Volkswagen Could Face $18 Billion Fine Over Emission-Cheating Software

After getting caught cheating on emissions testing by means of software, Volkswagen could face up to $18 billion in fines, reports USA Today. That number is based on the company being assessed the maximum penalty of $37,500 per affected vehicle. That's not the only bad news for Volkswagen, which has halted sales of its 4-cylinder diesel cars; the linked article reports that the violations "could also invite charges of false marketing by regulators, a vehicle recall and payment to car owners, either voluntarily or through lawsuits. Volkswagen advertised the cars under the 'Clean Diesel' moniker. The state of California is also investigating the emissions violations."

Comments

I hope ...

[PPH]

... Volkswagen slaps the EPA with an $18 Billion DMCA suit for reverse engineering their software.

Digging through several layers of links:

EPA and CARB uncovered the defeat device software after independent analysis by researchers at West Virginia University,

So it looks like WVU might have to bite the bullet on this one and the EPA will get off scott free. Sorry to all of you students who were hoping for your degree. After the school shuts down, maybe you can get jobs mining coal.

Re:23% of the company

[muecksteiner]

(ironic that anti-Americanism sells cars in the US.)

The U.S. car industry worked long and hard to achieve this elusive goal.