Volkswagen sets end-November deadline for whistleblowers

Volkswagen has set an end-November deadline for its whistleblower programme meant to encourage staff to reveal to hired investigators what they know about the rigging of diesel emission tests, German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported.

The paper said Volkswagen aimed to increase the pressure on employees who had knowledge of the scandal but fear they could lose their jobs if the information comes to light, the paper, which worked with German broadcasters NRD and WDR, said.

VW has said it hired advisory firm Deloitte and US law firm Jones Day to investigate under what circumstances the company installed software into diesel cars that changed engine settings to reduce emissions whenever the vehicle was put through tests.

VW is promising staff they will keep their jobs and will be exempt from damage claims if they shed light on the scandal, but board members and levels of management directly below them are be excluded from the scheme, the paper said.

“Elevated” pollutants

News of the deadline comes as the German motoring watchdog, KBA, said it was in talks with several carmakers over “elevated” levels of diesel pollutants uncovered in vehicle road tests following the Volkswagen emissions scandal.

The authority named for the first time the 16 carmakers whose models it has been scrutinising, including leading German marques such as Daimler and BMW, as well as Ford and General Motors' Opel. Cars made by VW's own brand — plus those of its Audi and Porsche subsidiaries — are also being tested.

A spokesman for the KBA declined to say which carmakers it was in talks with or which specific models were affected, and the regulator added there was no suggestion that an illegal defeat device had been used. VW has admitted up to 11m diesel vehicles were fitted with this software-based device, which serves to understate emissions of harmful nitrogen oxides in laboratory tests.

The KBA’s findings seem to echo the conclusions of various campaign groups, which have long argued that cars emit far more carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides in the real world than in outdated European laboratory tests.

But the revelations come with the motor industry still under fierce scrutiny from governments and regulators worldwide, two months after a US environmental watchdog first exposed VW’s cheating in emissions tests.

The KBA, which monitors the work of test centres in Europe’s biggest car market, has been re-evaluating vehicles’ emissions since the end of September in laboratory conditions and on the road.

More than 50 models

It said it was looking at more than 50 models, partly chosen based on popularity, but also following “hints” from third parties about conspicuous pollutant emissions.

“Based on raw data, partly increased nitrogen oxides levels in different driving and environmental conditions have been identified so far,” said the watchdog in a statement.

After talks with the carmakers, the KBA plans to evaluate the data further. Only then would the agency have sufficient grounds for any legal action, it said.

- (Reuters/Financial Times Service)