This past week BIG news made its way onto the 'net and every other medium. Volkswagen has been alleged to have installed "cheat software" so that when its diesel products were being tested for emissions, they would essentially perform better than when they were not being tested.
Obviously, this is a HUGE problem for one of the world's global automakers.
Why? Well, let's put it this way: Emissions is probably one of the most critical elements that gets tested aside from safety (e.g., crash testing). As of now some have estimated that Volkswagen's violation could cost it up to $18 billion in fines.
Clearly, this is a highly fluid situation. And now the head of Volkswagen AG is speaking up via corporate communications.
Below you'll find an official — and incredibly brief — statement from VWAG's head honcho, Dr. Martin Winterkorn.
Volkswagen's press release follows:
STATEMENT OF PROF. DR. MARTIN WINTERKORN, CEO OF VOLKSWAGEN AG
Sep 20, 2015
Wolfsburg, September 20, 2015 – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board (EPA and CARB) revealed their findings that while testing diesel cars of the Volkswagen Group they have detected manipulations that violate American environmental standards.
The Board of Management at Volkswagen AG takes these findings very seriously. I personally am deeply sorry that we have broken the trust of our customers and the public. We will cooperate fully with the responsible agencies, with transparency and urgency, to clearly, openly, and completely establish all of the facts of this case. Volkswagen has ordered an external investigation of this matter.
We do not and will not tolerate violations of any kind of our internal rules or of the law.
The trust of our customers and the public is and continues to be our most important asset. We at Volkswagen will do everything that must be done in order to re-establish the trust that so many people have placed in us, and we will do everything necessary in order to reverse the damage this has caused. This matter has first priority for me, personally, and for our entire Board of Management.