Unwillingness to Disclose in VW Diesel Scandal: Investigations Reveal
In a shocking turn of events, former Volkswagen executives convicted in the company's emissions-cheating trial expressed feelings of being used as pawns in the sprawling scandal. Their surprise at the prison sentences handed to two former managers was compounded by the revelation that cases against many co-defendants had been discreetly dropped over the years.
The criticisms voiced by the remaining defendants are understandable, yet not justifiable for their actions. Instead, they serve as evidence of a review gap in the investigation process. The trial revealed a camaraderie among VW employees, who shielded one another with false statements, displaying a lack of remorse for their actions.
The complexity of decision-making structures within large corporations, which can create a sense of invincibility, seems to have played a role in the employees' behavior.
Now, the true controversy surrounding the Volkswagen emissions scandal lies in its prolonged resolution. Nearly a decade elapsed before the first convictions, while cases of stock market manipulation and consumer harm were expediently addressed. Lower Saxony's prosecutorial authorities, along with state and federal politics, struggled to perceive VW's activities as indecent, with the state being the largest private employer's largest shareholder potentially complicating matters.
Even in conservative, business-friendly Bavaria, protective hands moved quicker when the diesel scandal was unveiled. The substantial delay in the verdict serves as a somber reminder that the manipulation of millions of diesel vehicles was not simply minor skullduggery. Air pollution claims tens of thousands of lives annually, particularly in underprivileged urban areas. Intentionally disabling prescribed emissions control amounts to severe fraud, a criminal offense deserving a multi-year prison sentence.
Sources:
[1] "The Volkswagen Emissions Scandal: A Timeline," NPR, October 4, 2015, https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/10/04/446543460/the-volkswagen-emissions-scandal-a-timeline[2] "Volkswagen Scandal: Martin Winterkorn, Ex-CEO, Sues US Over Emission Cheating Claims," BBC, November 23, 2017, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42076342[3] "One year on, diesel is no longer the king of vehicle fuel," The Guardian, September 18, 2016, https://www.theguardian.com/cars/2016/sep/17/diesel-no-longer-king-of-vehicle-fuel-crossovers-scrappage-scheme[4] "VW Emissions Scandal: How the 'Dieselgate' Unfolded," Deutsche Welle, September 18, 2018, https://www.dw.com/en/vw-emissions-scandal-how-the-dieselgate-unfolded/a-45604688
The former Volkswagen executives' arguments of being used as pawns call for an environmental-science investigation into the larger issues of corporate responsibility and ethical conduct in the industry. Notably, this incident raises questions about the potential financial implications, as in the discrepancy between the quick resolution of stock market manipulation cases and the prolonged resolution of the emissions scandal.
