Volkswagen rigged emissions tests on 500,000 diesel cars: EPA
by Paul Wiseman And Tom Krisher, The Associated Press
Models included in the scheme include the Audi A3, VW Jetta, Beetle, Golf and Passat sedans
Volkswagen has ordered an investigation into the EPA test-rigging. PHOTO Volkswagen
“I personally am deeply sorry that we have broken the trust of our customers and the public,” Volkswagen chief Martin Winterkorn said in a statement. He said VW has ordered an investigation and promised that the company would co-operate with regulators.
The EPA said that Volkswagen used software that allowed its diesel cars to release fewer smog-causing pollutants during tests than in real-world driving conditions.
The cars, built in the last seven years, include the Audi A3, VW Jetta, Beetle, Golf and Passat models. The agency ordered VW to fix the cars at its own expense. VW also faces fines that could add up to billions of dollars.
VW edged out Toyota to become the world’s top-selling automaker the first half of 2015. But a hit to its reputation from the emissions revelations could hamper its efforts at a sales rebound in the U.S. Between 2013 and 2014, VW sales plummeted 10 per cent even as overall industry sales rose 6 per cent.
The influential magazine Consumer Reports almost immediately suspended its “recommended” rating from the Jetta and Passat diesels until it can get a recall repair and re-test the cars.
Volkswagen marketed the diesel-powered cars as being better for the environment. After the EPA announcement, the automaker withdrew ads for its diesel cars from social media and asked dealers to stop selling 2015 diesel cars with 2.0-litre engines, according to a person familiar with the matter who requested anonymity.
AP Business Writers Anne D’Innocenzio in New York and Dee-Ann Durbin in Detroit contributed to this story.
