Recent reports say that VW has adjusted the carbon dioxide emissions ratings for some of its vehicles.
The suspicion is that this follows the recent claims that Audi has been apparently using an alleged “defeat device” for CO2 emissions that is similar to the NOx ones already in many Audi vehicles, and used throughout the wider VW Group.
And so, once again, the saga continues…
Variation in CO2 emission ratings
Although VW has hinted that their adjustments were made voluntarily, there is a suspicion that they were made in response to the emissions scandal which erupted in September 2015. The argument is that, if VW cared about their emissions rating reflecting the real-world driving, they could’ve adjusted them a long time ago.
They are under investigation for using so-called “defeat devices” for CO2 emissions as well, so the speculation is that it all ties in…
An ulterior motive?
In a statement released from a VW representative:
“…in the interests of providing our customers with stated fuel consumption figures that are even closer to real-world driving, VW has voluntarily made slight adjustments…minor modifications have been made to the brochure data”.
By making the announcement, and consequently making the adjustments, they could be trying to show that they’re turning over a new leaf. On the other hand, this could be a strategy deployed by the German manufacturer to deflect the ongoing problems surrounding the emissions scandal.
VW announced that the variations wouldn’t affect the consumers’ actual real-world consumption figures.
Normal process for CO2 emission variations
A leading academic in the field, Dr Jo Barnes, defended VW’s recent action by saying it’s a “normal process for car companies to refine CO2 numbers”.
It may be a “normal process” for other car manufacturers, but the motives may be questionable for the automotive giant at the centre of a worldwide emissions scandal of monumental proportions…
Models like the Polo, Golf, Passat and Touareg are among the group to receive a variation in their carbon dioxide ratings. The biggest alteration was made on the Golf 1.6 TDI with a manual gearbox, which has been updated from 99g/km to 103g/km.
That seems like a big variation…
Dr Barnes gores on to say that automakers are now keen to be “acting in the spirit of the law rather than just the letter of the law”.
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