Volkswagen CEO issues apology over emissions cheating

Volkswagen Group boss Martin Winterkorn has apologised for “breaking the trust of our customers and the public” in light of allegations that the company manipulated emissions testing regulations in the USA.

In a statement, released yesterday, Winterkorn said that he had ordered an external investigation into the matter, which came to light when the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) revealed their findings that while testing diesel cars of the Volkswagen Group they have detected manipulations that violate American environmental standards.

Volkswagen is understood to be recalling 500,000 cars on the orders of US regulators because of emissions.

The cars are allegedly fitted with a ‘defeat device’ that allows the vehicle to perform more efficiently in the official emissions test than in real-world driving conditions. It detects when the car is being tested and turns on full emissions controls, but the effectiveness of the device is reduced in normal conditions.

According to the EPA, this means that the cars under investigation emit up to 40 times the national standard for nitrogen oxide, which is linked to asthma and lung illnesses. The cars in question are four-cylinder models, and is said to affect 2009-2014 Jettas, Beetles, Golfs, Audi A3s and VW Passats built from 2014-15.

It has been suggested that the recall could cost the manufacturer up to £11.5 billion (Rs 113,194 crore), with the EPA saying that: “VW may be liable for civil penalties and injunctive relief for the violations alleged.”

The EPA says that the cars in question do not prove a safety hazard and are still legally OK to drive and sell on. It is not yet known if cars outside of Europe are affected.

“The board of management at Volkswagen AG takes these findings very seriously,” said Winterkorn


“I personally am deeply sorry that we have broken the trust of our customers and the public. We will cooperate fully with the responsible agencies, with transparency and urgency, to clearly, openly, and completely establish all of the facts of this case.
 Volkswagen has ordered an external investigation of this matter.



“We do not and will not tolerate violations of any kind of our internal rules or of the law.

 The trust of our customers and the public is and continues to be our most important asset.

"We at Volkswagen will do everything that must be done in order to re-establish the trust that so many people have placed in us, and we will do everything necessary in order to reverse the damage this has caused. This matter has first priority for me, personally, and for our entire board of management.”

More from VW emissions scandal:

- Group chalks out plan to refit cars affected by emission scandal

- Vehicle recall likely soon, brands yet to finalise plan

- Matthias Muller announced as new VW Group CEO

- How a university lab helped unearth the VW emissions scandal

- Winterkorn steps down as Volkswagen boss

- Motherson Sumi denies any impact from VW dieselgate

- Made-In-India cars affected?

- 11m vehicles worldwide could come under scanner