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Today Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn resigned today, following a scandal that broke late last week over emissions testing. His statement published online reads:

The scandal concerned vehicle emissions. While Volkswagen promised “clean diesel,” several models of Golf, Jetta, Beetles, and Audis produced between 2009 and 2015 included software that kicked in during emissions testing to produce results up to EPA standards, then allowed 40 times the EPA limit of NOx from diesel when the cars were finished with testing and on the roads. Up to 11 million Volkswagens had this cheating mechanism installed, and the company has set aside over $7 billion for damages. Cheaters who get away with it undermine real technological innovations that could both deliver performance and meet emissions standards. With Volkswagen’s CEO stepping down, it’s the first step in a likely long process of accountability. It probably won’t be the last.

Kelsey D. Atherton
Kelsey D. Atherton

Kelsey D. Atherton is a military technology journalist who has contributed to Popular Science since 2013. He covers uncrewed robotics and other drones, communications systems, the nuclear enterprise, and the technologies that go into planning, waging, and mitigating war.

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