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| VW's US boss offers 'sincere apology' to US Congress | VW's US boss offers 'sincere apology' to US Congress |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Volkswagen's US boss has made a "sincere apology" for installing "defeat devices" to cheat emissions tests on its diesel cars. | Volkswagen's US boss has made a "sincere apology" for installing "defeat devices" to cheat emissions tests on its diesel cars. |
| Michael Horn, chief executive of VW's US operation, said the events were "deeply troubling". | Michael Horn, chief executive of VW's US operation, said the events were "deeply troubling". |
| However, he said the decision to use the devices was not one made by the company's board, but by individuals. | However, he said the decision to use the devices was not one made by the company's board, but by individuals. |
| Mr Horn said: "My understanding is that it was a couple of software engineers who put these in." | Mr Horn said: "My understanding is that it was a couple of software engineers who put these in." |
| He said that three people had been suspended following the scandal, but they could not be named for legal reasons. | He said that three people had been suspended following the scandal, but they could not be named for legal reasons. |
| He was giving evidence before the House of Representatives Oversight and Investigations panel . | |
| Many of the committee members were sceptical. New York Congressman Chris Collins said: "VW is trying to get us to believe this is the work of a couple of rogue engineers. I don't believe it." | |
| Vermont Congressman Peter Welch asked Mr Horn: "How do you call yourself a member of the human race when you poison the human race?" | |
| 'Full responsibility' | |
| Mr Horn added: "I did not think that something like this was possible at the Volkswagen group. | |
| "We have broken the trust of our customers, dealerships, employees as well as the public and the regulators." | "We have broken the trust of our customers, dealerships, employees as well as the public and the regulators." |
| He said: "Let me be very clear: we at Volkswagen take full responsibility for our actions and we are working with all the relevant authorities in a co-operative way." | He said: "Let me be very clear: we at Volkswagen take full responsibility for our actions and we are working with all the relevant authorities in a co-operative way." |
| Mr Horn told the panel he was informed about a "possible emissions non-compliance" in the spring of 2014. | |
| But he said he first learned about so-called defeat devices being installed on VW diesel cars at the beginning of September, just before the scandal was made public. | |
| The software allowed a vehicle to recognise whether it was being driven on the road or running in a test laboratory, and turn engine emissions controls on or off. | |
| VW will offer a financial package to American dealers to help them through the crisis, but expects it will take "one to two years minimum" to fix the US cars. | VW will offer a financial package to American dealers to help them through the crisis, but expects it will take "one to two years minimum" to fix the US cars. |
| Prosecutors | Prosecutors |
| Meanwhile, German public prosecutors have searched Volkswagen's Wolfsburg headquarters as part of their investigation into the emissions scandal. | Meanwhile, German public prosecutors have searched Volkswagen's Wolfsburg headquarters as part of their investigation into the emissions scandal. |
| The prosecutor's office said they were looking for data linked to the defeat devices. | The prosecutor's office said they were looking for data linked to the defeat devices. |
| German prosecutors launched their investigation into the scandal last week after receiving about a dozen criminal complaints from citizens and one from VW itself. | German prosecutors launched their investigation into the scandal last week after receiving about a dozen criminal complaints from citizens and one from VW itself. |
| They say they are trying to find out who was responsible for the alleged manipulation and how it was carried out. | They say they are trying to find out who was responsible for the alleged manipulation and how it was carried out. |
| Mr Horn said he was told about problems with VW's diesel cars meeting US emissions tests after the publication of a study by West Virginia University. | Mr Horn said he was told about problems with VW's diesel cars meeting US emissions tests after the publication of a study by West Virginia University. |
| "I was informed that EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] regulations included various penalties for non-compliance with the emissions standards and that the agencies can conduct engineering tests which could include 'defeat device' testing or analysis," he said. | "I was informed that EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] regulations included various penalties for non-compliance with the emissions standards and that the agencies can conduct engineering tests which could include 'defeat device' testing or analysis," he said. |
| But he told the members of the committee: "I had no idea what a defeat device was or that Volkswagen used them." | But he told the members of the committee: "I had no idea what a defeat device was or that Volkswagen used them." |
| Volkswagen told US authorities on 3 September this year about the "defeat device" in emissions software in diesel vehicles for the model years 2009 to 2015. | |