The German government opened an investigation into Volkswagen after revelations that it cheated on emissions rules in the U.S., as Chancellor Angela Merkel pressed the carmaker to come clean.
The German government said on Monday that automakers will be expected to pass on relevant information to the Federal Motor Transport Authority so that it can assess whether emissions data may have been falsified in Germany and other European countries.
Allegations that VW hoodwinked U.S. regulators prompted a cross-party outcry over the potential damage to Europe’s largest economy and the reputation of German products. The carmaker said Tuesday that 11 million vehicles were equipped with the diesel engines in question in the U.S.
The German ministry’s investigation will seek to find out whether Volkswagen conformed to European and German standards. The investigators will procure documents and interview company executives. It is underlined that there are no indications that other German carmakers engaged in similar wrongdoing.
