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In order to clean their name I expect VW Group to blast into PHEV and EV market very aggressively while Toyota claims how battery technology is not good enough for RX PHEV or some rubbish to that extent.
How is VW going to "blast" into these markets exactly? It took Toyota 15+ years to get to the point they are with the hybrid.
How is VW going to "blast" into these markets exactly? It took Toyota 15+ years to get to the point they are with the hybrid.
I hear Audi's are already venturing into the hybrid and plug-in arena through their latest offering in Q7's. These days many companies are coming up with their own version of hybrids and electric vehicles.
Building vehicles that people want is one thing, rebuilding a positive brand recognition is quite another.
I hear Audi's are already venturing into the hybrid and plug-in arena through their latest offering in Q7's. These days many companies are coming up with their own version of hybrids and electric vehicles.
Building vehicles that people want is one thing, rebuilding a positive brand recognition is quite another.
Audi has had PR hybrid vehicles for years now, so far they have quietly discontinued most of them.
In order to clean their name I expect VW Group to blast into PHEV and EV market very aggressively while Toyota claims how battery technology is not good enough for RX PHEV or some rubbish to that extent.
Why bash on Toyota on a VW being caught cheating thread?
All the Japanese automakers have been claiming that small diesels couldn't be built at a certain price point, and this just vindicates them on that point.
All manufacturers worldwide, not just automotive, have been claiming that battery technology for heavy AND long duty cycle is not there yet for mass production and affordable volume. Tesla's entry price for 200 miles range cars and their push to build their own battery factory vindicates them on that point too.
This is not to say that battery technology won't evolve, it will, but today, it's not there. Toyota is banking on hydrogen fuel cells. This doesn't exclude or forego hybrid electric, it's all complementary technology.
And now the law suits begin. UK lawyers are receiving inquiries from two groups, owners of the affected cars (not surprising) and stock holders (didn't see that one coming). I'm still of the belief that VW has cheated or by-passed other regulations or cheated on other emissions control devices. The investigations are just beginning, let's see what unfolds over the next two months.
Horn, Hackenburg, Hatz to be fired as VW diesel scandal deepens
Reuters reported Thursday morning that the executives are: Michael Horn, who has led VW's US operations since January 1, 2014; Ulrich Hackenberg, who oversaw Audi's research and development; and Wolfgang Hatz, who was in charge of R&D for Porsche
Now what do Porsche and Audi division's research heads and VW USA's operational head have to do with this? Unless...
They were most likely in charge of VAG's engine R&D at the time the cheating 1.6/2.0 TDIs were developed, and were later promoted to higher positions at Audi and Porsche.
VW stock may (?) have bottomed out, at least temporarily. Early this year it was up to $255 (in U.S. dollars).....then hit a low of $108 after the scandal broke, but closed this afternoon at $112.
5. "the executive committee proposes that the supervisory board of volkswagen ag create a special committee, under whose leadership further clarifying steps will follow, including the preparation of the necessary consequences."
preparation of the necessary consequences is the action-packed prequel to full consequences.
Now what do Porsche and Audi division's research heads and VW USA's operational head have to do with this? Unless...
Originally Posted by ydooby
They were most likely in charge of VAG's engine R&D at the time the cheating 1.6/2.0 TDIs were developed, and were later promoted to higher positions at Audi and Porsche.
Horn, Hackenburg, Hatz to be fired as VW diesel scandal deepens
Volkswagen will sack three more high ranking executives, including the head of its US division, as the company's diesel scandal deepens. Reuters reported Thursday morning that the executives are: Michael Horn, who has led VW's US operations since January 1, 2014; Ulrich Hackenberg, who oversaw Audi's research and development; and Wolfgang Hatz, who was in charge of R&D for Porsche.
...
