D he role of Audi was always a special one in the Volkswagen diesel scandal. This was reflected above all in the sales figures: While new registrations of VW models in Germany have declined every year since the announcement of exhaust gas manipulation, Audi’s growth continued largely undisturbed. It can be seen for each customer that the cars of VW and Audi are sold almost directly next to each other – that could even notice who does not know the corporate structure of Volkswagen in detail.
Audi CEO Rupert Stadler is one of very few top managers from the time of the exhaust manipulation, which is still in office today. The owner families Porsche and Piëch had always put themselves behind the CEO – nothing against him personally. However, there are already allegations against Stadler for some time. Now he is in prison There is a danger of blackout, prosecutors say. The ” image “Quotes a Munich prosecutor with it, there are concrete indications that persons and co-accused should be influenced.
Last Monday, Stadler’s private apartment had been searched. Also now state prosecutor and a spokesman emphasize that Stadler is presumed innocent. The question remains: How much did he really know?
The mechanics were invented at Audi
One thing is certain: many of Audi’s models have also been recalled, including some of the most popular, namely certain series of the A3, A4, A5, A6 and A1.
One thing is certain: the mechanics of Audi originated at Audi – even though it was not initially used unlawfully. It was always about controlling the engine differently when it was under scrutiny. It all started in the 90s when Audi developed a new engine control system, the diesel should be quieter. Unfortunately, the car emitted more exhaust fumes. So the technicians also developed a function that detects trips on the test bench and then switches off the so-called “acoustic function”. At that time, however, the responsible people were afraid to actually use the software. That happened later. When the hacker Felix Domke analyzed the chips in the VW engine control after the scandal, he found a program explanation called “lower threshold for deactivating the acoustic function” – there it was again.
Under what circumstances the “Deactivation of the acoustic function” came in the VW engine EA189, there are many stories and many allegations in which again and again the name Audi falls. As early as 2007, there is a mail from the company in which a technician writes to his colleagues, “Without shit” could not meet the strict limits in the United States , Apart from Stadler, the former Porsche development chief has been in custody since last year – he was also head of Audi engine development.
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