Volkswagen's highly-anticipated press conference Thursday had the embattled automaker revealing that its engineers cheated on United States emissions tests because they simply couldn't figure out how to meet emissions regulations.
Volkswagen chairman Hans-Dieter Potsch told reporters that engineers manipulated emissions software because they "quite simply could not find a way to meet the U.S.'s tougher" standards for nitrogen oxide pollutants, which were emitted at rates of up to 40 times Environmental Protection Agency limits, as reported by USA Today.
"We are not talking about a one-off mistake, but a whole chain of mistakes," Potsch said, as reported by USA Today.
Volkswagen's press conference was held in Germany, while being live-streamed online and translated into English.
Upon learning of the emissions cheating, the automaker suspended nine of its managers who Potsch says were "possibly involved in the manipulations."
Learning from its mistake, the company also vowed to commission emissions testing to independent auditors in the future to avoid winding up in such trudge again. In addition, Volkswagen announced that it will create a new committee, responsible for authorizing new emissions software in the future.
Although Volkswagen vowed to begin its massive recall to make 11 million faulty diesel vehicles in Europe to comply with emissions regulations in January, while aiming to end the undertaking in December, it has yet to roll out similar plans for the United States.
Nearly 600,000 vehicles have been affected in the U.S., including the Audi A6 and Q5, which are under VW's umbrella.
The recall alone is expected to cost the automaker nearly $10 billion and that's not including regulatory fines from countries and possible class-action lawsuits from drivers affected.
Thursday's press conference was only to give an initial update to VW's internal investigation into its emissions scandal. The investigation is being conducted by global law firm, Jones Day.
Potsch revealed that 450 people are involved in the investigation, which has already collected 102 terabytes of data, by his reports.
"The sheer number is indication that we are taking this very seriously and seeking conclusive results as soon as possible," Potsch said.
As time goes on, the public will be privy to more revelations from VW's investigation over its emissions scandal, regarded as the worst crisis in the automaker's 78-year history.
