Opel has been angered by reports (in the German press) suggesting that the company is using illegal software to control the emissions of its models, as VW did. In a later statement, Opel Group CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann stresses that no Opel has ever used illegal software. After all, if it did, how could it claim that "Wir lieben autos"?
So Dr Neumann says:
"Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH), Monitor and Spiegel give the impression that they have found new evidence suggesting that Opel is using unprecedented, illegal tampering devices. These claims are false!
As we have already stated, we at Opel do not use any illegal software. Our engines are aligned with the requirements of the law. We expect that the authorities will agree with this view. We have always cooperated transparently with the German and European authorities and will continue to do so. Opel has already provided the KBA in October 2015 with details of the company's engine software, engine mapping and emissions strategy. We will come back with further public statements after discussing with the authorities.
Recent accusations based on the findings of the hacker, Mr Felix Domke, lead to misleading oversimplifications and misinterpretations of the complex correlations of a modern diesel engine emission control system. Emission control devices are highly advanced, integrated systems and we cannot 'break them down' into individual parameters.
As the methods and protocols of the activities of DUH, Monitor & Spiegel have not yet been communicated to Opel, the company is not in a position to assess their specific allegations. Based on our own and independent measurements and judging by our experience from experiments published by DUH in the past, we must reiterate that we do not believe that these results are objective or scientifically proven.
Of course we have learnt our lesson from the recent discussions with the Authorities and the public debate. With each new engine, we try to create products that will be a benchmark. We will further improve the performance of the exhaust aftertreatment system of our SCR diesel engines where feasible and where the laws of physics allow. In this context, we are taking action on our own initiative for cars already on the road, starting in June."
