<i>OT:</i><p>I think VW gets a bit of an unfair beating. Yes, your car probably looses in value, but<p>- the cars could be upgraded (which VW seems to be willing to do for free) and<p>- no one was physically hurt (not like the General Motors ignition that actually killed drivers).<p>Also when seeing the top 3 bestselling cars in the US being sheer gas guzzlers (Ford F, Chevrolet Silverado and the Dodge Ram), the word &#x27;hypocrisy&#x27; seems like a fair description to the public reaction in the US.<p><i>That being said:</i><p>Companies being social constructs and thus complex in their decision making process, framing this scandal as an orchestrated scheme by VW&#x27;s complete management is ridiculous. What impresses me is, that this Scandal was in the making for months and they did not do anything in advance. Somehow, to me this proves the statement, that they weren&#x27;t involved in this.<p>VW&#x27;s <i>old</i> leadership was notorious for being hands-on on even slightest car details. Specifically Ferdinand Piech - who was nicknamed &quot;Fugen-Ferdi&quot; because of him insisting that VW car&#x27;s &quot;Spaltmaße&quot; (clearance?) be the industry&#x27;s best - is very unlikely to not have known about this.<p>IMO some did know, and choose to not inform those that didn&#x27;t know - not even when it was clear to them what this would cause to the company.<p>(edited for formatting)