Bosch Worked 'Hand-in-Glove' With Volkswagen In Emissions Fraud - Lawyers
car&bike Team
1 min read
Aug 18, 2016, 03:55 PM
Key Highlights
- Bosch might be a knowing and active participant in Dieselgate scandal
- Most of the allegations involving Bosch remain under seal
- Bosch took the allegations seriously and is cooperating in several probes
German auto supplier Robert Bosch GmbH was a "knowing and active participant" in a decade-long scheme by Volkswagen AG to evade U.S. emissions laws, according to lawyers for U.S. owners of polluting VW diesel vehicles.
In a court filing late on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, the lawyers cited confidential documents turned over by the German automaker to plaintiffs attorneys in making the new allegations against the auto supplier.
Volkswagen declined to comment on the filing, except to say that it had no effect on its multi-billion dollar settlement of a civil complaint over the diesel scandal. The filing was made a day after sources briefed on the matter said the automaker has held preliminary talks with the U.S. Justice Department to settle a criminal probe into the emissions cheating case.
Most of the allegations involving Bosch remain under seal because the documents have been designated as confidential by VW, the plaintiffs' lawyers said in the court filing.
A Bosch spokeswoman said the company took the allegations seriously and is cooperating in several investigations, but declined to comment further.
The documents include records and communications between Bosch, VW and U.S. regulators. One 2011 email to the California Air Resources Board, among other communications, demonstrates "Bosch's deep understanding of what regulators allowed and would not allow, and what Bosch did to help VW obtain approval," the filing said.
"Bosch played a crucial role in the fraudulent enterprise and profited handsomely from it," the court papers say.
Bosch has not been charged with any wrongdoing. But German prosecutors said in December that they were investigating whether staff at the Stuttgart-based company were involved in the rigging of emissions tests by VW.
Bosch makes an engine control unit, often referred to as the "brain" of the engine, used by several top automakers including VW. That system controls a vehicle's acceleration and power and is extensively customised to give each car model its own unique feel.
Bosch supplied software and components to VW but has said responsibility for how software is used to regulate exhaust emissions or fuel consumption lies with carmakers.
In the court papers, the attorneys said Bosch had worked "hand-in-glove" with Volkswagen to develop a so-called cheat device to circumvent emissions tests and trick regulators.
The engine control system for VW's clean diesel engine was customised through years of close collaboration between the carmaker and Bosch, the lawyers said.
"It is inconceivable," the attorneys wrote, "that Bosch did not know that the software it was responsible for defining, developing, testing, maintaining and delivering contained an illegal defeat device."
Bosch chief executive Volkmar Denner said in January he had ordered an internal investigation and was cooperating with authorities. In April, Bosch said it had set aside 650 million euros for potential legal costs, including for an ongoing investigation into the company's role in Volkswagen's diesel emissions manipulation scandal.
Reuters reported in November that U.S. federal prosecutors were investigating whether Bosch knew or participated in VW's years-long efforts to cheat on U.S. diesel emissions tests.
In June, Deputy U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates said the VW probe is looking at "multiple companies and multiple individuals."
VW has agreed to pay up to $15.3 billion to buy back or fix 475,000 2.0 litre diesel vehicles in the United States, offset excess emissions, invest in zero emission vehicle efforts and address some state claims. It still must win approval of plans to address 85,000 polluting 3.0 litre vehicles in the United States.
Separately, a federal judge on Wednesday rejected a Virginia VW owner's request to intervene in the settlement of a class-action lawsuit against the automaker. Had the owner been successful, the move could have delayed the beginning of the buyback program, which is expected to begin in October.
In a court filing late on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, the lawyers cited confidential documents turned over by the German automaker to plaintiffs attorneys in making the new allegations against the auto supplier.
Volkswagen declined to comment on the filing, except to say that it had no effect on its multi-billion dollar settlement of a civil complaint over the diesel scandal. The filing was made a day after sources briefed on the matter said the automaker has held preliminary talks with the U.S. Justice Department to settle a criminal probe into the emissions cheating case.
Most of the allegations involving Bosch remain under seal because the documents have been designated as confidential by VW, the plaintiffs' lawyers said in the court filing.
A Bosch spokeswoman said the company took the allegations seriously and is cooperating in several investigations, but declined to comment further.
The documents include records and communications between Bosch, VW and U.S. regulators. One 2011 email to the California Air Resources Board, among other communications, demonstrates "Bosch's deep understanding of what regulators allowed and would not allow, and what Bosch did to help VW obtain approval," the filing said.
"Bosch played a crucial role in the fraudulent enterprise and profited handsomely from it," the court papers say.
Bosch has not been charged with any wrongdoing. But German prosecutors said in December that they were investigating whether staff at the Stuttgart-based company were involved in the rigging of emissions tests by VW.
Bosch makes an engine control unit, often referred to as the "brain" of the engine, used by several top automakers including VW. That system controls a vehicle's acceleration and power and is extensively customised to give each car model its own unique feel.
