Speaking to Auto Express, a Volkswagen spokesperson said: “Looking back, Dieselgate represents a real turning point in the company’s history: a new level of corporate integrity, governance and compliance. To date, tens of thousands of employees have undergone training to align their practices with these new standards.
“It is the responsibility of all managers at all hierarchical levels and employees in all areas of the Volkswagen Group to ensure that such a situation does not occur again.”
How has Dieselgate impacted consumer confidence?
With Dieselgate having significantly transformed the automotive world, it would seem reasonable to expect it to have equally altered the perspective of the car-buying public. However, the effect on consumers might not be as profound by comparison.
A survey of more than 1,000 motorists commissioned by Auto Express and run by our sibling publication, Carwow, found that while 43 per cent of respondents said the scandal affected their personal trust within the industry, a slightly larger proportion (47 per cent) replied that it didn’t really impact their views at all.
Furthermore, of those that said they do now hold a lesser view of the industry, fewer than half (43 per cent) said this would impact their choice of whether to buy a diesel car or not, suggesting that it’s more a lack of choice and/or encroaching governmental restrictions that are pushing us away from the black pump.
Nevertheless, the findings show that there was still significant damage to not just that of car manufacturers’ reputations, but of diesel powertrains altogether – if not quite as all-encapsulating as one might have initially thought. Molden said “Dieselgate fundamentally tarnished a technology which today is extremely clean. Quite likely if you buy a diesel car today, it would be cleaner than an equivalent petrol car, because the nitrogen-oxide treatment systems on diesels today are so good.”
Yet, with Volkswagen remaining the largest automotive manufacturer in Europe and displaying financial growth as recent as the final quarter of 2024, the German brand has managed to maintain its customer base despite being at the heart of the scandal.
“While it generally had an immediate impact,” said Nothard, “the recovery shows the strength of the brands involved.”
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