Because they actively blocked (and still do) any attempts in the EU to release real-life regulations (not measure pollution in artificial environments, but on the roads!) -- for many years now. And still, they hinder that car buyers in Germany get the same compensation as US customers do.

The German news where full of it.

It is not helpful, when the labs are cleaner during car testing, but at the roads the people suffer from the pollution. VW is not the only brand, that optimizes the emissions for artificial environments.

Here is a nice article outlining the position of the German government and the big carmakers on electric cars:

http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/german-governme...