Volkswagen

Founded in 1937 by the German Labour Front under the not-so-charming direction of a certain dictator, Volkswagen has become synonymous with both reliable engineering and jaw-dropping scandal. Known for its "people's car," the iconic Beetle, Volkswagen transformed post-war Europe’s auto landscape with designs that were both practical and endearing. Fast forward to 2015 and the company found itself at the center of the "Dieselgate" scandal, where they admitted to rigging emissions tests, a move that cost them a whopping $30 billion in fines and settlements. Current valuation sits at around $80 billion, a testament to their ability to bounce back from even the dirtiest of pits. While VW has collected its fair share of accolades, including numerous Car of the Year awards, it is forever marred by its ethical lapses. Led by CEO Herbert Diess, who inherited the cleanup job, the company is now pinning its hopes on an electric future with models like the ID.4 aiming to erase memories of its gas-guzzling, test-cheating past. Despite the blunders, Volkswagen remains a titan in the auto industry, proving that even when you fall from grace, you can always engineer a comeback.