Monday, February 5, 2024

Murphy grills Volkswagen's U.S. CEO over emissions-test cheating

Contributed photo
U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA), chairman of the House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, questioning Volkswagen USA President and CEO Michael Horn during a hearing on Thursday examining  Volkswagen’s emissions-test cheating.

“The behavior to which VW admitted represents a fundamental violation of public trust, and the reverberations of this violation can be seen across the United States and across the world as people grapple with the implications," Murphy said. "We need to develop a clear understanding of the facts and circumstances surrounding this case. This hearing was an important step toward that goal,” Murphy said.

To get around Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions standards, the car manufacturer installed sophisticated software into its cars that lowered emissions data when it sensed that the vehicle was undergoing testing.

“There is a lot we still do not know about Volkswagen’s actions, or their motivations, in attempting to skirt emissions standards,” Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) said. “But regardless of intent, they have betrayed the trust of regulators, dealers and, most importantly, the driving public…All automakers must advance by imagination and innovation – not by gaming the system and breaking the law.”