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Automobile industry

Volkswagen to Offer Whistleblower Protection Amidst Diesel Emissions Scandal

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Volkswagen is taking steps to encourage employees to come forward with information related to the company's diesel emissions scandal. As early as Thursday, the German automaker is expected to publish guidelines for whistleblowers, protecting them from retribution while allowing them to disclose self-incriminating information. This move comes after the company was rocked by allegations of emissions-cheating practices, which were first revealed in September by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The agency found that certain Volkswagen diesel engine cars had programming that lowered emissions readings during testing. Since then, additional allegations of emissions cheating have surfaced, and the company has launched an internal investigation, which was later handed over to a US law firm.

Key Takeaways:

  • Volkswagen expects to publish guidelines for whistleblowers as early as Thursday, providing protection from retribution for employees who disclose self-incriminating information.
  • The guidelines will allow employees to come forward with information related to the company's diesel emissions scandal without fear of retaliation.
  • The company has been investigating the scandal since September 22, with Volkswagen engineers admitting to manipulating emissions testing programs in the cars.
  • A whistleblower came forward in September, indicating that greenhouse gas emissions were understated in as many as 800,000 vehicles in Europe, including 100,000 gas vehicles.
  • The company has offered $1,000 gift cards to as many as 482,000 customers in the United States in an attempt to mitigate the damage from the scandal.
  • The emissions scandal is estimated to have impacted as many as 11 million Volkswagen diesel vehicles worldwide.

Statistics:

  • 11 million: The estimated number of Volkswagen diesel vehicles impacted by the emissions scandal worldwide.
  • 482,000: The number of customers in the United States who may receive a $1,000 gift card from Volkswagen.
  • 800,000: The number of vehicles in Europe indicated by a whistleblower to have understated greenhouse gas emissions.
  • 100,000: The number of gas vehicles in Europe implicated in the emissions scandal.
  • 1,000: The amount of the gift cards offered to affected customers in the United States.
  • September 22: The date on which Volkswagen launched an internal investigation into the emissions scandal.
  • November: The deadline by which the company's guidelines for whistleblowers are expected to be published.

Sources:

  • (http://www.wsj.com/articles/volkswagen-to-offer-whistleblowers-impunity-on-emissions-cheating-scandal-1447317337?alg=y)
  • (http://www.wsj.com/articles/epa-notifies-volkswagen-of-added-emissions-violations-1446491504)
  • (http://www.ibtimes.com/volkswagen-diesel-scandal-update-2015-vw-engineers-admit-they-manipulated-emissions-2174576)
  • (http://www.ibtimes.com/volkswagen-emissions-scandal-diesel-car-owners-get-1k-gift-cards-goodwill-gesture-2176914)

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