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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2015/oct/08/head-of-vw-america-testifies-us-congress-emissions-live-updates
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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
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| Head of VW America says he feels personally deceived | Head of VW America says he feels personally deceived |
| (21 days later) | |
| 5.56pm BST | 5.56pm BST |
| 17:56 | 17:56 |
| Horn: "This was not a corporate decision" | Horn: "This was not a corporate decision" |
| We will be ending our live blog here. | We will be ending our live blog here. |
| Here is a quick summary of today’s hearing: | Here is a quick summary of today’s hearing: |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.01pm BST | at 6.01pm BST |
| 5.34pm BST | 5.34pm BST |
| 17:34 | 17:34 |
| Here are Grundler’s prepared remarks. | Here are Grundler’s prepared remarks. |
| As we reported yesterday: | As we reported yesterday: |
| The EPA is also being taken to task to determine why the agency failed to detect the use of such software earlier. | The EPA is also being taken to task to determine why the agency failed to detect the use of such software earlier. |
| “VW manufactured and installed software in the electronic control module of these vehicles that sensed when the vehicle was being tested for compliance with EPA emissions standards,” Christopher Grundler, director of the EPA’s office of transportation and air quality, will testify on Thursday according to his prepared remarks. “Put simply, these cars contain software that turns off or significantly reduces the effectiveness of emissions controls when driving normally, and turns them on when the car is undergoing an emissions test.” | “VW manufactured and installed software in the electronic control module of these vehicles that sensed when the vehicle was being tested for compliance with EPA emissions standards,” Christopher Grundler, director of the EPA’s office of transportation and air quality, will testify on Thursday according to his prepared remarks. “Put simply, these cars contain software that turns off or significantly reduces the effectiveness of emissions controls when driving normally, and turns them on when the car is undergoing an emissions test.” |
| Grundler will also inform the committee that on 25 September the EPA contacted all auto manufacturers to inform them that the agency is “stepping up our testing activities in response to VW’s alleged violations”. | Grundler will also inform the committee that on 25 September the EPA contacted all auto manufacturers to inform them that the agency is “stepping up our testing activities in response to VW’s alleged violations”. |
| 5.21pm BST | 5.21pm BST |
| 17:21 | 17:21 |
| The hearing is taking a recess. When they come back, the lawmakers will hear from Christopher Grundler, director of EPA’s office of transportation and air quality. | The hearing is taking a recess. When they come back, the lawmakers will hear from Christopher Grundler, director of EPA’s office of transportation and air quality. |
| 5.12pm BST | 5.12pm BST |
| 17:12 | 17:12 |
| “I don’t sleep at night,” says Horn. He says his goal is to help dealers and consumers and his employees to get them through this crisis. | “I don’t sleep at night,” says Horn. He says his goal is to help dealers and consumers and his employees to get them through this crisis. |
| Asked why did this happen, Horn says any answer will be speculation, but that he thinks it was “pressure in the system to get resolutions” and costs pressuers. | Asked why did this happen, Horn says any answer will be speculation, but that he thinks it was “pressure in the system to get resolutions” and costs pressuers. |
| “It is dead wrong if you put profits before people,” says Horn. | “It is dead wrong if you put profits before people,” says Horn. |
| 4.58pm BST | 4.58pm BST |
| 16:58 | 16:58 |
| Chris Collins, representative from New York, is on a roll. He completely rejects Horn’s explanation of the events. | Chris Collins, representative from New York, is on a roll. He completely rejects Horn’s explanation of the events. |
| He tells Horn to tell those in Germany that this response in insufficient and is arrogant. | He tells Horn to tell those in Germany that this response in insufficient and is arrogant. |
| He says when trying to figure out a way to meet emissions standards, VW engineers were stumped - “what is stumped?” asks Horn - and could not figure it out. Collins says he finds it difficult to believe that when the cars finally met the emissions standards, no one said: This is break through technology. Let’s patent this. | He says when trying to figure out a way to meet emissions standards, VW engineers were stumped - “what is stumped?” asks Horn - and could not figure it out. Collins says he finds it difficult to believe that when the cars finally met the emissions standards, no one said: This is break through technology. Let’s patent this. |
| Collins says that he categorically rejects the story of two rogue engineers adding a line of code into software with no one asking any questions. Either VW is incompetent, he says, or they are complicit in a “massive cover-up”. | Collins says that he categorically rejects the story of two rogue engineers adding a line of code into software with no one asking any questions. Either VW is incompetent, he says, or they are complicit in a “massive cover-up”. |
