Agreed, I think GM got off too easy, just like Firestone got off too easy when they would blow on Explorers.
Define corporation. When a company goes under what happens to all the people employed; the services/support previously offered to customers?
VW isn't going to be able to get out of this without some sort of "fix" whether it be a ECM flash that will likely affect power, torque, and fuel economy, or a hardware change like adding a urea treatment system. Areas with emissions/safety inspections will be the easiest to enforce. Vehicles will have to show proof the recall was performed and pass testing, if required. In areas like SW Ohio, which has no form of yearly inspection, it would be nearly impossible to enforce. VW will send out the recall notice but owners like me can choose to simply ignore it.
This is why I think a hardware solution, if possible is the best bet. Exhaust treatment systems don't generally affect performance or fuel economy. If this is done at VW's cost and actual driving emissions are now within regulations there's no basis for a lawsuit.
Part of me thinks it's silly that fine is $37,500/car when the MSRP for almost all the cars affected is less than that. Then again, the fine is clearly stated and VW violated the regulation. I agree the money should not go to the EPA/federal government though but rather toward the effort to fix the issue. That in and of itself is punishment enough.
The fact that VW can get fined up to something like $18 billion for violating emissions regulations yet GM got fined ~$1.9 billion for the ignition switch issue is ridiculous. Granted I still don't understand why failed ignition switch = insta-crash, GM basically admitted to negligence that resulted in the deaths of over 120 people. I don't necessarily think the government is looking to make an example of VW but I'm certain if this were happening to Ford or GM it "wouldn't be as big a deal."
