Poll | Has the Volkswagen scandal tarred the entire auto industry?

Car manufacturer Volkswagen admitted last Tuesday that as many as 11 million of its diesel cars worldwide were equipped with software capable of fooling official pollution tests.

Car manufacturer Volkswagen admitted last Tuesday that as many as 11 million of its diesel cars worldwide were equipped with software capable of fooling official pollution tests.

The logo of German carmaker Volkswagen is seen on the front grill of a Passat car in Willmette, Illinois.(REUTERS)

The “Made in Germany” label has stood for precision and reliability for decades, but since Volkswagen admitted to cheating, many are questioning whether the automaker’s problems could taint the rest of the country and the auto industry itself world-wide.

Meanwhile, India’s apex automotive testing agency Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) on Tuesday began a probe into Volkswagen’s emission standards in the country. If proved of any wrongdoing in India, the world’s largest car-maker may have to face criminal proceedings, a hefty fine and recall of vehicles, a top official said on Monday.

The scandal has shaken not just Volkswagen, but the entire auto industry, which is bracing for questions about cheating on tests. Do you think this episode has tarred the auto industry?