Editing Volkswagen (section)

===2000–2016: Further expansion===
[[File:2011 Volkswagen Jetta (1KM MY10) 118TSI sedan (2015-07-03) 01.jpg|thumb|left|The fifth generation [[Volkswagen Jetta (A5)|Volkswagen Jetta]]]]

Volkswagen began introducing an array of new models after [[Bernd Pischetsrieder]] became [[Volkswagen Group]] CEO (responsible for all Group brands) in 2002. The sixth-generation [[Volkswagen Golf Mk6|VW Golf]] was launched in 2008, came runner-up to the [[Opel Insignia|Opel/Vauxhall Insignia]] in the 2009 [[European Car of the Year]], and has spawned several cousins: [[Volkswagen Jetta (A6)|VW Jetta]], [[VW Scirocco]], [[SEAT León]], [[SEAT Toledo]], [[Škoda Octavia]] and Audi A3 hatchback ranges, as well as a new mini-[[Multi-purpose vehicle|MPV]], the [[SEAT Altea]]. The GTI, a "[[hot hatch]]" performance version of the Golf, boasts a 2.0&nbsp;L [[Turbocharger|Turbocharged]] Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) [[petrol direct injection|direct injection]] engine. VW began marketing the Golf under the Rabbit name once again in the US and Canada in 2006.

The sixth-generation Passat and the fifth-generation Jetta both debuted in 2005, and Volkswagen announced plans to expand its lineup further by bringing back the [[Volkswagen Scirocco|Scirocco]] by 2008. Other models in [[Wolfgang Bernhard]]'s (Volkswagen brand CEO) "product offensive" include the [[Volkswagen Tiguan|Tiguan]] mid-sized SUV in 2008 and a [[Volkswagen Passat Coupé|Passat Coupé]]. In November 2006 Bernd Pischetsrieder announced his resignation as Volkswagen Group CEO and was replaced by Audi worldwide CEO [[Martin Winterkorn]] at the beginning of 2007.

[[File:VW Scirocco III 1.4 TSI DSG Team Deep Black.JPG|thumb|right|The third generation [[Volkswagen Scirocco]]]]

Volkswagen maintained North American sales of 224,195 in 2005. The momentum continued for fiscal 2006, as Volkswagen's North American sales for the year were 235,140 vehicles, a 4.9 per cent increase over 2005, despite a slump in domestic North American manufacturer's sales. In conjunction with the introduction of new models, the production location of Volkswagen vehicles also underwent a great change. The 2007 [[Volkswagen Eos|Eos]], a hardtop convertible, is produced in a new facility in Portugal. All Golfs/Rabbits and GTIs as of 2006 are manufactured in Wolfsburg, Germany, rather than Puebla, Mexico, where Golfs and GTIs for the North American market were produced from 1989 to 1998, and the Brazilian factory in [[Curitiba]], where Golfs and GTIs were produced from 1999 to 2006 (the [[Volkswagen Jetta|Jetta]] has been primarily manufactured in Mexico since 1989). Volkswagen is also in the process of reconfiguring an automotive assembly plant in Belgium. The new models and investments in manufacturing improvements were immediately noticed by automotive critics. Favourable reviews for Volkswagen's newest cars include the GTI being named by ''[[Consumer Reports]]'' as the top sporty car under $25,000, one of ''[[Car and Driver]]'' magazine's "[[Car and Driver Ten Best|10 Best]]" for 2007, [[Automobile Magazine|''Automobile'' Magazine's]] 2007 Car of the Year, as well as a 2008 ''[[Motor Trend]]'' comparison ranking the mid-size Passat first in its class.

[[File:2013 Volkswagen Golf SE BlueMotion Technology 1.4 Front.jpg|thumb|left|The seventh-generation [[Volkswagen Golf]]]]

