September 2015

Why did they do it? Possible reasons for the VW diesel software cheat

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(September 30, 2015) I believe there are a couple of reasons Volkswagen's engineering staff chose to create a software cheat that defeated its diesel-powered vehicles’ onboard emissions system.


The first is a combination of pride and pressure. Pride in the German nation’s seeming mastery of technology, and pressure from VW’s centralized management structure to create a passenger car diesel engine that could meet U.S. emission standards and produce hybrid-like fuel economy numbers.

Analysis: U.S. diesel sales to suffer due to Volkswagen scandal

(September 29, 2015) LONDON — Expected penetration of diesel in the light vehicle market in the U.S. has been significantly downgraded due to the Volkswagen diesel emission fixing story, according to the automotive analysts at just-auto's QUBE.

In previous just-auto QUBE US diesel forecasts it had been considered there was reasonable upside to the diesel market in the U.S., due in part to Volkswagen's efforts to develop the diesel market in the country. As a result, more automotive manufacturers (OEMs) — including Europeans — were advanced in planning to add diesel light vehicles to their offerings in the U.S.

Putting VW’s diesel scandal in context

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(September 25, 2015) According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, both it and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) uncovered software in model year 2009-2015 Volkswagen and Audi cars with four-cylinder EA189 diesels designed to defeat the emission protocols in normal use. The so-called defeat device contains software code that recognizes when the vehicle’s emissions are being tested, and switches to full emissions control during the test.

BMW Group issues statement on diesel engine emission testing

(September 25, 2015) The BMW Group in an effort to put as much distance between it and the Volkswagen diesel engine emissions scandal, has issued the following statement maintaining that it completes all local testing requirements in the countries it sells its vehicles.

J.D. Power predicts double-digit sales growth in September

(September 25, 2015) WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — Benefitting from an anomaly on the calendar, new-vehicle sales are headed to double-digit growth in September, with retail sales on pace for the strongest selling rate of any month in more than a decade, according to a monthly sales forecast developed jointly by J.D. Power and LMC Automotive.

Black most searched Ford F-150 color on Autotrader

(September 23, 2015) DEARBORN, Mich. — Black is the most popular vehicle color and Ford F-150 is the overall most searched-for black-colored vehicle on Autotrader according to the car shopping site.

Autotrader site search activity between January and June 2015 shows one in four new cars searched on Autotrader was black. These results track to Ford marketing data that shows Tuxedo Black, synonymous with Metallic Black, tops the list as the overall most popular paint option nationally for the 2015 Ford F-150.

Nissan reinforces European growth strategy, electric vehicle development

(September 22, 2015) Nissan has reinforced its European growth strategy while firmly holding its position as the top-selling Asian brand in Europe. Nissan also confirmed its commitment to be the most desirable Asian car manufacturer by 2020. Crossover, electric vehicles (EVs) and autonomous drive technology are central to this aspiration and Nissan said it will continue to defend and grow its leadership in those areas.

Volkswagen CEO issues statement on EPA diesel engine findings

By Martin Winterkorn, CEO, Volkswagen AG

(September 20, 2015) WOLFSBURG, Germany — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board (EPA and CARB) revealed their findings that while testing diesel cars of the Volkswagen Group they have detected manipulations that violate American environmental standards.
 

GM reaches agreement with U.S Attorney’s Office on ignition switch issue

(September 18, 2015) DETROIT — General Motors confirmed Thursday that the company has reached a settlement in the form of a Deferred Prosecution Agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York regarding the company’s handling of the ignition switch defect in certain older model vehicles.

Honeywell sees rapid growth in small turbocharged engines

(September 16, 2015) Honeywell, the leading global developer of automotive turbochargers, sees the evolving needs of automakers driving not only turbo adoption globally to 47 percent by 2020, but an increasing appetite for turbo technology innovations that enhance a vehicle's overall powertrain system, reduce complexity and are tailored to local market needs.

Honeywell unveiled its annual survey in advance of the Frankfurt International Motor Show where the next evolution of turbocharger applications can be seen in diesel, gasoline and hybrid models from entry level to luxury segments.