Bosch supplied software and components to VW but has said responsibility for how software is used to regulate exhaust emissions or fuel consumption lies with carmakers.
In the court papers, the attorneys said Bosch had worked "hand-in-glove" with Volkswagen to develop a so-called cheat device to circumvent emissions tests and trick regulators.
The engine control system for VW's clean diesel engine was customised through years of close collaboration between the carmaker and Bosch, the lawyers said.
"It is inconceivable," the attorneys wrote, "that Bosch did not know that the software it was responsible for defining, developing, testing, maintaining and delivering contained an illegal defeat device."
Bosch chief executive Volkmar Denner said in January he had ordered an internal investigation and was cooperating with authorities. In April, Bosch said it had set aside 650 million euros for potential legal costs, including for an ongoing investigation into the company's role in Volkswagen's diesel emissions manipulation scandal.
Reuters reported in November that U.S. federal prosecutors were investigating whether Bosch knew or participated in VW's years-long efforts to cheat on U.S. diesel emissions tests.
In June, Deputy U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates said the VW probe is looking at "multiple companies and multiple individuals."
VW has agreed to pay up to $15.3 billion to buy back or fix 475,000 2.0 litre diesel vehicles in the United States, offset excess emissions, invest in zero emission vehicle efforts and address some state claims. It still must win approval of plans to address 85,000 polluting 3.0 litre vehicles in the United States.
Separately, a federal judge on Wednesday rejected a Virginia VW owner's request to intervene in the settlement of a class-action lawsuit against the automaker. Had the owner been successful, the move could have delayed the beginning of the buyback program, which is expected to begin in October.
© Thomson Reuters 2016
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Related News
Popular Volkswagen Models
Latest Cars
Upcoming Cars
Latest News
car&bike Team | Jun 8, 2026BMW India To Increase Prices Of Its Cars And SUVs By Up To 2% From July 1This is the second price hike announcement for 2026 from the German carmaker, following the first, implemented in April.1 min read
car&bike Team | Jun 8, 2026Nissan Gravite Prices Hiked By Up To Rs 18,000; Range Now Starts At Rs 5.73 LakhThe subcompact MPV is now priced from Rs 5.73 lakh to Rs 9.08 lakh (ex-showroom), with the N-Connecta MT witnessing the highest hike.2 mins read
car&bike Team | Jun 8, 2026FADA: Auto Retail Sales Rise 9.55% In May 2026; Passenger Vehicles Lead GrowthFADA also noted that EV penetration crossed the 11 per cent mark for the first time, while signs of a small-car revival emerged alongside SUV demand.1 min read
car&bike Team | Jun 6, 2026Premium TVS, Norton Bikes To Be Sold Via New Paddock OutletsTVS Motor has unveiled TVS Paddock, a standalone retail network for its premium motorcycles, with the first outlets set to open in the second quarter of FY27.1 min read
Amaan Ahmed | Jun 5, 2026E85 Fuel Priced At Rs 82.12 Per Litre In Delhi; First E85 Station InauguratedAt the opening of the first E85-dispensing station in the national capital, petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri promised E85 will be Rs 20 cheaper than E20 petrol.1 min read
car&bike Team | Jun 5, 2026Renault Duster 1.0 Turbo Fuel Efficiency Figure RevealedSmaller turbo-petrol unit is offered in the base and lower mid-spec trims of the new Duster; it only gets a manual gearbox option.1 min read
Seshan Vijayraghvan | Jun 9, 2026Renault Duster 1.0-Litre Turbo Review: Small Engine, More Than Enough PerformanceThe Renault Duster's TCe100 engine is the 1.0-litre turbo petrol that makes 99 bhp and 166 Nm of peak torque. And it only comes with a 6-speed manual.1 min read
Seshan Vijayraghvan | Jun 8, 20262026 Tata Tiago EV Review: Small EV Gets Big ImprovementsThe 2026 Tata Tiago EV promises a sharper design, segment-first features at sub-Rs. 10 lakh price point, and better real-world range. But does it deliver?1 min read
Seshan Vijayraghvan | Jun 6, 20262026 Tata Tiago And Tiago iCNG Review: Budget Hatch Offers Premium AppealThe 2026 Tata Tiago range brings a lot of new things to the segment, and on paper, it looks like a solid product. But,, is the premium appeal real?1 min read
Preetam Bora | Jun 4, 2026Royal Enfield Bullet 650 Review: Is This the Most Desirable RE 650 Twin Yet?We spent some quality time with the new Royal Enfield Bullet 650, and here's our honest take – what we love, and where there's room to do better.1 min read
Janak Sorap | Jun 2, 2026California Superbike School: Finding Speed The Right WayThree days of coaching, track time and self-discovery at California Superbike School revealed that riding faster begins with understanding how to ride better.7 mins read