VW software scandal: Chief apologises for breaking public trust

Series Title
Series Details 21.09.15
Publication Date 21/09/2015
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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated on 18 September 2015 it had found that German carmaker Volkswagen had designed software for close to half a million diesel cars that gave false emissions data. According to the regulators in the United States, the software deceived the mechanisms measuring toxic emissions, adding that Volkswagen could face fines of up to $18bn (£11.5bn) as a result.

Following the announcement, Volkswagen ordered an external investigation to the case, while the company's CEO added he was 'deeply sorry' for the violation of US rules.

The Transport & Environment NGO wrote that 'The VW scandal, and what will follow in Europe as more evidence emerges, demonstrates the entire system of testing vehicles is not fit for purpose. What is needed is a truly independent EU Type Approval Authority funded by a levy of €20 on every vehicle sold. This would be remarkably cost effective – last year over 500,000 people died prematurely from air pollution in Europe, many the result of high diesel nitrogen oxide emissions. The cost was almost €1 trillion.

The scandal of VW using defeat devices in the US is just the tip of the iceberg and the European Commission needs to get a grip on the problem'. Media reports had suggested in the past that the EU was planning to change the way emissions tests were conducted.

On the 22 September 2015 French Finance Minister Michel Sapin called for a 'Europe-wide' probe into carmakers. He deemed checks on cars manufactured by other European manufacturers 'necessary' in order to 'reassure' the public.

Chancellor Angela Merkel called on the 22 September 2015 for 'full transparency' and for VW to 'clear up the entire matter' as soon as possible.

On the 23 September 2015 Volkswagen Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn resigned.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.euractiv.com/sections/climate-environment/vw-software-scandal-chief-apologises-breaking-public-trust-317791
Related Links
The Guardian, 21.09.15: German minister tells Volkswagen to clear up emissions scandal http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/sep/21/volkswagen-shares-plunge-claims-falsified-emissions-data-us-epa
BBC News, 21.09.15: Volkswagen emissions: CEO Winterkorn backs German inquiry http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34320147
The Wall Street Journal, 21.09.15: Volkswagen Shares Tumble, as Emissions Test Scandal Spreads to Europe http://www.wsj.com/articles/volkswagen-shares-tumble-as-emissions-test-scandal-spreads-to-europe-1442844206
The Wall Street Journal, 21.09.15: Germany to Investigate Volkswagen Over European Emissions Testing http://www.wsj.com/articles/germany-to-investigate-volkswagen-over-european-emissions-testing-1442838037
Euronews, 22.09.15: Volkswagen admits it “totally screwed up” as emissions rigging scandal spreads http://www.euronews.com/2015/09/22/volkswagen-admits-it-totally-screwed-up-as-emissions-rigging-scandal-spreads/
The Guardian, 22.09.15: Volkswagen scandal: US chief says carmaker 'totally screwed up' http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/sep/22/volkswagen-scandal-us-chief-carmaker-totally-screwed-up-michael-horn
The New York Times, 21.09.15: Volkswagen Stock Falls as Automaker Tries to Contain Fallout http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/22/business/international/volkswagen-shares-recall.html
Deutsche Welle, 22.09.15: Embattled VW to face criminal investigation in US and further scrutiny in S. Korea http://dw.com/p/1Ga9X
The Local.de, 22.09.15: VW faces criminal probe over emissions scandal http://www.thelocal.de/20150922/vw-faces-criminal-probe-over-emissions-scandal
The Guardian, 18.09.15: Volkswagen under investigation over illegal software that masks emissions http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/sep/18/epa-california-investigate-volkswagen-clean-air-violations
Politico, 21.09.15: VW emissions scandal prompts German scrutiny http://www.politico.eu/article/vw-emissions-scandal-prompts-german-scrutiny/
Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 22.09.15: Scandal over exhaust emissions at VW http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER170192-Scandal-over-exhaust-emissions-at-VW
Transport & Environment, 21.09.15: VW’s cheating is just the tip of the iceberg http://www.transportenvironment.org/publications/vw%E2%80%99s-cheating-just-tip-iceberg
http://www.acea.be/ http://www.acea.be/
Deutsche Welle, 22.09.15: VW scandal triggers calls for EU-wide probe http://dw.com/p/1GaGd
The Local.de, 22.09.15: VW deception menaces Germany's future http://www.thelocal.de/20150922/volkswagens-scandal-threatens-all-of-germany
Politico, 22.09.15: Volkswagen comes under fire in Europe http://www.politico.eu/article/volkswagen-emissions-epa-commission-diesel/
EUObserver, 22.09.15: Volkswagen scandal may spill into Europe https://euobserver.com/economic/130372
US Environmental Protection Agency: News, 18.09.15: EPA, California Notify Volkswagen of Clean Air Act Violations http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/bd4379a92ceceeac8525735900400c27/dfc8e33b5ab162b985257ec40057813b!OpenDocument
EurActiv, 23.09.15: VW scandal prompts calls for EU-wide inquiry http://www.euractiv.com/sections/transport/vw-scandal-prompts-calls-eu-wide-inquiry-317877
The Conversation, 22.09.15: How Volkswagen got caught cheating emissions tests by a clean air NGO https://theconversation.com/how-volkswagen-got-caught-cheating-emissions-tests-by-a-clean-air-ngo-47951
Website: International Council on Clean Transportation http://www.theicct.org/
ICCT: News, (nd): EPA's notice of violation of the Clean Air Act to Volkswagen [press statement] http://www.theicct.org/news/epas-notice-violation-clean-air-act-volkswagen-press-statement
The Conversation: Tag: Volkswagen https://theconversation.com/uk/topics/volkswagen
EurActiv, 22.09.15: German government decries diesel car emissions http://www.euractiv.com/sections/transport/german-government-decries-diesel-car-emissions-317846
EurActiv, 22.09.15: Volkswagen scandal could mean tougher EU auto standards http://www.politico.eu/article/volkswagen-emissions-nox-eu-us-epa-test/
Deutsche Welle, 23.09.15: Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn resigns http://dw.com/p/1Gbuv
Politico, 23.09.15: Volkswagen CEO Winterkorn resigns http://www.politico.eu/article/volkswagen-emissions-scandal-ceo-winterkorn-resigns/
European Parliament: Newsroom: Press Release, 23.09.15: MEPs discuss Volkswagen emission 'defeat devices' with EU Commission http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20150923IPR94414/

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