Photo: http://badforthebrand.com/
Back in the 50s and 60s, everybody in America secretly suspected their neighbor to be a spy for the communists. Everything from what hand they used to hold their fork to what newspaper they read was examined. In the wake of the huge Dieselgate scandal that rocked the company to its core, Volkswagen now wants its employees to snitch on their colleagues who "work on the wrong side," as it were.
Tell us everything you know about who's involved in installing the so-called defeat devices and we promise that you'll keep your job, they say.
According to an article published by German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung on Friday, the snitches will also be protected from damages claims, but the deal does not apply to top-ranking executives.
The German automaker is forced to take such drastic actions because US authorities demand meaningful results. Of course, everybody involved probably knows that prosecutors can enforce a fine in the billions of dollars range if they are not satisfied with the way VW is handling things.
Top executives cannot expect any leniency, though. That's why it's being reported that a new Management and Supervisory Board is planned in case the current one knew about the defeat devices and turned a blind eye to the whole affair.
The German state is conducting its own investigation and confiscated documents from offices and the homes of some high-ranking officials. Reports released last month suggest even Lamborghini's headquarters were raided, despite the supercar maker never offering any TDI engines. Of course, Volkswagen's "amnesty" will not apply if somebody is found guilty in a court of law.
Volkswagen is quite handy with such programs, as when a similar scandal emerged at truck maker MAN last decade, amnesty was also offered in exchange for information. This helped the company deal more quickly with the internal corruption affair.
According to an article published by German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung on Friday, the snitches will also be protected from damages claims, but the deal does not apply to top-ranking executives.
The German automaker is forced to take such drastic actions because US authorities demand meaningful results. Of course, everybody involved probably knows that prosecutors can enforce a fine in the billions of dollars range if they are not satisfied with the way VW is handling things.
Top executives cannot expect any leniency, though. That's why it's being reported that a new Management and Supervisory Board is planned in case the current one knew about the defeat devices and turned a blind eye to the whole affair.
The German state is conducting its own investigation and confiscated documents from offices and the homes of some high-ranking officials. Reports released last month suggest even Lamborghini's headquarters were raided, despite the supercar maker never offering any TDI engines. Of course, Volkswagen's "amnesty" will not apply if somebody is found guilty in a court of law.
Volkswagen is quite handy with such programs, as when a similar scandal emerged at truck maker MAN last decade, amnesty was also offered in exchange for information. This helped the company deal more quickly with the internal corruption affair.
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