Volkswagen: Difference between revisions
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{{ | {{CompanyCargo | ||
| | |Description=German automobile mass-market manufacturer. | ||
|Founded=1937 | |||
| Founded = 1937 | |Industry=Automotive | ||
| Industry = Automotive | |Logo=Volkswagen.svg | ||
| | |ParentCompany= | ||
|Type=Public | |||
|Website=https://vw.com/,https://www.volkswagen.de/ | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''[[wikipedia:Volkswagen|Volkswagen]]''' is a Germany-based automobile manufacturing company. It was established as part of the [[Wikipedia:German_Labour_Front|German Labour Front]] in 1937. In recent years, the company's vehicles have been equipped with systems that collect customer data, leading to a notable incident. | '''[[wikipedia:Volkswagen|Volkswagen]]''' is a Germany-based automobile manufacturing company. It was established as part of the [[Wikipedia:German_Labour_Front|German Labour Front]] in 1937. In recent years, the company's vehicles have been equipped with systems that collect customer data, leading to a notable incident. | ||
==Consumer-impact summary== | |||
'''User freedom:''' Volkswagen locks out independent mechanics from accessing the car's control units. | |||
'''User privacy:''' Every vehicle collects driving data, which was also leaked in a one-time incident. | |||
'''Business model:''' The company engages in false advertising and locks already existing vehicle functionalities behind paywalls. | |||
==Incidents== | ==Incidents== | ||
===Volkswagen found to be cheating in regulatory emissions tests (2015)=== | ===Volkswagen found to be cheating in regulatory emissions tests (2015)=== | ||
Volkswagen was among several automotive manufacturers who deliberately programmed their emission control systems to only work with full effectivity when the car detected that a regulatory emissions test is being performed. The cars only fulfilled emissions standards in this lab environment.<ref>https:// | Volkswagen was among several automotive manufacturers who deliberately programmed their emission control systems to only work with full effectivity when the car detected that a regulatory emissions test is being performed. The cars only fulfilled emissions standards in this lab environment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Parloff |first=Roger |date=2018-02-06 |title=How VW Paid $25 Billion for ‘Dieselgate’ — and Got Off Easy |url=https://fortune.com/2018/02/06/volkswagen-vw-emissions-scandal-penalties/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250611190226/https://fortune.com/2018/02/06/volkswagen-vw-emissions-scandal-penalties/ |archive-date=2025-06-11 |access-date=2025-06-11 |website=Fortune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cormack |first=Lucy |last2=Hatch |first2=Patrick |date=2016-09-01 |title=ACCC takes Volkswagen to court over diesel emission claims |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/accc-takes-volkswagen-to-court-over-diesel-emission-claims-20160901-gr61ud.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250611190834/https://www.smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/accc-takes-volkswagen-to-court-over-diesel-emission-claims-20160901-gr61ud.html |archive-date=2025-06-11 |access-date=2025-06-11 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> | ||
===Volkswagen introduces SFD (2020) and SFD 2 (2024), blocking independent repairs=== | ===Volkswagen introduces SFD (2020) and SFD 2 (2024), blocking independent repairs=== | ||
| Line 21: | Line 28: | ||
===Volkswagen car location data gets exposed (2024)=== | ===Volkswagen car location data gets exposed (2024)=== | ||
{{Main|Volkswagen car-location data-exposure incident}} | {{Main|Volkswagen car-location data-exposure incident}} | ||
Customer vehicle data vehicle data stored on AWS with CARIAD was discovered to have public instances due to a possible misconfiguration. | Customer vehicle data vehicle data stored on AWS with CARIAD was discovered to have public instances due to a possible misconfiguration. | ||
===Volkswagen now locks performance of their ID.3 behind a subscription (2025)=== | |||
{{Main|Volkswagen locks horsepower behind paid subscription}} | |||
Volkswagen is now forcing owners of the ID.3 to pay extra if they wish their car to deliver the full performance it’s capable of. | |||
===Volkswagen starts displaying ads on ID.7 navigation display during travel (October 2025)=== | |||
As first documented by German users on Reddit<ref>{{Cite web |last=@Erstwolf |date=2025-10-16 |title=ID 7 Werbeanzeige während der Navigation 😐 |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Elektroautos/comments/1o8cya8/id_7_werbeanzeige_w%C3%A4hrend_der_navigation/ |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=Reddit /r/Elektroautos |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260224102956/https://old.reddit.com/r/Elektroautos/comments/1o8cya8/id_7_werbeanzeige_w%C3%A4hrend_der_navigation/ |archive-date=24 Feb 2026}}</ref>, the VW app prompts users to enable ads on the main navigation display by using a dark pattern, misleadingly calling them "recommendations". This leads to advertising popups while driving. At the time of writing, it is still possible to disable the ads. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Donath |first=Andreas |date=2025-10-23 |title=VW macht das ID.7-Cockpit zur Werbefläche [German] |url=https://www.golem.de/news/elektroauto-vw-macht-das-id-7-cockpit-zur-werbeflaeche-2510-201446.html |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=Golem |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260113075449/https://www.golem.de/news/elektroauto-vw-macht-das-id-7-cockpit-zur-werbeflaeche-2510-201446.html |archive-date=13 Jan 2026}}</ref> | |||
