“What’s anyone really using the desert for anyway.” joked one person on Reddit when the photo resurfaced, sparking plenty of conversation on the platform.
Another commenter chimed in with a blunt observation: “This is much better for the environment.”
It all comes back to what’s now known as “Dieselgate.” This was the emissions scandal that hit Volkswagen in 2015, when the US Environmental Protection Agency discovered the company had installed hidden “defeat devices” in its diesel cars to cheat the system.
The software tricked emissions testing by making engines appear as though they were releasing safe levels of nitrogen oxide during inspections, when in reality, those same cars released far higher amounts out on the road.
Once the scandal was exposed, the backlash was swift. Volkswagen faced enormous fines and court settlements. The company later admitted the whole ordeal ended up costing them around $34.69 billion — a price tag that nearly brought the automaker to its knees.
Thankfully, these abandoned vehicles weren’t simply left to waste forever. Over time, they were retrofitted with the correct equipment so they could meet proper standards again.
Spokesperson Jeannine Ginivan explained that the site was chosen “to ensure the responsible storage of vehicles that are bought back” as part of the diesel settlement deal with the US government.
Still, the entire ordeal left people frustrated and shaking their heads. How do companies think they can get away with something like this, especially knowing they’re almost always going to be caught eventually?
