When was Volkwagen founded?
Volkswagen
On 18 September 2015, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said beginning in 2008 the automaker improperly installed engine control unit (ECU) software determined to be a "defeat device", in violation of the Clean Air Act to circumvent environmental regulations of NOx emissions by diesel engine 2009–2015 model year Volkswagen and Audi cars. The software detects when the cars were being subject to emissions testing, and then fully enabled ECU emission controls to successfully pass.[128][129] However, during normal driving conditions, emission control software was shut off in order to attain greater fuel economy and additional power, resulting in as much as 40 times more pollution than allowed by law.[130][131] Consumer Reports tested a 2011 Jetta SportWagen TDI and found in emissions mode its 0–60mph time increased by 0.6 seconds and its highway fuel economy dropped from 50 mpg to 46 mpg.[132] Volkswagen admitted to using the defeat device, and has been ordered to recall approximately 482,000 cars with four-cylinder 2.0-liter TDI engines.[133] United States federal penalties may include fines ranging up to US$18billion, and possibly criminal charges.[134] On 28 June 2016, Volkswagen agreed to pay a settlement of $15.3billion, the largest auto-related consumer class-action lawsuit in the United States history.[135]