Initial reactions from users include safety concerns because the ad popups constitute unnecessary distractions for the driver.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-23 |title=Geht Gar Nicht!!! |url=https://forum.golem.de/kommentare/automobil/elektroauto-vw-macht-das-id.7-cockpit-zur-werbeflaeche/geht-gar-nicht/184428,7155833,7155833,read.html |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=Golem |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260224103124/https://www.golem.de/sonstiges/zustimmung/auswahl.html?from=https%3A%2F%2Fforum.golem.de%2Fkommentare%2Fautomobil%2Felektroauto-vw-macht-das-id.7-cockpit-zur-werbeflaeche%2Fgeht-gar-nicht%2F184428%2C7155833%2C7155833%2Cread.html |archive-date=24 Feb 2026}}</ref> | |||
===Volkswagen removes access to repair guides to 'Non-business' consumers (December 2025)=== | |||
Volkswagen removes access to erWin webshop for non-business customers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Discontinuation of the erWin webshop for private customers |url=https://volkswagen.erwin-store.com/erwin/downloadStaticFile/files/Privatkunde.pdf |access-date=2025-11-19 |website=VW erWin store |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251130222532/https://volkswagen.erwin-store.com/erwin/downloadStaticFile/files/Privatkunde.pdf |archive-date=30 Nov 2025}}</ref> | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
[[Category:Volkswagen]] | [[Category:Volkswagen]] | ||
Latest revision as of 10:40, 18 March 2026
Volkswagen
| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1937 |
| Legal Structure | Public |
| Industry | Automotive |
| Also known as | |
| Official website | https://vw.com/ |
Volkswagen is a Germany-based automobile manufacturing company. It was established as part of the German Labour Front in 1937. In recent years, the company's vehicles have been equipped with systems that collect customer data, leading to a notable incident.
Consumer-impact summary
[edit | edit source]User freedom: Volkswagen locks out independent mechanics from accessing the car's control units.
User privacy: Every vehicle collects driving data, which was also leaked in a one-time incident.
Business model: The company engages in false advertising and locks already existing vehicle functionalities behind paywalls.
Incidents
[edit | edit source]Volkswagen found to be cheating in regulatory emissions tests (2015)
[edit | edit source]Volkswagen was among several automotive manufacturers who deliberately programmed their emission control systems to only work with full effectivity when the car detected that a regulatory emissions test is being performed. The cars only fulfilled emissions standards in this lab environment.[1][2]
Volkswagen introduces SFD (2020) and SFD 2 (2024), blocking independent repairs
[edit | edit source]Since 2024, Volkswagen AG implements SFD 2 in its vehicles, which blocks access to the car's control units unless users have a valid account in Volkswagen's backend system. Independent mechanics and car owners must purchase $50 unlock tokens for each control unit they need to access, with the units automatically re-locking after 90 minutes.
Volkswagen car location data gets exposed (2024)
[edit | edit source]- Main article: Volkswagen car-location data-exposure incident
Customer vehicle data vehicle data stored on AWS with CARIAD was discovered to have public instances due to a possible misconfiguration.
Volkswagen now locks performance of their ID.3 behind a subscription (2025)
[edit | edit source]- Main article: Volkswagen locks horsepower behind paid subscription
Volkswagen is now forcing owners of the ID.3 to pay extra if they wish their car to deliver the full performance it’s capable of.
Volkswagen starts displaying ads on ID.7 navigation display during travel (October 2025)
[edit | edit source]As first documented by German users on Reddit[3], the VW app prompts users to enable ads on the main navigation display by using a dark pattern, misleadingly calling them "recommendations". This leads to advertising popups while driving. At the time of writing, it is still possible to disable the ads. [4]
Initial reactions from users include safety concerns because the ad popups constitute unnecessary distractions for the driver.[5]
Volkswagen removes access to repair guides to 'Non-business' consumers (December 2025)
[edit | edit source]Volkswagen removes access to erWin webshop for non-business customers.[6]
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ Parloff, Roger (2018-02-06). "How VW Paid $25 Billion for 'Dieselgate' — and Got Off Easy". Fortune. Archived from the original on 2025-06-11. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
- ↑ Cormack, Lucy; Hatch, Patrick (2016-09-01). "ACCC takes Volkswagen to court over diesel emission claims". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 2025-06-11. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
- ↑ @Erstwolf (2025-10-16). "ID 7 Werbeanzeige während der Navigation 😐". Reddit /r/Elektroautos. Archived from the original on 24 Feb 2026. Retrieved 2025-10-23.
- ↑ Donath, Andreas (2025-10-23). "VW macht das ID.7-Cockpit zur Werbefläche [German]". Golem. Archived from the original on 13 Jan 2026. Retrieved 2025-10-23.
- ↑ "Geht Gar Nicht!!!". Golem. 2025-10-23. Archived from the original on 24 Feb 2026. Retrieved 2025-10-23.
- ↑ "Discontinuation of the erWin webshop for private customers" (PDF). VW erWin store. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 Nov 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-19.