Volkswagen Group Scandal
It's almost a shame that Volkswagen management is just so apologetic about it, instead of saying something like 'Sorry about that – some of our guys fiddled a few figures, but no-one died..!' And that's a very good point, because although there are undoubtedly long-term health issues associated with NOx emissions, the immediate effects don't compare with the indisputable dangers of airbags not going off, ignition switches cutting out, brakes failing and cars catching fire or not meeting European crash test regulations, all of which have been swept under the carpet by other manufacturers in recent times.
Compared with all the other issues going on the world; widespread poverty, famine and war, the migrant crisis and airliners being blown out of the skies, not to mention impending natural disasters, supervolcanoes, tsunamis and asteroid strikes, Volkswagen's indiscretions with emissions testing are but the least of our global worries.
Maybe someone should conduct a roadside
survey and stop thousands of motorists to ask them what the official mpg figures are for their car, what the actual mpg figures are for their car and what CO2 emissions are quoted for their car, without looking it up, and see what proportion have even a clue about any of them, let alone what NOx means. I've even had to correct a couple of motoring journalists who've written about nitrous oxide; it would be almost laughable, if that wasn't such a pun.
Indeed, I'll also be interested to see, when the technical solutions are finally revealed and ready for implementation,
just what proportion of those owners affected actually take up the offer to have the remedial action carried out. I can almost see the tumbleweed rolling across the workshop floor…
