by Walter Blanks Jr
Nearly 11 years ago, Volkswagen admitted to covertly installing “defeat devices” in millions of its vehicles as part of a ploy to evade government emissions tests. This scandal, infamously known as “Dieselgate,” resulted in vehicles emitting up to 40 times more nitrous oxide (NOx) on the road than legally permitted by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Dieselgate rocked the global automobile industry, embroiling several of the world’s leading car manufacturers in legal troubles, including the conviction of four former Volkswagen managers.
As litigation efforts for Dieselgate ramp up overseas, experts are questioning whether the cheating scandal deserves renewed scrutiny from U.S. regulators and courts. For the people of Tennessee, the answer to that question should be a resounding “yes.”
The potential impacts of Dieselgate on Tennessee’s economy and environment deserve our attention. Chattanooga is home to Volkswagen’s only U.S. manufacturing plant, making the relationship between our state and the automaker an important one. Volkswagen built its facility with the help of millions of dollars in state and local incentives, funded by Tennessee taxpayers. The company built trust with the Volunteer State over the years, yet this cheating scandal raises real concerns for the Tennessee workforce and supply chains our state depends on.
Environmental concerns only compound the issue. Memphis and Nashville have both struggled with high levels of ozone pollution, and NOx emissions from vehicular traffic are a major contributor to those levels. Roughly 590,000 Volkswagen vehicles outfitted with the defeat devices were sold in the United States alone. Many of those vehicles found their way onto Tennessee’s roads where the state’s high temperatures create the perfect conditions for NOx to fester.
Every mile driven by one of these emissions-cheating vehicles adds to the air quality concerns facing Tennesseans and the reputation of our state. The lesson of Dieselgate is clear: corporate accountability can’t be taken for granted when it comes to these automobile companies. For the sake of our economic success now and the public health of future generations, it’s up to policymakers to ensure these manufacturers continue to be held accountable, even a decade later.
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Walter Blanks Jr is the Executive Director of The Legacy Society.
Photo “Chattanooga Volkswagen” by Chattanooga Volkswagen.
