VW UK managing director Paul Willis says car industry should face “tougher standards” over emissions
The boss of embattled Volkswagen has told UK MPs that that he would be happy for the carmaker to accept “tougher standards” in regards to emissions testing.
Giving evidence to the Commons Environmental Audit Committee, Willis said : “I am happy to face tougher standards because I think … the science of nitrogen oxides is emerging and it seems to be quite clear it has health effects."
“We all have a responsibility … to contribute to that, particularly in the areas of cities where there’s a greater concentration.”
Volkswagen has said 1.2m Audis and VW models in the UK have the "defeat device", including 400,000 Audi vehicles, 132,000 Skodas and 77,000 Seats. A further 80,000 commercial vehicles are on the list.
Read more: UK managing director says "VW has significantly let down its customers"
Willis also sought to allay committee chair Huw Irranca-Davies’ fears that more revelations would come about the emissions scandal, which has spread across the world since first coming to light in the US last month.
“I don't think there's more to come out … I find it implausible that this would be some sort of deliberate attempt to mislead people," he said in relation to the management's conduct.
It was revealed last month that the US Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board had detected software that allow cars to cheat emissions tests, and expected some 500,000 vehicles in the US to be affected. VW has since said more 11m cars around the world are involved.
Earlier this week Willis told the Transport Select Committee that the company "has significantly let down its customers", as he was grilled by MPs on how the company's external investigation is going and how it intends to rectify the damage the emissions scandal has caused.