BOSCH and VOLKSWAGEN: “the gruesome twosome in the cheating emissions scandal”

It seemed like things could not get any worse for the German manufacturing giants following the Volkswagen Emissions Scandal. However, the plot has thickened.

Multinational engineering and electronics company, Bosch, are alleged to be the Robin to Volkswagen’s Batman. Several reports, as well as claimant lawyers in the U.S., allege Bosch as a “knowing and active participant” (source) in assisting Volkswagen with cheating emissions and building the “defeat device” itself.

This device was installed in over 11 million vehicles so that vehicles would appear less polluting and pass tests with ease. Bosch continues to state that these claims are “wild and unfounded”.

Bosch’s alleged wrongdoing

Sadly, we cannot know the ins and outs of Volkswagen and Bosch’s alleged deal, but we can only try to dig deeper. Several reports allege Bosch’s involvement, but most of the documents (and maybe the truth) are under wraps due to confidentiality claims by Volkswagen.

There are two grounds that are potentially fatal to Bosch’s defence. First, it is alleged that Bosch helped rig the vehicles so that they would pass the emissions testing with Volkswagen. Secondly, assumptions can be made that Bosch had literally ‘got their hands dirty’ by assisting Volkswagen to develop this “defeat device”. We can draw these assumptions by looking at their previous and ongoing relationship of supplying software and components to Volkswagen. Bosch creates a component of the engine which is commonly known as the “brain” of the engine, and supplies these components to large car manufacturing companies like Volkswagen.

Because of their close relationship, it would be suspicious not to assume that Bosch did not know or had nothing to do with this multi-billion pound scandal. There is support by the attorneys in the case who stated;

“it is inconceivable that Bosch did not know that the software it was responsible for defining, developing, testing, maintaining and delivering contained an illegal defeat device” (Reuters, 2015).

However, Bosch continues to defend itself by only admitting that they supply software and components to Volkswagen, but the way it is used has nothing to do with them. In all, Bosch continues to deny commercial responsibility for its wrongdoing. I mean, why not? If Bosch succumbs and admits to helping Volkswagen cheat the emissions test, their reputation could end up down the pan (to put it politely). So, if Bosch continues to go with the “I did not do it” stance, their reputation may be upheld; but the same might not be said for its legal and settlement costs.

Volkswagen in the U.S. are a prime example of that!

Since the scandal broke, Volkswagen’s shares have dropped and billions of pounds have been set aside to pay fines, compensation, and the cost of the repair and recall; and Bosch will most likely not want to be associated with those costs.

The waters have been muddied from this revelation. Recent publicity has shifted from Volkswagen to Bosch’s involvement in creating the “defeat device”. Maybe Bosch should take a leaf out of Volkswagen’s book by admitting to their participation and wrongdoing in the scandal, so then the case can be settled and buried. However, it does not seem to be going that way as Bosch has not allocated funds for legal proceedings, according to their spokesperson, Rene Ziegler.