VW's Martin Winterkorn apologies for emissions "defeat device" scam. Well, he would, wouldn't he?

VW’s Martin Winterkorn apologies for emissions “defeat device” scam

Following the revelation that Volkswagen used ‘defeat device’ software to scam US emissions test, VW CEO Martin Winterkorn has issued an apology – “I am personally deeply sorry” he said.

Last week we revealed that Volkswagen has been using “defeat device” software to scam US emissions testing, with the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) revealing that the device, which switches on only when official test are being conducted, has led to official emissions for NOx being understated by a factor of 40 on VW’s diesel-engined cars.

So far, the EPA say VW must recall almost 500,000 cars in the US, but it’s inevitable that the recall cost will be just the start for VW, with potential liabilities in fines of up to £11.5 billion possible, never mind civil action against the company and huge damage to its reputation.

As you’d expect – having been found out – Volkswagen has issued an apology in a statement from VW CEO Martin Winterkorn. It said:

The Board of Management at Volkswagen AG takes these findings very seriously. 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.

Of course, we’re sure that Herr Winterkorn will be able to claim ‘Plausible Deniability’ for the actions of others within the VW Group, and use all the might of his position to identify how far up the food chain the responsibility for fitting the scamming device goes, and then remove the guilty from VW (or point the finger of blame at someone like the recently departed Ferdinand Piech, perhaps?)

But it’s hard to believe that it’s only VW scamming emissions tests, something the EPA also seems to think likely as they’re starting a campaign to make sure other car makers aren’t doing the same and fitting defeat devices too.

But if VW (and perhaps others) are scamming the EPA’s tests, are they also scamming the EU tests too? We know they ‘game’ them with a variety of ruses, but this is far more serious, especially as it seems the big change the defeat device made was to NOx emissions – which have a proven detrimental effect on health – rather than the relatively innocuous CO2.

This story has a long way to go, we’re sure.