BERLIN: Volkswagen’s new boss said Wednesday the auto giant would need more than a year to fix all its pollution-cheating cars, as it suspended four employees suspected of being behind the global deception.

Matthias Mueller, who took over the driver’s seat at VW at the height of the crisis, said he did not believe top management could have been aware of the scam which threatens to cost the company billions in vehicle overhauls and fines.

The firm has launched investigations into who was behind the scam involving over 11 million diesel cars which were equipped with software that switches the engine to a low-emissions mode during tests. The defeat devices then turn off pollution controls when the vehicle is on the road, allowing it to spew out harmful levels of toxic gases.

Published in Dawn, October 8th , 2015

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