The fate of Volkswagen’s cars implicated in the Dieselgate scandal, which began in September 2015, remains unclear. Crushing them all would likely be financially impractical, especially since Volkswagen had previously agreed to buy back affected vehicles. However, until a resolution is reached that allows VW to recover some of its substantial losses linked to fines and legal battles, many of these vehicles are currently stored in large numbers across leased lots.
In 2014, the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) conducted a study to examine discrepancies between emission regulations in Europe and the United States. This investigation involved testing 15 different vehicles through rigorous evaluations by three independent groups of scientists. During the study, US researchers found that two out of three cars they examined underwent additional emission component testing while on the road. Consequently, the Volkswagen Group became the focus of one of the most extensive regulatory investigations in automotive history.
After the courts approved a buyback plan as part of compensation for those who purchased affected diesel Volkswagen and Audi vehicles, owners rushed to dealerships to exchange their underperforming cars. Many were able to secure enough funds to invest in multiple TDI vehicles to benefit from the settlement payments, while others opted to strip their vehicles down to a “drivable” state and sell off surplus parts.
In a recent development, the Pontiac Silverdome, the location featured in this drone footage, was penalized by the city of Pontiac, Michigan for breaching property codes while utilizing the stadium, converted into a parking lot, to accommodate the vast number of cars. Furthermore, it’s worth noting that this video is not the first to investigate Volkswagen’s considerable parking areas.
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