Volkswagen partnered with [[Daimler AG]] and other companies to market the [[BlueTec]] [[clean diesel]] technology on cars and trucks from Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, and other companies and brands. According to the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]], four of the ten most fuel-efficient vehicles available for sale in the United States are powered by Volkswagen diesel engines.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/PowerSearch.do?action=noform&year1=2012&year2=2013&vfuel=Diesel&mclass=Small+Cars,%20Family+Sedans,%20Large+Sedans,%20Upscale+Sedans,%20Luxury+Sedans,%20Hatchbacks,%20Coupes,%20Convertibles,%20Sports/Sporty+Cars,%20Station+Wagons&srchtyp=newDslCars |title=Fuel Economy of New Diesel Cars |year=2012 |website=Fueleconomy.gov |publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency |access-date=5 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117191226/http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/PowerSearch.do?action=noform&year1=2012&year2=2013&vfuel=Diesel&mclass=Small+Cars%2C%20Family+Sedans%2C%20Large+Sedans%2C%20Upscale+Sedans%2C%20Luxury+Sedans%2C%20Hatchbacks%2C%20Coupes%2C%20Convertibles%2C%20Sports%2FSporty+Cars%2C%20Station+Wagons&srchtyp=newDslCars |archive-date=17 January 2013 }}</ref> Volkswagen has offered a number of its vehicles with a TDI ([[Turbocharged Direct Injection]]) engine, which lends class-leading fuel economy to several models. They were a three-way tie for 8th (TDI Beetle, TDI Golf, TDI Jetta) and ninth, the TDI Jetta Wagon. In addition, all Volkswagen TDI diesel engines produced from 1996 to 2006 can be driven on 100% [[biodiesel]] fuel.{{citation needed|date=December 2012}} For the 2007 model year, however, strict US government emissions regulations had forced Volkswagen to drop most diesels from their US engine lineup, but a new lineup of diesel engines ([[Volkswagen emissions scandal|then thought]]) compatible to US standards returned to the American market starting with Model Year 2009. These post-2009 Clean Diesel engines are limited to running on 5% (B5) biodiesel only to maintain Volkswagen's warranty. Volkswagen long resisted adding a [[sport utility vehicle|SUV]] to its lineup, but relented with the introduction of the [[Volkswagen Touareg|Touareg]], made in partnership with Porsche, while they worked on the [[Porsche Cayenne]] and later the [[Audi Q7]]. Though acclaimed as a fine handling vehicle, the Touareg has been a modest seller at best, and it has been criticised by auto reviewers for its absence of a third-row seat, the relatively poor fuel economy, and the high vehicle mass. Volkswagen set plans to add a compact SUV with styling influences from the "Concept A" concept vehicle introduced at the 2006 [[Geneva Auto Show]], and on 20 July 2006, Volkswagen announced that the new vehicle would be called the [[Volkswagen Tiguan|Tiguan]].

Since the discontinuation of the T4 in 2003 and the decision not to export the T5 to the United States, Volkswagen, coincidentally, lacked a van for its North American lineup. To remedy this, Volkswagen launched the [[Volkswagen Routan]], a [[badge engineering|badge-engineered]] [[Dodge Caravan|Dodge Grand Caravan]] made for the American and Canadian markets, in 2008.

In September 2006, Volkswagen began offering the [[Volkswagen Golf Mk4#Mk4 "City Golf (Golf City in 2009)" in Canada, South America & Bora HS in China|City Golf]] and City Jetta only for the Canadian market. Both models were originally the [[Volkswagen Golf Mk4|Mk4 Golf]] and Jetta but were later replaced with the Brazilian versions of the Golf Mk4 and [[Volkswagen Bora|Bora]]. Volkswagen's introduction of such models is seen as a test of the market for a subcompact and, if successful, may be the beginnings of a thriving subcompact market for Volkswagen.

[[File:2006-2010 Volkswagen Passat (3C) sedan (2011-07-17) 01.jpg|thumb|The [[Volkswagen Passat]] (3C)]]

In May 2011, Volkswagen completed [[Volkswagen Chattanooga Assembly Plant|Chattanooga Assembly]] in [[Chattanooga, Tennessee|Chattanooga]], [[Tennessee]]. The Chattanooga Assembly plant marked VW's first plant since the plant at New Stanton was closed down. The facility has produced Volkswagen cars and SUVs specifically designed for the North American markets, beginning with the [[Volkswagen Passat NMS|Passat B7]] in 2011. The company recently announced plans to expand further by investing $900&nbsp;million to add floor space to the factory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autoblog.com/2015/04/07/volkswagen-expansion-tech-center-chattanooga/|title=Volkswagen plans expansion, tech center in Chattanooga|author=Chris Bruce|date=7 April 2015|work=Autoblog|access-date=22 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924123140/http://www.autoblog.com/2015/04/07/volkswagen-expansion-tech-center-chattanooga/|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Volkswagen 1-litre car|VW XL1]] began a limited production run in 2013. The XL1 is a lightweight and fuel-efficient two-person vehicle (only 795&nbsp;kg).

