As the investigation into the Volkswagen emissions fraud widens in scope, authorities suspect that suppliers such as Bosch might have helped VW to procure software it installed in its vehicles to cheat diesel emission tests.
Germany's Bosch might be one of the suppliers who were aware of VW's intentions to defraud buyers by averting warranty claims under the clean air act.
While several potential suspects are currently under the scanner as the Department of Justice examines the case against the German automaker, sources like Bloomberg have put forth the name of Bosch in particular. Although the company is among the list of defendants in the case of fraud against VW, in a recent statement Bosch maintained that it is complying with the directives of the investigating agencies and can not comment on its role in the fraud committed by VW.
In the on-going criminal case against VW, the automobile giant is accused of installing software in as many as 11 million cars worldwide to trick testing systems into passing the cars as clean while in reality they produce emissions well over allowable limits.
After James Robert Liang, who was part of the team that helped VW install the fraudulent software on the cars, confessed to being guilty in court, revelations have surfaced about how the automobile company tricked buyers between 2009 and 2016 into falsely believing their EA 189" diesel engine met US pollution standards.
These revelations have left buyers angry and frustrated over having spent thousands of extra bucks for clean energy vehicles that turned out to be a mere eyewash. The investigations have also thrown light on how VW planned to avert paying millions over warranty claims if cars failed emission testing systems.
Further worsening matters for VW, on Friday the Department of Justice confirmed that another case had been filed against the automaker due to its failure to warn investors about possible losses. VW now has to also defend itself against claims that it is responsible for stock trading losses it caused to retired US Federal employees.