Carefully, Volkswagen chairman Herbert Diess dove right in, keeping in mind that while the venerable German car manufacturer boasts of its 60-year record in the United States, “the current emissions issue is certainly nothing to be proud of. We disappointed our customers and the American people, for which I apologize.”
Diess also stated that the company is working to fix the 11 million diesel vehicles that were outfitted with modern technology that covered up pollutants that otherwise would have caused drivers to fall short emission tests. He said 8.5 million vehicles in Europe have gone through repair service, yet that the 500,000 U.S. automobiles at issue would certainly need to be tackled after Volkswagen confers with EPA and CARB authorities.
The scandal ranks amongst the greatest in automotive past history in terms of cars impacted as well as sheer economic expenses (some reports say as high as $80 billion), although nobody was injured or died as with various other air bag and also brake-system failures.
With that said, he trotted out two cars. The initial was VW’s new e-Golf Touch, whose infotainment system is secured to an app-centric display that reacts to hand gestures made hear the display along with voice commands. That function will certainly be offered in a range of VW models within YEAR, execs said.
The next automobile was even more of a show-stopper. Introduced to historical video clip footage of VW’s renowned Microbus of the ’60s, the BUDD-e is suggested to be a 21st-century variation of the Bus. Although its squared-off features make it appear like a minivan, BUDD-e’s futuristic tech seems excellent. Its flooring mounted batteries give ample indoor space, while a guaranteed 280-mile range makes trip a truth.
When? BUDD-e “could be a reality by the end of the decade,” Diess said.
Diess stated at this CES: “Automated driving will certainly be an everyday function of our life.”