The departure of Horn, Hackenberg, and Hatz is a stunning downfall for three of the company's top and most visible executives. Horn had led US operations for less than two years, taking over from Jonathan Browning, who was well-respected but failed to reach VW's ambitious sales targets. Before overseeing Audi R&D, Hackenberg was hailed as a visionary for work in developing VW's modular architectures, which allow the company to save time and money by building many vehicles off the same chassis. Hatz had led Porsche R&D since 2011 and also was in charge of engines and transmission development for all of Volkswagen.
But Horn has only been in the position for a short time, taking over from Browning (who left suddenly, "for personal reasons", in 2013 after taking over VW of America in 2010). If anybody knew and condoned the introduction of the cheating device, it would have been Browning (or his predecessor), not Horn. But Browning is already out of VW so has escaped punishment.
Hackenberg seems to be a chassis / platform engineer, not necessarily an engines engineer. How does he fit in?
Hatz was, at one time, in charge of engine and transmission development for all of VW. I can understand his dismissal.
But Horn has only been in the position for a short time, taking over from Browning (who left suddenly, "for personal reasons", in 2013 after taking over VW of America in 2010). If anybody knew and condoned the introduction of the cheating device, it would have been Browning (or his predecessor), not Horn. But Browning is already out of VW so has escaped punishment.
Hackenberg seems to be a chassis / platform engineer, not necessarily an engines engineer. How does he fit in?
Hatz was, at one time, in charge of engine and transmission development for all of VW. I can understand his dismissal.
Not quite correct. Just because you left a company doesn't mean you can't be held responsible for actions you took or did not take. Actually, the company is far more likely to sell you down the river while propping up those who are still with them. So if Browning was aware and is associated with any documents provided to the US, then he can be held accountable.
BMW Drops on Report That X3 Diesel's Emission Exceeded EU Limit
Is BMW next on the chopping block?
BMW Drops on Report That X3 Diesel's Emission Exceeded EU Limit
BMW Drops on Report That X3 Diesel's Emission Exceeded EU Limit
BMW AG fell as much as 9.3 percent in Frankfurt after a German magazine reported that the X3 xDrive 20d sport utility vehicle emitted as much as 11 times the European limit for air pollution in a road test, adding to concern that the investigation weighing on Volkswagen AG may spread to other manufacturers.
By Naomi Kresge and Elisabeth Behrmann - Sep 24, 2015, 5:38:14 PM
BMW X3 xDrive 20d Automobile
BMW AG fell as much as 9.3 percent in Frankfurt after a German magazine reported that the X3 xDrive 20d sport utility vehicle emitted as much as 11 times the European limit for air pollution in a road test, adding to concern that the investigation weighing on Volkswagen AG may spread to other manufacturers.
The SUV was road-tested by the International Council on Clean Transportation, the same group whose tipoff led U.S. regulators to investigate a gap between Volkswagen AG diesels’ emissions in tests and on the road, Germany’s Autobild reported. BMW said that there’s no system in its cars that responds to tests differently than it would operate on the road.
“There is no function to recognize emissions testing cycles at BMW,” the Munich-based company said in a statement in response to the report. “All emissions systems remain active outside the testing cycles.”
BMW shares traded down 6.2 percent to 74.9 euros at 11:59 a.m. in Frankfurt. Shares of other German carmakers also declined. Daimler AG as much as 4.2 percent, or 2.79 euros, to 63.63 euros. Volkswagen, which is at the heart of the probe and has lost about 20 billion euros in market value since Monday, recovered some of its losses, rising as much as 7.8 percent.
“There’s no suggestion BMW has done anything illegal,” said Juergen Pieper, an Frankfurt-based analyst with Bankhaus Metzler. “However, there are concerns for the long-term damage on the business with diesel cars for every manufacturer that builds cars with these engines.”
Car sales of the BMW namesake brand with diesel engines last year made up about 38 percent of total deliveries, roughly in line with diesel car sales at other manufacturers, the company said.
Emissions measured in road tests of 15 new diesel cars were an average of about seven times higher than European limits, according to a study ICCT published last October.
09-24-15, 07:36 AM
