Automotive News: US issues arrest warrants for former VW executives, VW agrees to buy back some 'cheat' diesels in Germany, Researchers find new vehicle emissions to be deceptively clean
US issues arrest warrants for former VW executives
US authorities have issued international arrest warrants for five former VW managers and developers for their role in the Dieselgate scandal. Germany has reportedly refused to hand them over to the US.
US authorities have issued international arrest warrants for five former Volkswagen (VW) managers and developers over the Dieselgate emissions scandal, reported Munich-based newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung on Thursday.
The former VW executives stand accused of conspiring to commit fraud and violating US environmental regulations, according to the report. It added that at least two of them were confidants of former VW CEO Martin Winterkorn. read more »
VW agrees to buy back some 'cheat' diesels in Germany
Volkswagen Group has agreed to buy back some diesel cars in Germany equipped with illicit emissions software after deciding not to appeal a court ruling backing plaintiffs' calls for compensation.
Despite VW's admission of wrongdoing in the U.S., it says it has not broken the law in Europe and sees no need to compensate European consumers. The carmaker has committed to fixing all affected vehicles by autumn. read more »
Researchers find new vehicle emissions to be deceptively clean
For years, automakers have been working to reduce pollutant levels coming out of motor vehicles' tailpipes. Airborne particulate matter, for example, is present in automobile exhaust and has been shown to contribute to tens of thousands of premature deaths in the United States each year.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University's College of Engineering found that newer gasoline vehicles emit less particulate matter, but vapors in the "cleaner" exhaust form particulate matter in the atmosphere long after exiting the tailpipe. These secondary particles (or secondary organic aerosol) can be just as harmful to human health. The findings were published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Dishonest dealing: 'Dieselgate' stain spreads
Volkswagen AG's “Dieselgate” scandal — involving “defeat device” software that made diesel engines run cleaner during emissions testing but otherwise let them pollute at up to 40 times legal levels — is far from over. A new study suggests the world's largest auto-parts supplier played a role in such cheating by VW — and by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV. read more »
Aston Martin recalls Vantage cars over transmission software problem
Aston Martin is ordering a global recall of 1,658 Vantage cars after problems with a routine transmission software update led to incidents in China in which some cars stalled and lost power
The decision was taken after a team of Aston Martin engineers went to China in May to investigate a problem that several customers there had been complaining about since 2014.
"Normally recalls start in America. I don't think it is the only example, but it's interesting that it started from China and becomes a global recall," CEO Andy Palmer said. "It demonstrates the importance of China, the sophistication of the customer and the diligence of the authorities there."
