How’s this for a one-two punch? Just as news is breaking that a Volkswagen engineer is being charged in connection to the Dieselgate scandal, we learn that he’s already plead guilty to multiple federal charges.
The U.S. Justice Department named James Liang in its probe of the German automaker for crimes related to the cheat device installed on thousands of diesel vehicles. Liang was charged with conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government, and violation of the clean air act, among other crimes.
Upon being charged, Liang reportedly entered a plea agreement for his cooperation in the investigation of others and greater details associated with Dieselgate. So what exactly was Liang’s involvement? Well, according to the Justice Department, as reported by CNBC, Liang developed software way back in 2006 to make the vehicles appear cleaner than they were. It doesn’t get much closer to the source than that. VW responded to the indictment by restating its cooperation with the U.S. Department of Justice but made no comments about Liang. Who knows what information Liang will reveal to the feds, but chances are, it will be pretty juicy.
Read More: VW Reaches Dieselgate Settlement
Liang was part of a diesel development team in Germany when he was assignment the cheat device project. The engineer then moved to the U.S. in May of 2008 to help launch the new line of “clean diesels.”
As for the automaker, it’s knee-deep in a settlement that will cost it over $16 billion to fix or buy back 475,000 affected vehicles that were sold over a seven year period. VW admitted that 2.0-liter diesels were equipped with cheat devices, but a resolution about 3.0-liter diesels is still coming. These engines were found in VW, Audi, Porsche, and Skoda models.
The latest report says VW may not be able to provide a sufficient fix and will thus have to buy back all the cars. Ouch. The automaker is also on the hook for $2.7 billion in environmental mitigation and $2 billion for research on zero-emissions vehicles.
Related Posts
This Trunk-Friendly Tire Inflator Makes Roadside Top-Ups Way Easier
A flat or low tire always seems to show up at the worst possible time. A compact compressor you can keep in the trunk solves most of that stress in a couple of minutes. The NEXPOW portable tire inflator and air compressor is now $49.99 at Walmart, down from $148.99, so you save $99 on a tool that can bail you out at home, on road trips, or in a parking lot.
I was skeptical of the Cadillac Lyriq-V, but a test drive changed that
The 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V is the first all-electric model in the luxury brand’s V-Series performance lineup. The V-Series has been instrumental in helping Cadillac shake off its stodgy image with fast-and-fun cars that go tire-to-tire with their counterparts from BMW M5 and Mercedes-AMG. But, more often than not, Cadillac V-Series models have been powered by loud-and-thirsty V8 engines — the opposite of the silent, zero-emission electric powertrains that are ostensibly Cadillac’s future.
Save $103 on this high-power car jump starter for emergencies
If you’ve ever dealt with a dead car battery at the worst possible moment, a dependable jump starter is worth keeping in your trunk. The high-power AVAPOW 4000A portable jump starter is now on sale for $56.99, down from $159.99, giving you a $103 savings on a compact power pack that can bring a dead car back to life without needing another vehicle.