO, was also present. Memos were sent more than a year earlier. Continue reading →

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Real World MPG Gap Continues

Posted on 28 January 2016 by Ken Zino

Testing data by Emissions Analytics show that although the ‘gap’ between official and real-world figures has remained fairly similar, the average number of miles per gallon has reduced. Continue reading →

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Chevrolet Bolt Debuts into a Moribund EV Market

Posted on 6 January 2016 by Ken Zino

The Bolt EV is said to have more than 200 miles of range on a full charge at a price below $30,000 after Federal tax credits. Continue reading →

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VW Diesel Scandal Results in Loss of Global Sales Crown

Posted on 28 December 2015 by Ken Zino

Given the ongoing ethical, legal and image problems at VW, it’s a good bet the Toyota will once again be the world’s largest automaker when the books close on 2015. Continue reading →

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Fuel Economy, CO2 Emissions Unchanged in US during 2014

Posted on 21 December 2015 by Ken Zino

The average fuel economy for cars remained at 27.9 mpg, during 2014, while trucks increased 0.6 mpg to a new record high of 20.4 mpg. The annual truck increase of 0.6 mpg was the second highest in the last 30 years. Continue reading →

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Volkswagen Admits to CO2 Emissions Problem. €2B at Risk

Posted on 3 November 2015 by Ken Zino

VW said that ~800,000 vehicles from the Volkswagen Group could be affected with “economic risks at approximately two billion euros.” Continue reading →

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VW, Audi, Porsche V6 Diesels added to EPA, CARB Probes

Posted on 2 November 2015 by Ken Zino

The vehicles covered by today’s action are the diesel versions of the 2014 VW Touareg, the 2015 Porsche Cayenne, and the 2016 Audi A6 Quattro, A7 Quattro, A8, A8L, and Q5, among the most profitable vehicles at VW Group. Continue reading →

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Winterkorn off Porsche Exec Board over VW Diesel Cheating

Posted on 19 October 2015 by Ken Zino

This is the latest development in the growing and company-threatening crisis at Volkswagen Group because of its deliberate diesel emissions fraud perpetrated on several continents by now disgraced engineering and management groups. Continue reading →

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Shark Lawyers Circling VW Call for Buyback of Diesels

Posted on 12 October 2015 by Ken Zino

The Hagens Berman and Quinn Emanuel law firms filed a motion today in their national lawsuit against Volkswagen asking the court to order Volkswagen to provide owners of the VW diesels an immediate buyback offer at the Kelley Blue Book value Continue reading →

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Usual Posturing at VW House Hearing on Dirty Diesels

Posted on 9 October 2015 by Ken Zino

Panel members were skeptical to hostile during their questioning of Horn. It was clear that they expected not only significant fines to arise, but for VW to buy back the cars at the pre-scandal price. Continue reading →

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Canada Opens Query on Volkswagen Diesel Emissions

Posted on 23 September 2015 by Ken Zino

Corporate officials can be prosecuted if they authorize, accept or participate in any violation of CEPA, 1999, or its regulations. A range of sentences may be available upon conviction, including fines and possible imprisonment. Continue reading →

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Volkswagen Investigation underway for Deliberately Violating Diesel Emission Rules – $18 Billion in Fines Coming?

Posted on 21 September 2015 by Ken Zino

A sophisticated software algorithm on VW and Audi diesel engines detects when the car is undergoing official emissions testing, and turns full emissions controls on only during the test. Continue reading →

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Pork Alert! Dump Ethanol Say Voters in National Poll

Posted on 1 September 2015 by Ken Zino

Likely 2016 voters have serious concerns about ethanol’s unintended consequences as a fuel, including damage to engines, land conversion and food prices, according to a new national poll. Continue reading →

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Toyota Hybrid Sales Surpass Eight Million

Posted on 21 August 2015 by Ken Zino

Toyota has now sold more than eight million hybrid vehicles, with only 10 months between this and the nine million sales milestone. Continue reading →

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