This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42876336
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen takes responsibility for exhaust tests | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Volkswagen has taken responsibility for diesel emissions tests on humans and monkeys amid mounting fury. | Volkswagen has taken responsibility for diesel emissions tests on humans and monkeys amid mounting fury. |
| VW chief executive Matthias Mueller said the German car maker had "taken first consequences" for the tests. | VW chief executive Matthias Mueller said the German car maker had "taken first consequences" for the tests. |
| He said the animal testing was "wrong ... unethical and repulsive", Spiegel Online reported. | He said the animal testing was "wrong ... unethical and repulsive", Spiegel Online reported. |
| VW has suspended its chief lobbyist Thomas Steg, who admitted to knowing in advance about the monkey experiment, which took place in New Mexico in 2014. | VW has suspended its chief lobbyist Thomas Steg, who admitted to knowing in advance about the monkey experiment, which took place in New Mexico in 2014. |
| He said "what happened should never have happened, I regret it very much" and took "full responsibility". | He said "what happened should never have happened, I regret it very much" and took "full responsibility". |
| The exhaust fume tests were carried out by EUGT, a now disbanded body that had been funded by VW as well as rivals Daimler, which owns Mercedes Benz, and BMW. | The exhaust fume tests were carried out by EUGT, a now disbanded body that had been funded by VW as well as rivals Daimler, which owns Mercedes Benz, and BMW. |
| Last week the New York Times reported that EUGT had exposed 10 monkeys to fumes - in an air-tight chamber - from several cars, including a diesel VW Beetle, at a lab in Albuquerque. | Last week the New York Times reported that EUGT had exposed 10 monkeys to fumes - in an air-tight chamber - from several cars, including a diesel VW Beetle, at a lab in Albuquerque. |
| In his first public comments on the test, Mr Mueller said: "The methods used by EUGT in the United States were wrong, they were unethical and repulsive. I am sorry that Volkswagen was involved in the matter as one of the sponsors of EUGT." | In his first public comments on the test, Mr Mueller said: "The methods used by EUGT in the United States were wrong, they were unethical and repulsive. I am sorry that Volkswagen was involved in the matter as one of the sponsors of EUGT." |
| Germany's Stuttgarter Zeitung and SWR radio reported that 19 men and six women had inhaled diesel fumes in another EUGT experiment. | Germany's Stuttgarter Zeitung and SWR radio reported that 19 men and six women had inhaled diesel fumes in another EUGT experiment. |
| The German government has called a meeting with the car makers to seek an explanation for the experiments, which have been condemned by politicians and animal rights activists. | The German government has called a meeting with the car makers to seek an explanation for the experiments, which have been condemned by politicians and animal rights activists. |
| The controversy follows a scandal over software that falsified diesel exhaust data for Volkswagen cars. | The controversy follows a scandal over software that falsified diesel exhaust data for Volkswagen cars. |
| In 2015 VW admitted having fitted "cheat" devices in the US that made its engines appear less polluting than they actually were. | In 2015 VW admitted having fitted "cheat" devices in the US that made its engines appear less polluting than they actually were. |
| The scandal has cost Volkswagen almost $30bn. | The scandal has cost Volkswagen almost $30bn. |
| Last month former VW executive Oliver Schmidt was sentenced to seven years in prison in the US and a $400,000 (£293,000) fine after admitting he helped the firm evade clean-air laws. | Last month former VW executive Oliver Schmidt was sentenced to seven years in prison in the US and a $400,000 (£293,000) fine after admitting he helped the firm evade clean-air laws. |