¶ … Decision
Ethical Implications
Legal Implications
Fairness Implications
Volkswagen knowingly used the software in its emission systems for its diesel cars sold in the U.S. which suppressed the emission readings to suit the requirements of the regulators in 2014-15. The company used these reduced emission readings to market and sell the car not only in the U.S. bit also in other parts of the world including Europe. The company used these reduced emission readings to aggressively market its cars and enhance business. Martin Winterkorn was the CEO of the company at the time of the incident.
This incident or decision by the top bosses of Volkswagen was highly unethical as it violated the established ethical norms of business. They resorted to misinforming the customers. The company willingly and willfully used the software to misinform customers through its marketing campaign. The customers were falsely drawn into thinking that the vehicles of the company were indeed very low on emission. Consequently not only were they duped but such people also stood to potentially violate the emission norms without having to do anything with it (McDowell, 2000). With respect to the health of the company, this decision was unethical as the health of the company was not so dire that it had to resort to such an unethical step.
The company was legally implicated for falsifying data and suppressing data as well as violating environment regulatory norms under the United States law. The company was also implicated under the German law, the home country of the company, and an investigation has been initiated both in the U.S. and Germany. A number of customers have also filed lawsuits against the company in the U.S. alleging that the company had duped them with false information. Thus, the company is also in trouble legally from the decision. Despite what the health of a company is such decisions are always unethical and illegal in nature and are liable to be prosecuted.
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