One of the Audi engineers currently on trial in Munich for a role in the world-famous diesel scandal has opened a book about how the fraud came about in his eyes.
It concerns Giovanni Pamio, the 63-year-old Italian who was already charged in 2017 for his role in the fraud at Audi. He is accused of commissioning employees to design cheat software that could falsely drive cars through US emissions tests. Not surprising: Pamio was responsible for the development of the relevant diesel engines at the time.
Automobilwoche reports that in 2009 there was enormous pressure to design so-called ‘clean diesels’ (‘Clean Diesel’ was a marketing term in the US at the time) for the American market. Time was short and the priority, Pamio said, was on the wrong things. For example, the available space under the car would rather be used for sound system components than for a fuel tank that offers space for adequate exhaust gas after-treatment systems.
In 2018 it became clear that the Adblue systems of certain diesel Audis are programmed in such a way that they are sometimes switched off en route to extend the refilling interval as long as possible. As a result, the affected cars emit far more harmful substances on the road than during a measurement, because the system then obviously functions properly.
Request rejected
Although Pamio as an engineer did not look so much in terms of legality at the Adblue tank that was too small, he would have concluded in time that the tank used did not meet the intended purpose. His department would have requested larger tanks several times, but those requests have been rejected time and again, according to Pamio. ‘Acceleration, consumption and costs were more important than emissions,’ says Automobilwoche.
Under Pamio’s leadership, software was subsequently developed to conceal the tampering with Adblue, although, according to Pamio, this was under heavy pressure from above. For example, warning lights remained off when the level was too low, or an Adblue level was simply displayed on the screen. This rogue software has reportedly been used in some 434,000 cars.
Pre-trial detention
By the way, according to Automotive News Pamio has already been acquitted in another dieselgate-related case, in which he had not played a decisive role according to the German court. The engineer would also have received a substantial compensation from Audi, partly because he would have already warned his employer during the cheating. He did, however, spend five months in custody.
In addition to Giovanni Pamio, three former Audi employees with a role in the scandal are on trial in Munich. Henning Lörch (52) was head of the exhaust gas after-treatment department under Pamio. Wolfgang Hatz (61) was Head of Engine Development at Audi between 2001 and 2009. The fourth and most prominent name on the list is that of Rupert Stadler (57), who could call himself CEO of Audi from 2010 to 2018. However, according to Automobilwoche, Stadler is also the one who is least charged of the foursome.