VW CEO: Recall of Cars Hit by Emissions Scandal to Start January
Volkswagen's (VW) recall of the cars affected by the emissions cheating scandal is set to begin in January next year, the company's new chief executive announced.
VW chief Matthias Mueller said the German car manufacturer aims to fix all the vehicles hit by the emissions scandal before 2016 ends. He also added that the recall will involve around 11 million diesel cars worldwide, according to an Associated Press published on Inc.
In an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the VW CEO said some of its diesel car engines were rigged with software for cheating on the U.S. emissions test. VW will need to update the software of the EA 189 diesel engines, or install new injectors and catalyzers to address the problem, NBC News reports.
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In addition, the company may have to designate temporary specialist workshops for the more serious problems, the report details.
"If everything goes as planned, we can start the recall in January," Inc quotes Mueller's statement to Frankfurter. "All the cars should be in order by the end of 2016."
Based on their information at hand, some developers may have rigged the diesel engines without the knowledge of the VW management board. After the emissions cheating scandal erupted in September, four VW employees — including three senior managers — have already been suspended and some have "retired," said Mueller.
In the wake of the scandal, VW has allotted $7.3 billion to address the expenses for the recall and efforts to regain their clients' trust. While this amount may or may not be enough, Mueller said VW will do everything to satisfy customer needs, the report relays.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency may impose fines worth $18 billion on VW. Muelller admitted that the company committed a "serious mistake" for which they must face the consequences. The new Volkswagen chief also said he is prepared "in principle" to go to America and issue a public apology for all the trouble that the emissions cheating scandal has caused.
