Revised Lawsuit Details Bosch's Alleged Role in VW Diesel Cheating

Lawyers have filed updated claims regarding an U.S. lawsuit that accuses Robert Bosch GmbH of playing an active role in Volkswagen AG’s diesel emission cheating.

The original complaint, which was filed two months ago in the U.S. District Court of San Francisco, describes Bosch as a “knowing and active participant” in the cheating. Bosch dismissed that charge as “wild and unfounded.”

The revised filing reveals previously redacted details about the allegations. It says Bosch developed the software VW used to evade emission tests, then demanded in 2008 that VW cover it for any legal exposure resulting from using the software, which was code-named “akustikfunktion” in production vehicles.

Plaintiffs’ lawyers cite emails in which Bosch and VW employees discussed the function of the cheater software in detail and commented on its effect on U.S. emission test results. Other communications between the companies described how to deflect questions by regulators about the defeat device, which switches off emission controls when an engine isn’t undergoing tests.

The filing also asserts Bosch CEO Volkmar Denner and VW CEO Martin Winterkorn discussed the cheater software during a meeting in 2014.

The lawyers assert that Bosch maintained a “tight grip” on software it developed for VW’s engine control modules, including any modifications. The lawsuit claims Bosch knew the carmaker was using the cheater software as “an ‘on/off’ switch for emission controls” during certification tests but failed to mention anything about it to U.S. regulators.