Exhaust affair – VW threatens the maximum credible accident – Süddeutsche.de

• VW threatens a civil case if the auto company until April 21 provides no solution for the manipulated emission tests in VW diesel cars, indicated US federal judge Charles Breyer on.
• Breyer urged VW on, until the April hearing “specific and detailed” to present plans.
• If VW does not deliver until April 21, thousands of cars could be shut down in an extreme case.

From Claus Hulverscheidt , New York

Federal judge Charles Breyer tried recognizable by a friendly tone and demeanor. He had been reported so Breyer at a hearing in San Francisco that the Volkswagen Group, the US Environmental Protection Agency and all other parties to earnestly sought, the scandal to create manipulated emission tests in VW diesel cars in the world , He was therefore prepared to extend his expired on Thursday deadline for submitting a final solution again until April 21.

The sigh of relief, which should have gone in that moment by the Wolfsburg headquarters, however, was only of short duration, for Breyers short presentation was not yet finished. On the contrary: the first time hinted the judge what will happen if VW can not deliver in April. In this case, Breyer, it will probably still come this summer to a civil proceeding.

For Volkswagen that would be the maximum credible accident, because the Group’s strategy is far from it, the current so-called pre-trial phase to use to to communicate with customers, the plaintive competitors and especially the US government on a IVAs. Previously, experts had assumed that with a process at the earliest during the year 2017, is perhaps to be expected until 2018th Now the available margin for comparative negotiations could shorten dramatically.

600 000 cars are affected

VW had provided eleven million diesel passenger cars with a manipulation software worldwide in the US, which ensures that cars emit under scrutiny far fewer emissions than in daily traffic. In the US alone, where the emission limits are particularly strict, about 600 000 cars are affected. Because the owners can not for the violation of the law, they may use their cars for the time being on. However Breyer hinted that this will not stay long so, should VW still not present a concept to eliminate the problems on 21 April. In extreme cases, the car could be shut down – what would increase the anger of customers VW massively

call VW and Porsche call 800 000. cars in the workshop

Even at around 90 000 car owners in Germany are affected. With the exhaust affair this recall has nothing to do.

Breyer urged VW to present to the April hearing “specific and detailed” plans for repair or buy back the cars and for compensation of the customer. He also stated that he would be informed immediately on a weekly basis about the status of negotiations between VW and the EPA. Volkswagen has indicated that in many cases, repair the car so expensive would that replacement would probably be the better solution. Experts estimate that a repurchase of all 600,000 cars VW would cost around 9.5 billion dollars.

In addition, the company threatens compensation payments to the government, which could theoretically add up to more than 45 billion dollars. While going professionals assume that the sum will be lower at the end. If there were, however, already this summer to the process, Volkswagen lose again whatever influence.

VW attorney Robert Giuffra asserted at the hearing that the group work “around the clock” on a fix. The company itself has stated that it was seeking to “settle the investigations by the US authorities for diesel subject as soon as possible”.

keyless go systems Who wants to protect his car, it has to do yourself

an ADAC test shows: keyless go systems facilitate car theft enormous. Neither insurers nor manufacturers are showing ambition to improve safety.