What Happened in the Volkswagen Emissions Scandal?
In September 2015, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) accused Volkswagen of installing software in their diesel engines that could detect when the car was undergoing emissions testing. This software, known as a "defeat device," would activate the full emissions control system only during the test, making the car appear compliant with emissions standards. Under normal driving conditions, however, the system was deactivated, resulting in emissions of NOx up to 40 times higher than permitted levels. This manipulation allowed VW to market their diesel vehicles as environmentally friendly without meeting the actual standards.
