VW Scandal: New Catalytic Converter Could Fix US Cars, Says CEO
Volkswagen will propose a new catalytic converter system to US authorities that could be fitted to around 430,000 cars capable of cheating diesel emissions tests, Chief Executive Matthias Mueller said on Sunday.
Follow us on
Highlights
Volkswagen will propose a new catalytic converter system to US authorities that could be fitted to around 430,000 cars capable of cheating diesel emissions tests, Chief Executive Matthias Mueller said on Sunday.
"We have one (catalytic converter) in the works and we believe that will be a part of the technical solutions," Mueller told reporters at a VW event on the eve of the Detroit Auto Show.
Asked whether he expects the new catalytic converter to bring 430,000 rigged US cars into line with emissions standards, the CEO replied: "Yes, we believe that this is possible."
Mueller is meeting US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Gina McCarthy on Wednesday, where he plans to make his proposal.
Mueller expressed optimism that VW and the EPA would be able to bridge their differences. McCarthy has previously bemoaned that both sides have failed to develop "a satisfactory way forward" despite months of talks.
"I think we can now offer a package that will come very close to what the EPA is expecting from us," the CEO said.
Part of the proposal will be an offer by the German company to repurchase some of the affected US cars, said Mueller, but declined to elaborate. Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper last week said VW may need to buy back around 115,000 US vehicles.
"We will offer some solutions and we will see how the reaction (from the EPA) will be," said Mueller. "We are confident that we will find a good solution."
Former Porsche CEO Mueller, who took the helm of Europe's largest automaker on September 25, said he will meet "a lot of people" in Washington on Wednesday without giving names, adding that he would also be willing to testify before US Congress on the emissions scandal, if asked.
Mueller, on his first visit to the United States since taking the top job at VW, cited differences between Germany's data protection code and comparable US rules when asked to comment on accusations by US state attorneys that VW was shielding documents from investigations.
He said VW made a "huge mistake" by cheating US emissions tests and any steps by the carmaker to overcome the crisis must include efforts to "better understand" the US market, the world's second-largest.
Asked whether he was worried about the possibility of US criminal investigations, he said: "If that was the case, then yes."
"We have one (catalytic converter) in the works and we believe that will be a part of the technical solutions," Mueller told reporters at a VW event on the eve of the Detroit Auto Show.
Asked whether he expects the new catalytic converter to bring 430,000 rigged US cars into line with emissions standards, the CEO replied: "Yes, we believe that this is possible."
Mueller is meeting US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Gina McCarthy on Wednesday, where he plans to make his proposal.
Mueller expressed optimism that VW and the EPA would be able to bridge their differences. McCarthy has previously bemoaned that both sides have failed to develop "a satisfactory way forward" despite months of talks.
"I think we can now offer a package that will come very close to what the EPA is expecting from us," the CEO said.
Part of the proposal will be an offer by the German company to repurchase some of the affected US cars, said Mueller, but declined to elaborate. Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper last week said VW may need to buy back around 115,000 US vehicles.
"We will offer some solutions and we will see how the reaction (from the EPA) will be," said Mueller. "We are confident that we will find a good solution."
Former Porsche CEO Mueller, who took the helm of Europe's largest automaker on September 25, said he will meet "a lot of people" in Washington on Wednesday without giving names, adding that he would also be willing to testify before US Congress on the emissions scandal, if asked.
Mueller, on his first visit to the United States since taking the top job at VW, cited differences between Germany's data protection code and comparable US rules when asked to comment on accusations by US state attorneys that VW was shielding documents from investigations.
He said VW made a "huge mistake" by cheating US emissions tests and any steps by the carmaker to overcome the crisis must include efforts to "better understand" the US market, the world's second-largest.
Asked whether he was worried about the possibility of US criminal investigations, he said: "If that was the case, then yes."
Last Updated on January 12, 2016
# Volkswagen# VW# Matthias Mueller# Volkswagen diesel engines# catalytic converter# Volkwagen emission scandal# Auto Industry
Stay updated with automotive news and reviews right at your fingertips through carandbike.com's Google News
Related Articles
Skoda-Volkswagen India Recalls Slavia, Taigun, Kushaq And Virtus To Address Manufacturing Defect
Volkswagen Virtus Reaches 50,000 Unit Sales Milestone; 17,000 Units Sold So Far In 2024
Volkswagen Tayron 7-Seat SUV Unveiled As Tiguan AllSpace Successor
VW Taigun, Virtus Get New Highline Plus Trim; Taigun GT Line Gets New Features
Volkswagen Taigun Pickup Truck Concept Is Skoda-VW India's 2024 Student Car Project
Latest News
Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350: In Pictures
Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350 Unveiled; Launch On November 23
Stellantis Unveils New STLA Frame Architecture For Body-On-Frame SUVs, Pick-Up Trucks
Brixton Cromwell 1200, Cromwell 1200 X: In Pictures
Jeep Wrangler 4Xe Willys 41 Unveiled; Pays Homage To Iconic Willys Jeep
Lexus ES Facelift Unveiled At 2024 Guangzhou Auto Show
Brixton Crossfire 500 X, Crossfire 500 XC: In Pictures
KTM Faces Financial Trouble; Seeks Funding Of 100 Million Euros
Jaguar Unveils New Brand Identity Ahead Of Electric GT Concept Debut
