Winterkorn denies knowing about Volkswagen's emissions cheating

According to foreign media reports, former Volkswagen Group CEO Winterkorn told the German parliament that he was not aware of the truth about Volkswagen's emissions cheating. Winterkorn told the German parliamentary committee investigating Volkswagen's emissions scandal: "That was not the case (the cheating was not known for a long time)."

Winterkorn made his first public comments on the Volkswagen emissions scandal on Thursday after apologising for it in September 2015: "I am also looking forward to a satisfactory answer."

Winterkorn said leaving Volkswagen was the hardest time of his life. He was not directly involved in the emissions cheating and refused to say when he first learned about the cheating.

Winterkorn said: "I am deeply troubled by the disappointment of so many customers (Volkswagen's emissions cheating). I apologize for this."

Winterkorn's regretful behavior is in stark contrast to the image he has always left on the public. Winterkorn is famous for his pursuit of details, and he will not allow any flaws in the design of the car model. As an engineering designer, the Volkswagen emissions scandal is undoubtedly a stain that Winterkorn cannot erase.

Although Volkswagen has reluctantly admitted the fact of vehicle emissions cheating, it remains a mystery how much Winterkorn knew. Winterkorn said: "Many people know that I am a person who pursues quality very highly. It is difficult for outsiders to understand how such a thing could happen in a company that pursues quality. I am the same."

Investors are watching Winterkorn's testimony closely. Volkswagen has said its board was unaware of the cheating. When asked if he believed only some engineers were responsible for the diesel cheating, Winterkorn acknowledged that many employees were also responsible, but he did not know how many were involved.

Winterkorn said that because software application is a very sophisticated area in the engine, he did not know about it earlier.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.