THE engine hums to life with a simple push of a button, a testament to the precision engineering behind this renowned German automaker. Yet, despite its global popularity, the brand’s reputation was severely tarnished by the “Dieselgate” scandal, in which it was revealed that the company had installed software in its diesel vehicles to cheat emissions tests.
This greenwashing tactic misled consumers into believing the cars were more environmentally friendly than they actually were. As a result, the company faced the largest-ever fine in a greenwashing lawsuit, with penalties soaring to US$34.69bil.
