Volkswagen‘s supervisory board called an instant inquiry into who commissioned tests where monkeys were exposed to harmful diesel fumes, while the German government stated such studies were unjustifiable.
“I will do whatever possible to make sure that this matter is investigated in detail,” Volkswagen supervisory board Chairman Hans Dieter Poetsch stated.
“Whoever is accountable for this must of course be held accountable,” Poetsch stated in response to a New York Times report on Friday that German automakers had used an organization called European Research Group on Environment and Health in the Transport Sector (EUGT) to commission the tests.
The study, carried out in 2014, was developed to safeguard diesel following discoveries that the fuel’s exhaust fumes were carcinogenic, the newspaper reported.
Reuters could not instantly confirm the information and purpose of the study and EUGT, which was dissolved in 2017.
EUGT received all its financing from VW and fellow German carmakers Daimler and BMW, the New York Times stated.
The European Commission understands reports of third-party testing and “we hope that the Minister of the respective nation will be able to explain what has actually taken place” at a ministerial air-quality summit, a spokeswoman for the European Commission stated.
Agents of automakers General Motors, Ford Motor and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV said on Monday they do not test the effects of emissions on human beings or animals.
