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VW deserves to suffer substantial damage, UK minister says VW deserves to suffer substantial damage, UK minister says
(35 minutes later)
Volkswagen deserves to suffer “substantial damage” because of the diesel emissions scandal that has rocked the carmaker and affected 11m vehicles worldwide, the British transport secretary has told MPs.Volkswagen deserves to suffer “substantial damage” because of the diesel emissions scandal that has rocked the carmaker and affected 11m vehicles worldwide, the British transport secretary has told MPs.
Patrick McLoughlin was speaking after the head of VW’s UK operation apologised for the furore and warned that one-in-three of the VW vehicles due to be recalled in Britain requires significant hardware repairs which may not be completed by the end of 2016. Patrick McLoughlin was speaking after the head of VW’s UK operation apologised for the furore and warned that one-in-three of the VW vehicles due to be recalled in Britain required significant hardware repairs which might not be completed by the end of 2016.
“They have behaved in an appalling way,” McLoughlin told the House of Commons transport select committee. Referring to VW’s use of so-called defeat devices to cheat emissions tests, he added: “These [defeat] devices were made illegal in 1998 and it is unbelievable to think a company the size and reputation of VW have been doing something like this. They are going to suffer very substantial damage as a result and they deserve to.” “They have behaved in an appalling way,” McLoughlin told the Commons transport select committee on Monday. Referring to VW’s use of so-called defeat devices to cheat emissions tests, he added: “These devices were made illegal in 1998 and it is unbelievable to think a company the size and reputation of VW have been doing something like this. They are going to suffer very substantial damage as a result and they deserve to.”
He said that it drew question about reviewing testing of emissions, “and that’s exactly what we are going to be doing.” He said the UK had led Europe in calling for real-world testing. He said that it drew question about reviewing testing of emissions, “and that’s exactly what we are going to be doing”. He said the UK had led Europe in calling for real-world testing.
McLoughlin said he did not rule out taking action against VW in the UK, noting that deception in testing conducted by the Vehicle Licensing Agency could leave manufacturers open to prosecution. But he defended the wider industry: “I don’t think we should condemn the whole industry because of one player.” He said he was satisfied that no other companies were involved, after receiving assurances. McLoughlin said he did not rule out taking action against VW in the UK, noting that deception in testing conducted by the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency could leave manufacturers open to prosecution. But he defended the wider industry: “I don’t think we should condemn the whole industry because of one player.” He said he was satisfied that no other companies were involved, after receiving assurances.
“I would not expect any reputable companies to deliberately mislead once they’ve been asked the specific question.” “I would not expect any reputable companies to deliberately mislead once they’ve been asked the specific question,” he said.
McLoughlin added: “We’re talking about an industry that’s very important, I’m determined to work with the industry, not against the industry. We’re in the very early stages of the VW investigation.”McLoughlin added: “We’re talking about an industry that’s very important, I’m determined to work with the industry, not against the industry. We’re in the very early stages of the VW investigation.”
VW has admitted that 11m vehicles around the world were fitted with a defeat device, including almost 1.2m in the UK.VW has admitted that 11m vehicles around the world were fitted with a defeat device, including almost 1.2m in the UK.
Speaking at the hearing, Paul Willis, managing director of VW UK, said the company had “fallen short of the standards expected of us”.Speaking at the hearing, Paul Willis, managing director of VW UK, said the company had “fallen short of the standards expected of us”.
Of the vehicles affected in the UK, Willis said that 400,000 had 1.6-litre engines that require software and hardware repairs. The hardware repair is likely to involve fuel injectors being replaced, Willis said. Of the vehicles affected in the UK, Willis said 400,000 had 1.6-litre engines that require software and hardware repairs. The hardware repair is likely to involve fuel injectors being replaced, he said. “We will put these cars right to regain the trust of our customers.”
“We will put these cars right to regain the trust of our customers,” he added. However, the VW boss said the recall plan is yet to be approved by German authorities and that it is “important we take time to do it correctly for our customers”. The plan is likely to start in early 2016 but it is uncertain whether it will completed by the end of the year given the number of vehicles involved.
However, the VW boss said that the recall plan is yet to be approved by German authorities and that it is “important we take time to do it correctly for our customers”. The repair plan is likely to start in early 2016 but it is “uncertain” whether it will completed by the end of the year given the number of vehicles involved
Willis added: “I have to say to you that there is some risk involved in that.”Willis added: “I have to say to you that there is some risk involved in that.”
The fix for motorists in Europe will be different to repairs in the US, where 500,000 vehicles and where the fix is likely to be more substantial because of stringent regulations.The fix for motorists in Europe will be different to repairs in the US, where 500,000 vehicles and where the fix is likely to be more substantial because of stringent regulations.
Willis insisted that the performance of vehicles should not be affected by the repairs, although he declined to rule it out entirely. Willis said the performance of vehicles should not be affected by the repairs, although he declined to rule it out entirely: “The brief that our engineers are working to is that there can’t be any change in miles per gallon.”
“The brief that our engineers are working to is that there can’t be any change in miles per galon,” Willis said. He said it was premature to discuss compensation for VW customers in the UK. However, motorists could be offered loan cars while their vehicle is being repaired. Willis insisted that taxpayers will not lose out if the government wants to launch new tests.
The VW boss said it was “premature” to discuss compensation for VW customers in the UK. However, motorists could be offered loan cars while their vehicle is being repaired. Willis insisted that taxpayers will not lose out if the government wants to launch new tests. MPs pressed Willis to explain who fitted the defeat devices to the vehicles, but the he said the debate would be based on “pure conjecture”, adding: “I find it implausible that senior people in the company would have known of these issues.”
MPs pressed Willis to explain who fitted the defeat devices to the vehicles, but the VW boss said the debate would be based on “pure conjecture”. Willis said VW had a “big job” to rebuild trust in the brand and admitted that sales in Britain have “dropped a bit” since the scandal emerged.
He added: “I find it implausible that senior people in the company would have known of these issues.” “We have got a big job to regain trust and we need openness and transparency,” he continued. “It is critical we unearth the truth. This investigation [into the scandal] is very important to us, we have to re-establish trust.”
Willis said that VW had a “big job” to rebuild trust in the brand and admitted that sales in Britain have “dropped a bit” since the scandal emerged. Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders, the UK automotive trade body, told the hearing there was no evidence that other carmakers had cheated emissions tests. “I am not aware, nor do I have any evidence, that any other manufacturers has undertaken this activity,” he said.
“We have got a big job to regain trust and we need openness and transparency,” he added.
“It is critical we unearth the truth. This investigation [into the scandal] is very important to us, we have to re-establish trust.”
Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the UK automotive trade body, told the hearing there was no evidence that other carmakers had cheated emissions tests.
“I am not aware, nor do I have any evidence, that any other manufacturers has undertaken this activity.”
However, Willis criticised the emissions testing regime in Britain, calling it “old fashioned and not fit for purpose”.However, Willis criticised the emissions testing regime in Britain, calling it “old fashioned and not fit for purpose”.