emissions scandal

The emissions scandal involved some car manufacturers secretly programming their vehicles' engines to detect when they were being tested for emissions, reducing pollution levels temporarily during testing. Outside of lab conditions, these cars emitted much higher levels of pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides, than allowed by law. This deception meant the cars appeared cleaner and more environmentally friendly than they actually were. The scandal, notably involving Volkswagen, led to significant legal actions, fines, and a loss of public trust, highlighting issues with regulatory oversight and corporate transparency in automotive emissions testing.