German Official Urges Volkswagen to Prevent Damaging Industry's Reputation

The German federal minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety called on Volkswagen automotive manufacturing company not to undermine its reputation of a reliable enterprise, as well as the "good name" generally attributable to the German industry.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Last week, the US environmental protection authorities accused Volkswagen of installing software in their automobiles that gave false emissions test results for their diesel engines. Volkswagen chief executive Martin Winterkorn admitted to the company's wrongdoing before stepping down the next day.

"When the German concern with a worldwide reputation blatantly disregards international rules [on emission], it casts a shadow on international agreements [of other] German companies," Barbara Hendricks said in an interview with the German daily Handelsblatt, adding that the company should "clarify" the situation as soon as possible.

The minister also noted that the European Union was working on new principles of measurement in testing since earlier it was "common knowledge" that the vehicles’ test results did not always coincide with those obtained during driving, according to the German newspaper.

The emissions' scandal has reportedly prompted Swiss authorities to temporarily ban the sale of Volkswagen diesel-engine vehicles that could have devices capable of tricking emissions tests.