WASHINGTON - Volkswagen's top U.S. executive is expected to face tough questions on Capitol Hill as the emissions-rigging scandal enveloping the world's largest automaker appears to be deepening.
Volkswagen of America CEO Michael Horn is scheduled to testify Thursday before a U.S. House subcommittee investigating last month's admission the company had installed on-board computer software designed to cheat on government emissions tests in nearly a half million of its "clean diesel" cars starting with model year 2009.
An advance copy of Horn's prepared remarks provided to the committee Wednesday revealed VW's plans to withdraw applications seeking U.S. emissions certifications for its 2016 model Jettas, Golfs, Passats and Beetles with diesel engines. That raised questions about whether a so-called "defeat device" similar to that in earlier models is also in the new cars.
