Volkswagen Group CEO Martin Winterkorn issued an apology for the emissions scandal and promised to do everything possible in order to clear up the matter. He said the firm is still looking for answers to key questions and are putting together all facts on the table as quickly as possible with the highest level of transparency. On Tuesday, Volkswagen admitted that as many as 11 million vehicles worldwide could be affected by the software used to fudge emission tests.
"At present we do not yet have all the answers to all the questions. But we are working hard to find out exactly what happened. To do that, we are putting everything on the table, as quickly, thoroughly and transparently as possible,” Winterkorn said in a video statement on the corporate website.
Winterkorn added, "The irregularities with these engines contradict everything for which Volkswagen stands. We want to continue to work closely with the relevant state departments and authorities." And in a clear hint at VW's approach to tracking down the departments and staff who knew about the software that allowed the engines to perform better than expected in US NOx testing, he added, "I am well aware that much is now questioned. I understand that. But it would be wrong if the hard and honest work of 6,00,000 people comes under general suspicion because of the bad mistakes of a few. Our team does not deserve this."
The VW CEO also stopped short of saying that the crisis would cost him his own job –despite intense speculation in the German media that the VW supervisory board is planning to replace Winterkorn by the end of this week. The German media claimed that the board will meet today, ahead of a further conference on Friday that’s expected to ratify the replacement of Winterkorn by Porsche CEO Matthias Muller. Volkswagen, however, dismissed the rumour of Winterkorn being replaced as "stupid".