This isn't what you think it is from the headline.<p>This is not a case of Nissan software engineers writing emissions test defeat code. Rather, this is some Nissan factory workers faking internal emissions test results that are done on every completed car. Only about 1,000 cars were affected, and almost all of these cars still met regulatory emissions limits - the targets they were trying to meet were Nissan's stricter internal standards.
As software engineers/computer people, we have to have ethical standards. If you participate in writing code like the one in the VW case then you are not only complacent but active in fraud.<p>Engineers have a code of ethics. If you were to knowingly build an unsafe bridge then you would be liable for the damage and injuries it caused if/when it failed. This is true even if your boss told you to do it. You not only have a moral/ethical obligation to not build that bridge, but also a legal one.<p>As we write software we need to keep these things also in mind. We are writing things that affect peoples lives. That could kill people. That affect the environment. We need to hold ourselves to the same moral obligations as other engineers. We have a duty to prevent harming people when we write our software.<p>If you have no stand to refuse to do the work then it is your duty to report such actions. First up the chain, and if that is rejected, then to the media. It is also your duty to report it if you have refused and you see it still happening. There are whistleblower rights in place to protect you.
The general assumption at the time when VW was put under a microscope for these issues is that everyone is cheating, VAG just got caught first.<p>What stinks seems to be the way the regulations are being implemented moreso than what sort of detours the manufacturers can take to avoid them.<p>I won't be surprised when we see more auto makers added to the list, however I wonder if anyone will criticize the regulations instead of shaming auto manufacturers.<p>Here's a non paywalled BBC article: <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/business-44763905" rel="nofollow">https://www.bbc.com/news/business-44763905</a>
So at what point do we stop trusting auto manufacturers to run these calculations and start mandating it be done by third-parties with different incentive structures?
This puts a dark stain on Carlos Ghosn's previously model career. My bet would be that Renault will be outed next with similar falsification of data.
Nissan has gone from being a sought after sports car brand to the second worst manufacturer in Japan. They are lucky that Mitsubishi makes cars in that respect. After Infiniti took the near premium market, Nissan went down market and now makes cars that are sold to subprime buyers en masse. I remember when the early to mid 90s 300zx turbo came out I put that car on a pedestal as a semi attainable near super car. Now they just make commodity crap cars that all look exactly the same. Sad to see this decline.
Just for some perspective:<p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/06/us/glider-trucks-loophole-pruitt.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/06/us/glider-trucks-loophole...</a><p>Reading that it looks to me as if VW should ask for their money back.<p>The double standard and hypocrisy incredible.<p>"One year’s worth of truck sales was estimated to release 13 times as much nitrogen oxide as all of the Volkswagen diesel cars with fraudulent emissions controls, a scheme that resulted in a criminal case against the company and more than $4 billion in fines."
Articles like these just makes this wikipedia page even more exciting:<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_banning_fossil_fuel_vehicles#List_of_countries" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_banning_foss...</a><p>Are you thinking Norway hitting 2025 is unrealistic being only 7 years away? A video from last year states electric car sales there are already near 30% of new car sales:<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSjYra7cYqY" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSjYra7cYqY</a>
Does anyone have an estimate on how these scandals would have effected down stream climate/particulate modelling? (I'm not totally sure what emissions were lowered)
How rigorous are Japan's laws/punishments expected to be for this? Relative to the Volkswagen emissions scandal which, correct me if I'm wrong, led to decently harsh punishments for those involved at the top level.
question: is it even possible to meet the emission standards and still have a decent /affordable car? Once one fakes, the others have two options, one of them is joining them.<p>At least the DOJ now just has to change the names from VW filings
how much of this foul play is partially attributed to the absolutely insane 54.4 mpg fleet average?<p>How the hell were auto makers going to achieve this insane requirement in less than a decade?<p>The players like VW and Nissan and<p>GM played the game of plug in hybrid to change the formula of MPG by calculating in the battery daily usage into the overall mpg.<p><a href="https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2012/08/28/obama-administration-finalizes-historic-545-mpg-fuel-efficiency-standard" rel="nofollow">https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2012/0...</a><p>Trump rolled it back to the relief of every auto manufacturer. by the way all of the auto manufacturers invested billions into America 2017-2020.<p><a href="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/2018/04/02/epa-roll-back-auto-fuel-economy-rules/33485969/" rel="nofollow">https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/2018/04/02/...</a>
Can we finally just admit that increased emissions standards are putting lipstick on a pig?<p>ICE vehicles will never be clean energy. We need to be investing more in the transition to EVs and improving electricity generation in general.