| Congressman Chris Collins has just hammered Volkswagen for blaming rogue engineers. "It goes way, way higher than that," he said | Congressman Chris Collins has just hammered Volkswagen for blaming rogue engineers. "It goes way, way higher than that," he said |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.07pm BST | at 5.07pm BST |
| 4.48pm BST | 4.48pm BST |
| 16:48 | 16:48 |
| We can now add Morgan Griffith, representative from Virginia, to the long list of congressmen who have at some point owned a VW. | We can now add Morgan Griffith, representative from Virginia, to the long list of congressmen who have at some point owned a VW. |
| Griffith says that a VW was the first new car his mother was able to afford and it was the car he learned to drive on. He also inherited a Super Beetle, which he says he still has. | Griffith says that a VW was the first new car his mother was able to afford and it was the car he learned to drive on. He also inherited a Super Beetle, which he says he still has. |
| Speaking of disgruntled employees, he says: I am your consumer. I am a VW driver and I am disappointed. | Speaking of disgruntled employees, he says: I am your consumer. I am a VW driver and I am disappointed. |
| Griffith suggests that VW create a database where consumers can enter their car information and find out if their car is one of the affected cars. | Griffith suggests that VW create a database where consumers can enter their car information and find out if their car is one of the affected cars. |
| GOP Rep. Griffith, who just bought '12 VW diesel: "I’m your Volkswagen driver who has always trusted your company & I’m very disappointed." | GOP Rep. Griffith, who just bought '12 VW diesel: "I’m your Volkswagen driver who has always trusted your company & I’m very disappointed." |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.49pm BST | at 4.49pm BST |
| 4.41pm BST | 4.41pm BST |
| 16:41 | 16:41 |
| Horn really does not like people coughing and taking pictures - making clicking noise - while he is trying to testify. | Horn really does not like people coughing and taking pictures - making clicking noise - while he is trying to testify. |
| 4.39pm BST | 4.39pm BST |
| 16:39 | 16:39 |
| Letters: "Should have bought a Subaru" | Letters: "Should have bought a Subaru" |
| Last night, we received an email from one of our readers with subject line: “Should have bought a Subaru”. It read: | Last night, we received an email from one of our readers with subject line: “Should have bought a Subaru”. It read: |
| I finally got the VW letter from Michael Horn yesterday explaining what they intend to do. Not very much, because I am guessing they are still working out what to do, so it was less than comforting. By the end of 2016 it should all be sorted out! To say I feel let down is an understatement. I have owned many VW diesel cars back in the UK and now living in California I thought long and hard whether I should get a Subaru or the VW. The VW won out. What a mistake that was. | I finally got the VW letter from Michael Horn yesterday explaining what they intend to do. Not very much, because I am guessing they are still working out what to do, so it was less than comforting. By the end of 2016 it should all be sorted out! To say I feel let down is an understatement. I have owned many VW diesel cars back in the UK and now living in California I thought long and hard whether I should get a Subaru or the VW. The VW won out. What a mistake that was. |
| In my view, I don’t really see how they can gain the trust back. Even if they pay out compensation there is not a chance in hell I would buy a VW again. And from talking to fellow VW owners they feel the same way. The fact that Michael Horn knew about this a while back, (before I bought the car) makes it even worse. I would really like my money back, but I cannot see that happening … | In my view, I don’t really see how they can gain the trust back. Even if they pay out compensation there is not a chance in hell I would buy a VW again. And from talking to fellow VW owners they feel the same way. The fact that Michael Horn knew about this a while back, (before I bought the car) makes it even worse. I would really like my money back, but I cannot see that happening … |
| My son has taken to teasing me with “Should have bought the Subaru”. | My son has taken to teasing me with “Should have bought the Subaru”. |
| High class problems I know at a time when to world is going to shit … I guess I’m lucky I have a car. | High class problems I know at a time when to world is going to shit … I guess I’m lucky I have a car. |
| 4.35pm BST | 4.35pm BST |
| 16:35 | 16:35 |
| Dominic Rushe | Dominic Rushe |
| Horn has a two pronged strategy: “I’m not an engineer” which gets him out of answering technical questions and “the Germans did it” which gets him personally off the hook. It’s a tough job but so far he’s pulling it off. | Horn has a two pronged strategy: “I’m not an engineer” which gets him out of answering technical questions and “the Germans did it” which gets him personally off the hook. It’s a tough job but so far he’s pulling it off. |
| This hearing is far less heated than the grilling Mary Barra, GM’s boss, received over their ignition switch recall. | This hearing is far less heated than the grilling Mary Barra, GM’s boss, received over their ignition switch recall. |
