- Title: VW CEO denies early knowledge of diesel emissions cheating
- Date: 19th January 2017
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (JANUARY 19, 2017) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF VOLKSWAGEN CEO MARTIN WINTERKORN ARRIVING FOR MEETING WITH PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY MEDIA WINTERKORN ARRIVING IN MEETING ROOM WINTERKORN AT HIS CHAIR PHOTOGRAPHERS MEDIA LEAVING MEETING ROOM CHAIRMAN OF PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY, HERBERT BEHRENS, GIVING STATEMENT CAMERAS (SOUNDBITE) (German) CHAIRMAN OF PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY, HERBERT BEHRENS, SAYING: "I want to make it clear: This, in my opinion, was a very poor reaction of a CEO who was informed that 500.000 vehicles of his company had to be recalled from the U.S. market because their emissions, their nitrogen levels were above legal limits. He remained far behind the necessities. If his people did not inform him then at least he himself should have been actively asking 'Guys, what's going on here? Why did this recall happen?' Under this pretext we have to judge all the other answers Professor Winterkorn has given us. I think in large parts he has kept secret his real knowledge of the situation." BEHRENS GIVING STATEMENT
- Embargoed: 2nd February 2017 16:18
- Keywords: Volkswagen emissions diesel CEO Winterkorn parliament
- Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
- City: BERLIN, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0015ZQXU31
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Former Volkswagen Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn on Thursday (January 19) declined to tell German lawmakers when he first learned about systematic exhaust emissions cheating, but said it was no earlier than VW has officially admitted.
VW has said its executive board did not learn of the violations until late August 2015 and formally reported the cheating to authorities in the United States in early September that year.
Upon being asked whether he had known about software cheating earlier, Winterkorn told the German parliament's committee of inquiry into carmakers' emissions irregularities: "That is not the case."
Winterkorn declined to be more specific about when he was informed because it was a matter that was still being investigated by German prosecutors.
"I want to make it clear: This, in my opinion, was a very poor reaction of a CEO who was informed that 500.000 vehicles of his company had to be recalled from the U.S. market because their emissions, their nitrogen levels were above legal limits. He remained far behind the necessities. If his people did not inform him then at least he himself should have been actively asking 'Guys, what's going on here? Why did this recall happen?' Under this pretext we have to judge all the other answers Professor Winterkorn has given us. I think in large parts he has kept secret his real knowledge of the situation," said the chairman of the parliamentary inquiry commission, Herbert Behrens, from the left-wing party "Die Linke".
VW last week agreed to pay the largest ever U.S. criminal fine levied on an automaker to settle charges that it conspired for nearly 10 years to cheat on diesel emission tests.
In total, VW has now agreed to spend up to $22 billion in the United States to address claims from owners, environmental regulators, U.S. states and dealers.
Winterkorn's testimony before German lawmakers lasted about two hours, with a 15-minute introductory statement followed by questions. He was flanked by his two lawyers who allowed him to address all questions.
Volkswagen's management board is being asked to explain how soon it informed investors of a scandal which spiralled into the company's worst business crisis.
VW is facing 8.8 billion euros ($9.36 billion) in damage claims from investors seeking compensation for the collapse of VW's share price once the scandal broke. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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