Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn Resigns Over Emissions Scandal

Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn has resigned after it emerged the company deliberately equipped 11 million of its diesel-engined models with a device to cheat emissions testing, however the 68 year-old industry veteran maintained his innocence in the matter.

"As CEO I accept responsibility for the irregularities that have been found in diesel engines and have therefore requested the Supervisory Board to agree on terminating my function as CEO of the Volkswagen Group," Winterkorn said in a statement released overnight.

"I am doing this in the interests of the company even though I am not aware of any wrong doing on my part."

Winterkorn's departure had been predicted by many after it became apparent Volkswagen knew of the emissions-cheating software, which was fitted to vehicles equipped with the automaker's EA189 2.0 litre four-cylinder diesel engine.

The software, uncovered by the United States Environmenal Protection Agency, allowed cars fitted with that engine to detect when an emissions test was taking place and adjust its tune accordingly to pass it. 

The method used was simple, yet ingenious.

During an typical emissions test a car is run up to various speeds on a dynamometer, or rolling road. The wheels turn, but the steering wheel remains still. That was the system's signal to activate its emissions-friendly tune.

However when the steering wheel was in motion - like when the car is being driven on the road - the defeat device would deactivate, allowing emissions of harmful gasses, principally nitrogen oxide, to skyrocket by as much as 40 times the claimed value.

Dieselgate