decars1-10, Exercise 2: "The diesel scandal proves German engineering is fraudulent"

Model answer (check the details):

1. Who says it? Critics of the industry, some commentators and competitors, in the heat of the scandal.
2. Evidence? The documented facts are that Volkswagen fitted software to about 11 million diesel vehicles that detected test conditions and lowered emissions only then, that the company admitted this, paid very large fines and settlements, and that managers faced proceedings. Audi and Porsche in the same group were also involved. Other makers, German and foreign, have faced emissions investigations, with different findings.
3. When? Most reactions date from 2015 and 2016, with continuing court cases.
4. Definition? "German engineering" is not defined: the scandal concerned emissions software and management decisions, not the quality of engineering in general. "Fraudulent" is a legal term that applies to specific actions by specific people and firms.
5. Who gains? Competitors, campaigners and politicians; but also defenders who want to limit it to one firm.
6. What would change my mind? Evidence that the practice was industry-wide among German makers and approved at national level (it has not been shown in that form), or evidence that it was limited to a few individuals.

Verdict: the scandal proves deliberate deception by one major company and shows failures of management and regulation, but it does not prove that German engineering as a whole is fraudulent. The claim is too broad.