VW to buy back 500,000 Diesel cars in the US in $10 billion deal

VW is looking to buy back affected diesel Jetta, Golf and the Audi A3 cars sold since 2009 that were covered by the Dieselgate scandal involving the 'defeat device' that gamed emissions tests. VW's vehicles had software that made their cars pass emissions tests while generating up to 40 times the legally allowable emissions.

VW will pay cash compensation to owners who either sell their vehicles back or get them fixed, one of the people briefed on the matter said. Owners selling back their vehicles will get an additional cash payment on top of receiving the estimated value of the vehicles from before the emissions scandal became public in September 2015.

U.S. Judge Charles Breyer said the settlement is expected to include a buyback offer for 482,000 2.0-litre vehicles and a possible fix if regulators agree on it, or cancel an outstanding lease.

Source: Reuters

Owners are expected to have around two years to decide whether to sell back vehicles or get them repaired. It is not clear whether VW will be allowed to resell vehicles they buy back, the source said.

VW's new ad campaign sets out to rebuild trust by featuring its greatest hits

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Volkswagen's new ad campaign is simple, touching and effective. Showing many of the great Volkswagen vehicles that have been a part of many people's lives and have built a reputation for reliability and quality for the company, shows that moving beyond last year's scandal is a top priority for the company. The ad itself is classic VW and manages to tug at the heartstrings of anyone who has been loyal to the brand or has been emotionally invested in its products. While the TV spot we see above is coming to Europe, the entire campaign will be global and will ecompass print and Internet advertising as well.

Source: VWVortex

Audi offers ‘goodwill package’ to owners affected by dieselgate

Audi’s extending an olive branch to owners of the A3 2.0-liter TDI diesel models that were affected by dieselgate. These owners will receive two US$500 pre-paid gift cards and free roadside assistance for three years. The first pre-paid card can be spent anywhere you choose, while the second one is for in-dealership spending. It’s rather similar to the scheme VW has going. You need to register online with your vehicle’s VIN number, your driver’s license, and proof of ownership by April 30, 2016. Once registered, you should get the package within four weeks.

Unfortunately, those using the larger 3.0-liter TDI diesel engines are part of the program. Audi says they are working on a software repair for the larger diesel models, which the company estimates will cost it “mid-double-digit millions of euros.”

Source: Mashable

VW releases video showing how they will fix emissions-cheating engines

Volkswagen has started its long hard road to repair the damage caused by their emissions test cheating 'defeat device,' scandal. The company posted a video showing how they plan to fix millions of diesel powered vehicles in the 1.6 liter and 2.0 liter classes. Note that this video and the included remedies are for the UK, North American emissions regulations are different which means that this remedy, which takes 30 minutes per car to complete, may or may not apply here.

Source: The Verge