Top U.S. VW Exec Blames 'A Couple of Software Engineers' for Scandal

[Ichingcarpenter]

Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Volkwagen's top executive in the U.S. told lawmakers on Thursday that cheating on emissions with the use of software in diesel cars was not a corporate decision, but something that "individuals did."

"This was a couple of software engineers who put this in for whatever reason," Michael Horn, VW's U.S. head, said about the software code designed to cheat on emissions tests, which the company put in diesel cars since 2009.

"This was not a corporate decision. There was no board meeting that approved this," he added later, under questioning by members of the House of Representatives Oversight and Investigations panel.

Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/autos/vw-scandal-top-u-s-exec-offers-sincere-apology-cheating-n440971

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No one is to blame...... just a couple of bad apples.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. Utter and total BS.

Software coders wouldn't have put this in without being told to. There was zero to gain for them by so doing, but a heck of a lot to gain (or lose) by execs and shareholders.

[Ichingcarpenter]

3. Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Mazda and Mitsubishi’

Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Mazda and Mitsubishi’s cars are shown to emit significantly more NOx pollution on the road than in regulatory tests

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/oct/09/mercedes-honda-mazda-mitsubishi-diesel-emissions-row?CMP=twt_gu

[LiberalArkie]

7. I could have believed middle-management or even some upper management being told to improve

emissions whatever it took. But since so many companies did it, it had to be very upper level. Definitely board approved.

[groundloop]

16. No evidence any other companies doctored their software.... more likely unrealistic test procedures

It's been known for quite a while that EPA test protocols did a poor job of simulating real world conditions. As far as I know there hasn't been any proof (or even allegations) that any car company besides VW has cheated on the testing.

[FSogol]

2. LOL, the shredders must be working overtime at a certain car manufacturer HQ. n/t

[Ichingcarpenter]

4. Four more carmakers join diesel emissions row

Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Mazda and Mitsubishi have joined the growing list of manufacturers whose diesel cars are known to emit significantly more pollution on the road than in regulatory tests, according to data obtained by the Guardian.


Wide range of cars emit more pollution in realistic driving tests, data shows

In more realistic on-road tests, some Honda models emitted six times the regulatory limit of NOx pollution while some unnamed 4x4 models had 20 times the NOx limit coming out of their exhaust pipes.


http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/oct/09/mercedes-honda-mazda-mitsubishi-diesel-emissions-row?CMP=twt_gu

[FSogol]

5. Darn those rogue software engineers!

[dixiegrrrrl]

18. Wonder if they all graduated from the same school of Rogueness.....

had to be a plot.

[One_Life_To_Give]

10. At that level Managers know how to Not document instructions

I doubt anyone actually wrote down that something illegal should be done. There are far too many ways to state such without actually saying so. Always leaving oneself plausible deniability.

[FSogol]

11. As an engineer (not a software one), I know exactly when something needs to be put in writing.

I'm sure those engineers put it on the record somehow.

[mpcamb]

6. Yeah, 'cuz software engineers had a lot to gain, whereas CEOs were just hoodwinked.

Hah!

[uawchild]

15. this! ^^^^^^^

Damn, it's always these bad apple low level employees going rouge messing things up for the honest law-abiding corporate CEOs.

[DemoTex]

8. The Kenny-boy Lay defense.

Enron redux.

[NCjack]

9. Attention engineers and scientists. Criminal management never cheats,

and it's always accuses "out-of-control" technical employees. For your protection, keep a daily diary that includes instructions to you with comments you returned and an updated copy of those stored in another location. Also, keep all original communications. Important to keep these items off your employer's property and where only you and a trusted person can get to them. Don't be a sap for criminal management.

[RobinA]

12. I Used To Do This

And I'm not even a scientist or engineer. Worked for a corporate legal dept. I ran into the file awhile back and wondered if I had been overly paranoid. Probably not.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

13. Sure. Let's get those engineers under oath and see where the truth leads.

We all know how software coders love to build lies into their code in order to reap larger profits for their corporate masters.

Good luck with the blame-shifting, Michael Horn.

[Demeter]

14. And they did all that coding, just for the hell of it? For LULS?

Not a chance.

[GliderGuider]

17. Now pull the other one, Mikey. What a shameful, pusillanimous dodge. nt

[0rganism]

19. mmhmmm, nice try, betcha that BS won't fly in court though

an expected response, blaming the faceless shmoos who implemented the offending code, but "a couple of software engineers" don't just "put this in for whatever reason." that's not how software occurs in a manufacturing environment.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

31. Exactly!

eom

[yellowcanine]

20. Riiiiiiiiiiiight. Sure they did. Try again Michael.

[JudyM]

21. Um, the fact that the board wasn't involved means nada. Zilch. Zippo.

Senior management can still approve and yes, direct, operations like this... Though of course they *should* clear anything of questionable legality with the board.

[Dont call me Shirley]

22. Nobody does anything in a corp unless it comes from the top down. VW execs lie.

[restorefreedom]

27. they lie? chief executives? of corporations?

nooooooooooooo

[Blue_Tires]

23. Yeah, we can fertilize the lawn with that one...

[truthisfreedom]

24. I wonder how different the performance and mileage are

When the software is changed to keep the emission control engaged all of the time?

[FiveGoodMen]

25. As an owner of such a car, I wonder too!

[arcane1]

26. "...for whatever reason". Yeah right.

[Yavin4]

28. Didn't know they made buses

Cause they just threw the tech guys right underneath one.

[daleo]

29. Bush level lying

The bosses are mere dupes of the peons. Sure.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

30. ummmmmm yeah!

Couple a engineers, sittin' at the bar havin' a few beers decide to write a program to accomplish this. I wonder how they'd answer the question, how was it tested so they'd know it worked? I mean, did they get some techs to do it and keep it all a secret from senior management?
The story stinks to high heaven and disappoints me as I always put VW on a pedestal as great engineering, etc. Now we find out they are cheaters.

[Nac Mac Feegle]

32. At the risk of using obscure technical terminology:

BULLSHIT !!!!!

[Little Tich]

33. All those rogue coders, doing all those things they were not told to do...

[MowCowWhoHow III]

34. You been watching too much cable, Mr Horn