| But that’s understandable considering that GM’s scandal killed people. | But that’s understandable considering that GM’s scandal killed people. |
| Related: US senators accuse GM chief Mary Barra of 'cover-up' over recall | Related: US senators accuse GM chief Mary Barra of 'cover-up' over recall |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.36pm BST | at 4.36pm BST |
| 4.33pm BST | 4.33pm BST |
| 16:33 | 16:33 |
| Jan Schakowsky, representative from Illinois, is asking Horn how long this will all take - asks for a timeline as to when cars might get fixed. | Jan Schakowsky, representative from Illinois, is asking Horn how long this will all take - asks for a timeline as to when cars might get fixed. |
| Horn says this depends on a car: | Horn says this depends on a car: |
| So, these cars will be on the road for at least a year? asks Schakowsky. | So, these cars will be on the road for at least a year? asks Schakowsky. |
| “More than a year, definitely,” said Horn. | “More than a year, definitely,” said Horn. |
| Schakowsky suggests that VW consider providing financial compensation to customers who want to return the cars, because they feel they have been deceived. | Schakowsky suggests that VW consider providing financial compensation to customers who want to return the cars, because they feel they have been deceived. |
| 4.26pm BST | 4.26pm BST |
| 16:26 | 16:26 |
| Horn was just asked to explain how the device works. If you expected him to say “I am not an engineer” again, you’d not be the only one. | Horn was just asked to explain how the device works. If you expected him to say “I am not an engineer” again, you’d not be the only one. |
| Instead, Horn said: The defeat device is not a device, it’s a software code. | Instead, Horn said: The defeat device is not a device, it’s a software code. |
| 4.24pm BST | 4.24pm BST |
| 16:24 | 16:24 |
| Graham Ruddick | Graham Ruddick |
| So far, the most interesting part of Michael Horn’s testimony is the VW America boss admitting that it will take one to two years “minimum” to fix the affected cars in the US and that these vehicles will take 5 to 10 hours to fix each, with some needing a new tank fitted to them. This is likely to be the same across Europe. Horn claims that performance of the car will be relatively untouched, with miles per gallon the same, but any difference will leave company open to legal claims. | So far, the most interesting part of Michael Horn’s testimony is the VW America boss admitting that it will take one to two years “minimum” to fix the affected cars in the US and that these vehicles will take 5 to 10 hours to fix each, with some needing a new tank fitted to them. This is likely to be the same across Europe. Horn claims that performance of the car will be relatively untouched, with miles per gallon the same, but any difference will leave company open to legal claims. |
| 4.23pm BST | 4.23pm BST |
| 16:23 | 16:23 |
| Joe Kennedy, representative from Massachusetts, presses Horn to confirm if anyone has been suspended so far. | Joe Kennedy, representative from Massachusetts, presses Horn to confirm if anyone has been suspended so far. |
| Three people have been suspended, but Horn says he cannot disclose names. | Three people have been suspended, but Horn says he cannot disclose names. |
| How much will this entire scandal costs? ask Kennedy. | How much will this entire scandal costs? ask Kennedy. |
| The costs depend on fines that VW will have to pay, cost of the fix and the compensation for consumers, says Horn. | The costs depend on fines that VW will have to pay, cost of the fix and the compensation for consumers, says Horn. |
| It will be a “whole lot of money, I am quite sure”. | It will be a “whole lot of money, I am quite sure”. |
| Horn also provides an important clarification, pointing out that those who are responsible for installing of these defeat devices do not work under him at VW America, but in different departments in Germany. | Horn also provides an important clarification, pointing out that those who are responsible for installing of these defeat devices do not work under him at VW America, but in different departments in Germany. |
| 4.20pm BST | 4.20pm BST |
| 16:20 | 16:20 |
| Dominic Rushe | Dominic Rushe |
| Toughest questions so far are being delivered by Joe Barton, Texas. Barton says it’s hard to believe that this was not a “corporate decision”. Horn is sticking with the line that two rogue software engineers are responsible for this mess but Barton stuck with it eventually forcing Horn to admit that he too finds it “hard to believe”. | Toughest questions so far are being delivered by Joe Barton, Texas. Barton says it’s hard to believe that this was not a “corporate decision”. Horn is sticking with the line that two rogue software engineers are responsible for this mess but Barton stuck with it eventually forcing Horn to admit that he too finds it “hard to believe”. |
| “Personally I struggle as well,” he says. It does seem hard to swallow that no one else knew what was going on and the software engineers’ supervisors were wholly unaware. | “Personally I struggle as well,” he says. It does seem hard to swallow that no one else knew what was going on and the software engineers’ supervisors were wholly unaware. |