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German carmaker Volkswagen has ordered an urgent internal investigation after claims that it cheated on US emissions tests to make its vehicles appear less polluting.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board said several Volkswagen and Audi diesel models sold in the US over six years — including the Passat, Beetle and Audi A3 — had been fitted with algorithms designed to deceive the laboratory testing regime. The so-called “defeat device” allowed Volkswagen cars to pass laboratory testing, even though their real-world emissions were far higher than standards allowed.
Subsequently, Volkswagen has been ordered to recall 500,000 diesel cars, and could face fines running into billions of dollars.
Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, chief executive of Volkswagen AG, said he was personally sorry that the company had broken the trust of its customers and the public.
He said: “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.”
Winterkorn said that Volkswagen would do everything that must be done to restore trust. “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,” he added.
Shares in Volkswagen had fallen 15% to €137 in early trading on Monday, reported the Financial Times.