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13 Oct, 2015

Buys VW scandal film rights

Produces0 Comments

DiCaprio’s production company Appian Way and Paramount Pictures buy the film rights to an as-yet-unwritten book about the VW scandal, where the company admitted that 11 million of its diesel vehicles worldwide are fitted with software that beat emission tests. The book will be written by Ewing, a New York Times journalist, and it will reportedly explore the “more, better, faster” ethos and how it played into the scandal. It is not known whether DiCaprio will star in the film.

25 Sep, 2015

Drivers sue

Files Suit0 Comments

Drivers begin to sue VW for misleading them about their car’s emissions. Customer:

I felt ill. It’s really made us feel very bad about what we ourselves are now doing to the environment.

Lawyers representing around three dozen VW customers:

Volkswagen has committed a bait and switch. Everyone we’ve spoken with feels that they’ve been lied to by Volkswagen. They were sold clean diesel cars when in fact they got dirty diesel cars.

23 Sep, 2015

Resigns

Resignation0 Comments

Winterkorn announces his resignation. In a statement issued by the company Winterkorn says:

[I am] shocked by the events of the past few days. Above all, I am stunned that misconduct on such a scale was possible in the Volkswagen Group…[I am] not aware of any wrongdoing on my part [but] accept responsibility for the irregularities that have been found in diesel engines and have therefore requested the Supervisory Board to agree on terminating my function as CEO of the Volkswagen Group…I have always been driven by my desire to serve this company, especially our customers and employees. Volkswagen has been, is and will always be my life. The process of clarification and transparency must continue. This is the only way to win back trust. I am convinced that the Volkswagen Group and its team will overcome this grave crisis.

A successor will determined at a supervisory board meeting on September 25. However, rumors earlier suggested he might be replaced by Porsche President and CEO Matthias Muller, and Rupert Stadler, Audi’s chairman and chief executive, although Volkswagen has denied this.

21 Sep, 2015

Admits dishonesty with regulators and public

Apology0 Comments

VW U.S. President and CEO Horn admits to the emissions scandal at an event in Brooklyn, New York:

Our company was dishonest, with the EPA and the California Air Resources Borad, and with all of you. And, and . and in our German words, we have totally screwed up. We must fix the cars to prevent this from ever happening again, and we have to make things right, with the Government, The public, our customer, our employees, and also, very important, with our dealers. This kind of behavior is totally inconsistent with our qualities. We are committed to do what must be done and to begin to restore your trust. We will pay what we have to pay.

Volkswagen could face a fine of up to $18 billion (£11.6 billion), criminal charges for its executives, and legal action from customers and shareholders. The US Department of Justice is likely to conduct a criminal investigation.

28 Jul, 2015

VW beats Toyota as largest automaker

Sales Report0 Comments

Volkswagen has replaced Toyota as the world’s largest automaker by selling 5.04 million cars in the first half of 2015. Volkswagen:

We do not comment on the figures of other automakers. The goal of the Volkswagen Group is to focus on qualitative growth and not being No. 1 in sales.