User:Mlarios13/Diesel emissions scandal

Vehicle Emissions Policy Background
Early in the 1950's scientists discovered that vehicle emissions were a significant factor that had been causing the air quality to deteriorate. This lead to the introduction of vehicle emissions standards in California in 1966, furthermore due to the seriousness of the problem, in 1970 the Clean Air Act was introduced in order to regulate these standards all over the United States. Eventually, other countries including European Nations, Australia, Japan and India followed suit. The United States as well as the other countries who followed were quick to act since vehicle emissions became a public health risk. The introduction of these emission standards produced satisfying results, from 1975 to 1996 carbon emissions dropped 76.3% of the initial levels in 1975. Correspondingly, studies estimate that the introduction of these policies averted 19,008 deaths from 1975 to 1996.

Rigging Motives (Volkswagen)
The 2015 scandal was likely caused by the increasingly strict standards set, paired with the lack of technology to meet these requirements. Moreover, another possible reason for this scandal outbreak is cost. In order for automakers to comply with these standards, they must spend from $800 up to $3,000 more per vehicle. Volkswagen confessed that they could not comply with the policies in the amount of time they had when the standards became more strict in 2005. After much analysis of the Volkswagen company, the rigging was allowed for so long due to failing internal policies.