You sure? I thought they were on board with the AdBlue DEF and like the other Germans, using reference of "blue" everywhere before anyone. I thought SCR was a must have in 2010 and were the nails in Navistar's coffin. If you're right, then maybe this is how they got around it!
I can clear it up, VW used both the SCR (DEF) and the non (NOx absorbent) technology. The latter is basically a scaled down version of the 3 gen Cummins in my 2009 truck. The Jetta was using the NO DEF until I think 2014 or so. Mine is a 2012, no DEF. The test that started this all was back in 2014 and the test was on road emissions of 3 Light Duty Diesels, one a 2012 TDI VW Jetta (like mine), vehicle A, another was a 2013 TDI Passat (SCR and DEF), vehicle B, and the final was a BMW TDI, AWD SUV, straight 6 cylinder engine. Vehicle C passed in lab (dyno run) and also on road with similar emissions.
Vehicle A and B both passed on all tested variables in the lab on the dyno. This is how they are certified, and tested.
This where it gets interesting. In the on road tests, vehicle A was up to 35 times over the NOx emissions limit (some news say 40 times, but I read the full actual report that started this and it stated 20 to 35 times.. someone for dramatic effect rounded up to 40.. typical media). Vehicle B (SCR, DEF system) well it did not pass either but was much closer about 10 times over the limit, keep in mind the US has the same NOx limit for all engines, and it is half the latest and most strict EU spec for NOx, they do not use DEF in Europe as they don't need to go that low on NOx like we do.
So the report that started this got EPA and CARB in CA looking further at these vehicles and they were able to consistently show the cars would not pass on road testing (not done easily or normally.. the test cars were dramatically fitted out with measurement gear approximating the weight of 3 passengers, and it included an 2Kw Honda generator to power the gear, on vehicle C they had 2 generators.. so you can see this is not the kind of test that your local emissions inspection will ever do, just too hard.
So for the last couple of years the regulators have been demanding VW explain why the cars pass emissions in the lab, but will not pass on road testing.. and VW has stalled in providing an explaination, even trying to say the test cars must have a mechanical defect.
Regulators tried a car right off the lot, and it too failed same way, OK lab, no pass road.
So finally EPA tells VW no 2016 cars will be allowed on the road, and are held in port (no 2016 TDIs at the dealerships... hmm.) They say until they explain the issue, no more certification.
Then VW admits the cars had built in to the software code in the ECM to know when a test was being done, and then would operate the emissions (EGR et. al) to acheive a passing score.. but when driven in real world they would optimize for power and efficiency, and not emissions.. so an intentional effort to not meet emissions, as you can imagine, they are in serious hot water over this.
Now to address the DPF issue and how it is similar.. well many know now the problem with the 3rd Gen and its emissions is heavy EGR flow to meet NOx, the EGR is failure prone and boosts soot to keep NOx down, thus well known DPF and EGR issues on our trucks.. VW has not had those problems... and now we know why. By having the cars run reduced EGR, higher more efficient combustion (always well over EPA estimated MPG), they produced less soot for the DPF, but more NOx, and hence the issue. The only measured emissions fail was NOx, though there were periods of operation, like Regen where some other specs were momentarily out of spec also.
So, where does this leave the customer? Well VW did something that actually improved the longevity and performance of the TDI, for the customer, but not honestly or legally as it appears now. Problem now is if they are, and they will be, mandated to reprogram all the offending TDIs to meet standards, you can bet those cars will begin to plug DPFs, stick EGRs and wipe out turbos and soot up the intake, dilute the fuel.. etc. All the issues these emissions systems have caused on the TDI.
I can say they will have to FORCE me to reprogram, and if that happens, I'm not sure I'll be keeping the car, as I can't do with it what I do on the truck and limit the drive pattern to longer drives to get full temp and under load... which is still ridiculous but so far I've been OK on emissions, though I have been recently trying the EGR unplug and have boosted MPG by about 1.5 to 2 MPG (18.5 to about 21).
It was noted earlier, the heavy EGR and problems with that led to now universal use of DEF and SCR systems in the US, so those stuck with the old systems are going to have a rough go of things it seems, and for me that is now 2 vehicles!!!
Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
