Fleets with Diesel VWs Evaluating Next Move
Several fleets with a significant number of diesel-powered Volkswagen vehicles are taking a closer look at how to move forward following revelations that the cars contain software designed to cheat federal emissions standards.

Photo courtesy of VW.

Photo courtesy of VW.
Several fleets with a significant number of diesel-powered Volkswagen vehicles are taking a closer look at how to move forward following revelations that the cars contain software designed to cheat federal emissions standards.
Managers of the commercial fleets, which preferred to remain anonymous, told Automotive-Fleet.com they are re-evaluating whether to retain Volkswagen vehicles on their selector lists. The fleet managers also said they have initiated talks with the automaker about a possible remedy to the issue.
One long-time Volkswagen large-fleet customer with about 2,000 Volkswagen diesels said the company is "definitely taking the VW issue into account, but no final decision" has been made about the 2016 model-year selector list.
The Roche Group has also been taking a closer look at its fleet, which includes Passat TDI sedans in the Roche Diagnostics and Genentech fleets. Bonnie Brown, Roche Diagnostics' former manager of administrative services had purchased 800 Passat TDIs for fleet use by June of 2014.
"At Genentech, we take our commitment to environmental sustainability very seriously," said Susan Willson, a Genentech spokeswoman. "We are currently evaluating the impact of the Volkswagen situation on our fleet and will provide an update when appropriate."
About 480,000 Volkswagen vehicles and 15,000 Audi vehicles were sold in the U.S. market with the software cheat. Globally, about 5 million Volkswagen, 2.1 million Audi, 1.2 million Skoda, and 700,000 SEAT vehicles have been affected. The software cheat wasn't included in any Porsche cars, according to spokesman Peter Heinz Thul.
More Operations

Why Reactive Fleet Management Is Becoming Too Expensive to Sustain
Research highlights a growing need for proactive management strategies to address rising costs in fleet operations effectively.
Read More →
What Your Fleet KPIs Aren’t Telling You
Tracking fleet metrics is only useful when the data leads to better decisions. This guide helps fleet leaders assess cost, utilization, and downtime more accurately, identify performance gaps, and prioritize the actions that can improve operational results.
Read More →
Hidden in Plain Sight: Fleet Compliance Risks
Fleet compliance isn't just about having policies — it's about consistently enforcing them. This practical guide reveals six hidden compliance risks common in public sector and shared fleet operations and outlines proven strategies to improve visibility, accountability, and audit readiness
Read More →
Turning Fleet Payment Data into Executive Insights
Does data alone drive results in operations?
Read More →
Automotive Fleet Opens 2026 Personal Use Survey for Commercial Fleet Managers
Commercial and corporate fleet managers are invited to share how their organizations handle company vehicle personal-use policies, charges, and driver eligibility.
Read More →
Gary Van Orden Retires After Nearly Four Decades in Commercial Fleet
From answering customer calls at Ford Motor Company to leading fleet sales across multiple OEMs and a fleet management company, Gary Van Orden's career reflects nearly four decades of leadership in commercial fleet.
Read More →
How Stellantis Plans to Get Ahead of Fleet Downtime
Vehicle acquisition may grab the headlines, but fleet uptime increasingly determines operating success. Darren Bradshaw of Mopar North America gives the details.
Read More →
Hyundai Releases 2027 Commercial Program Incentives
The 2027 Model Year "Fleet Street Incentives" are available to commercial and government fleets.
Read More →
It's All Downhill from Here! Fleet Industry Raises $22,000 for Skilled Trades Scholarships
Work Truck’s Lauren Fletcher and Automotive Fleet’s Chris Brown turned a friendly racing rivalry into $22,000 for automotive technology and skilled trades scholarships.
Read More →The Top 300 Commercial Fleets
The Top 300 Commercial Fleets: See the List
Read More →