2015 saw the company engulfed in scandal: the [[Volkswagen emissions scandal]], sometimes known as '''Dieselgate'''<ref>{{cite news |url=http://fortune.com/2018/02/06/volkswagen-vw-emissions-scandal-penalties/ |title=How VW Paid $25 Billion for 'Dieselgate' – and Got Off Easy |first=Roger |last=Parloff |work=Fortune |location=US |date=6 February 2018 |access-date=28 August 2018}}</ref><ref name="link.springer.com">{{cite journal |title=Did the Volkswagen Emissions Scandal Harm the "Made in Germany" Image? A Cross‑Cultural, Cross‑Products, Cross‑Time Study |first1=Thomas |last1=Aichner |first2=Paolo |last2=Coletti |first3=Frank |last3=Jacob |first4=Robert |last4=Wilken |journal=Corporate Reputation Review |date=2021 |volume=24 |issue=4 |pages=179–190 |doi=10.1057/s41299-020-00101-5 |s2cid=229016335 |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057%2Fs41299-020-00101-5 }}</ref> or '''Emissionsgate''',<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/accc-takes-volkswagen-to-court-over-diesel-emission-claims-20160901-gr61ud.html |title=ACCC takes Volkswagen to court over diesel emission claims |first1=Lucy |last1=Cormack |first2=Patrick |last2=Hatch |work=Sydney Morning Herald |date=1 September 2016 |access-date=28 August 2018}}</ref><ref name="link.springer.com"/> began in September 2015, when the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA) issued a notice of violation of the [[Clean Air Act (United States)|Clean Air Act]] to German automaker [[Volkswagen Group]].<ref name="Jung and Sharon (2019)">{{Cite Q|Q104840679}}</ref> The agency had found that Volkswagen had intentionally programmed [[turbocharged direct injection]] (TDI) [[diesel engine]]s to activate their [[Exhaust gas|emissions]] controls only during laboratory [[emissions testing]], which caused the vehicles' {{NOx|link=yes}} output to meet US standards during regulatory testing. However, the vehicles emitted up to 40 times more {{NOx}} in real-world driving.<ref name="npr-congressdefeatdevice">{{cite news|title='It Was Installed For This Purpose', VW's U.S. CEO Tells Congress About Defeat Device|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/10/08/446861855/volkswagen-u-s-ceo-faces-questions-on-capitol-hill|access-date=19 October 2015| publisher=NPR|date=8 October 2015}}</ref> Volkswagen deployed this software in about 11 million cars worldwide, including 500,000 in the United States, in [[model year]]s 2009 through 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/a883dc3da7094f97852572a00065d7d8/dfc8e33b5ab162b985257ec40057813b |title=EPA, California Notify Volkswagen of Clean Air Act Violations / Carmaker allegedly used software that circumvents emissions testing for certain air pollutants |publisher=EPA |location=US |date=18 September 2015 |access-date=1 July 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302172909/https://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/a883dc3da7094f97852572a00065d7d8/dfc8e33b5ab162b985257ec40057813b |archive-date=2 March 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Jordans|first1=Frank |title=EPA: {{sic|Volkswagon|nolink=y}} Thwarted Pollution Regulations For 7 Years|url=http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2015/09/21/epa-volkswagon-thwarted-pollution-regulations-for-7-years/|access-date=24 September 2015|agency=Associated Press|publisher=CBS Detroit |date=21 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Spiegel">{{cite news|title= Abgasaffäre: VW-Chef Müller spricht von historischer Krise|url=http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/volkswagen-chef-mueller-sieht-konzern-in-historischer-krise-a-1055148.html|access-date=28 September 2015|agency=Reuters|work=Der Spiegel|date=28 September 2015}}</ref><ref name=Ewing2015b>{{Citation |title= Volkswagen Denied Deception to E.P.A. for Nearly a Year |first1= Jack |last1= Ewing |date= 21 September 2015 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/22/business/international/volkswagen-shares-recall.html |newspaper= [[The New York Times]] |access-date= 20 February 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170131110445/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/22/business/international/volkswagen-shares-recall.html |archive-date= 31 January 2017 |url-status= live }}</ref> 

In June 2016, Volkswagen agreed to a settlement of up to $14.7 billion to resolve allegations of cheating emissions tests and deceiving customers on 2.0-liter diesel vehicles. The settlement included provisions for Volkswagen to buy back or modify affected vehicles, compensate consumers, and invest in environmental mitigation and zero-emission vehicle technology. This agreement represented one of the largest consumer class-action settlements in U.S. history.<ref>{{cite web |title=Volkswagen to Spend Up to $14.7 Billion to Settle Allegations of Cheating Emissions Tests and Deceiving Customers on 2.0 Liter Diesel Vehicles |url=https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/volkswagen-spend-147-billion-settle-allegations-cheating-emissions-tests-and-deceiving |website=justice.gov |date=June 28, 2016 |access-date=May 14, 2025}}</ref>
The [[Volkswagen Atlas]], a large [[crossover (automobile)|crossover]] [[sport utility vehicle|SUV]], began production in late 2016, and aimed to help end several years of losses for Volkswagen in the United States, the world's second-largest auto market.<ref name=Boston>{{Cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2008/07/16/vw_picks_tenn_for_its_1st_us_car_plant_since_88/ |title=VW picks Tenn. for its 1st US car plant since '88 |author=Bloomberg News |newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=16 July 2008 |access-date=16 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628231631/http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2008/07/16/vw_picks_tenn_for_its_1st_us_car_plant_since_88/ |archive-date=28 June 2011 |url-status=live |author-link=Bloomberg News }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.timesfreepress.com/news/2014/jul/14/vw-announce-new-suv-today-chattanooga/|title=UPDATE: VW announces Chattanooga-made SUV, and 2,000 new jobs|work=timesfreepress.com|access-date=22 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808045957/http://m.timesfreepress.com/news/2014/jul/14/vw-announce-new-suv-today-chattanooga/|archive-date=8 August 2014}}</ref> On 14 September 2016, Volkswagen announced its partnership with three Israeli [[Computer security|cybersecurity]] experts to create a new company, Cymotive, dedicated to automotive security.<ref>By Charlie Osborne, ZDNet. "[https://www.zdnet.com/article/volkswagen-launches-new-cybersecurity-firm-to-tackle-car-security/ Volkswagen launches new cybersecurity firm to tackle car security]." 15 September 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.</ref>