‘Dieselgate’ Fraud: Timeline Of A Scandal
AFP News, 10 June 2021
French automakers Renault, Citroen and Peugeot are the latest companies to be ensnared in the “dieselgate” scandal — a massive emissions cheating scheme that started at German car giant Volkswagen.
Here is a timeline:
In 2014, US researchers at the University of West Virginia discover that certain VW diesel cars emit up to 40 times the permissible levels of harmful nitrogen oxide when tested on the road.
In September the next year, the US Environmental Protection Agency accuses VW of duping diesel emissions tests using so-called “defeat devices”.
Days later Volkswagen admits installing software designed to reduce emissions during lab tests in 11 million diesel engines worldwide. VW shares plunge by 40 percent in two days.
On September 23, 2015, chief executive Martin Winterkorn steps down but insists he knew nothing of the scam.
