VW Australia confirms recall

Horn said it appeared the software was fitted because the cars couldn’t meet U.S. pollution rules.

“I think it’s dead wrong if you put corporate profits before people”, Horn said.

Horn planned to tell the commitee that he was first told in spring 2014 that Volkswagen had “a possible emissions non-compliance that could be remedied”.

The Volkswagen cars affected by software devices the German company used to trick emissions test are slightly slower and less fuel efficient when they’re driven in “cheat mode”, Consumer Reports has found.

It has taken three long weeks but a recall has been formally issued for 91,000 cars with dodgy diesels.

“There is a lot we still do not know about Volkswagen’s actions, or their motivations, in attempting to skirt emissions standards”, Upton said, according to a copy of his prepared remarks. At the same time, he was informed about the possibility of vehicle testing by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Californian authorities.

In prepared remarks, Horn said the events are deeply troubling and that the auto giant has broken the trust of its customers, dealerships and employees, as well as the public and regulators. “I agree it’s hard to believe”, he said when pressed by Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), about whether senior management was aware of the “cheating” device installed on TDI powered vehicles since 2009.

“To my understanding this was not a corporate decision, this was something individuals did”, Horn said, noting that he felt personally deceived.

The claims came as German investigators raided the VW headquarters in Wolfsburg in search of evidence to clarify who was responsible for the cheating. Volkswagen said it was supporting the investigation and had handed over a range of documents.

“As a result, we have withdrawn the application for certification of our model year 2016 vehicles”.

In the USA, the software fix will have to be approved by the EPA as well as the California Air Resources Board before implementation.

Volkswagen has so far set aside a few $7.3 billion to cover costs associated with the scandal.

Volkswagen Australia and its luxury arm Audi will launch a massive recall of more than 90,000 local cars affected in its global emissions-cheating rort.

Committee members seemed bewildered by Volkswagen’s conduct and why an automaker would lay its entire reputation on the line exclusively to sell diesel cars. Horn told lawmakers that Generation 2 vehicles could begin to receive fixes around the middle of next year.