The dubious method with which VW has cheated in the US through the NO_X test is currently occupying the media. However, it has long been known that the manufacturers use all conceivable methods to make the slightest possible changes to their vehicles through the compulsory tests.

It is therefore common in the EU that the examinations in one country are recognized by the others. For example, the rules for the CO₂ testing of the required occupants in Spain are laxer. So do not be afraid to go there. Sometimes there were also roads build which have the still permissible gradient.

While this is still within the scope of the law, it has been known for a long time that there is software that detects when the vehicle is in the test mode. This then delivers acceptable test values, but is quite useless in everyday life.

This can be applied to the petrol engine, but it is even more urgent with the NO_X test of the diesel engine. In particular, VW in the US suffers from the fact that it has to reach the nitric oxide values of the gasoline engine. In Europe, they still enjoy a kind of protection zone, which however, with Euro-6 gradually dissolves.

Of course this is not the pure human friendliness in USA that the limits for the Diesel are so high. By this methods, American Car Industry gets rid of tiresome competition, because Diesel engines in the passenger car are rather unusual and are not supported by the domestic or the Japanese competition.

Actually a nonsense, because the Diesel engine could help in a country, in which an S-class is perceived as a middle class, can reach energy saving goals, of course with the latest Diesel technology. But that is expensive and the cars in USA rather cheap. Nevertheless, there seems to be another problem, to keep the different fuel qualities everywhere in the country under control.

By the way, the octane numbers in the USA are also significantly lower, which stimulates gasoline engines even more to the drunkenness. The Americans could thus save. But there is besides an easy financing of a new car also the currently favorable fuel price. How to sell expensive German cars in this market?

By producing there and thereby becoming independent of dollar exchange rates and using more favorable wages. However, huge investments of e.g. one billion euros are needed. Once such a work is financed, it is necessary to show good sales figures, cost what it may.

A further way out of the dilemma is a lower production standard, by the way customary in the USA anyway. Since VW then again goes back to the twist-beam rear axle, although in the model before only multi-linker axles have been installed. Even the suppliers do not have the same standard as in Europe.

And when testing the nitrogen oxides, there is a temptation that the VW engineers could not resist. They are caused by high combustion temperatures. These, however, favor the low consumption of the Diesel engine.

If, therefore, consumption and nitrogen oxides are not tested at the same time, it can not be too difficult to deliver more fuel to the diesel engine in the NO_X test, to dispose of it at its high combustion temperatures, and thus to meet strict US regulations.

Especially in the case of law, an armada of components in the exhaust gas threatens to be all expensive and perhaps even not even available by American companies, because they are only applicable to larger diesel engines, e.g. the F-models of Ford are set.

And how high do you estimate sales opportunities when the American buyer learns that when a certain warning lamp is lit, he or she will have to refuel, in addition to the obligatory Diesel fuel, any AdBlue, which is difficult to obtain, if the workshop has not been completed during the inspection? If he/she does not, then exactly 25 engine starts remain.

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