Volkswagen
Engineering a Disaster
Volkswagen violated U.S. environmental law by using software to cheat air emissions tests in nearly 11 million diesel vehicles. The scandal, exposed in 2015, resulted in a loss of trust and potential billions in fines. Observers posited that the scandal could have been the result of a misinterpretation of American law, technical issues, and differing environmental standards between Europe and the U.S. Others believed that the behaviors might be rooted in Volkswagen's history, governance, corporate culture, and strategic objectives.