LAS VEGAS—Volkswagen's new Chief Executive of passenger vehicles, Herbert Diess, wasn't beating around the bush when he took the stage at CES on Tuesday evening to show off the company's new electric car concept.
In fact, an apology for the company's recent and ongoing emissions scandal was one of the first things out of his mouth. "We disappointed our customers and the American people for which I am truly sorry," Diess said. "I assure you we are doing everything we can to make things right, and we are working night and day to find effective technical remedies for our customers."
He reiterated the company's previous admission that 11 million of its diesel cars (including 600,000 in the U.S.) are equipped with sophisticated software that can bypass inspections. This causes emissions to exceed EPA's standards, resulting in harmful air pollution, according to the U.S. DOJ, which sued VW over the issue this week.
Diess said VW has already worked out approved solutions for the "large majority" of affected cars in Europe, where it will start to repair efforts this month. In the U.S., meanwhile, the company is still working with the Environmental Protection Agency on a solution to bring affected vehicles in compliance.
"Our most important task in 2106 is to solve the current diesel issue," Diess said. "Here in the U.S., we are working hard to do so, and are confident we will provide a good approved solution for our customers very soon."
BUDD-e Concept
In an attempt to remind attendees why they first fell in love with VW, he then flashed a photo of an old-school WV bus on screen and calling the vintage van "the first social vehicle."
"We will continue this vein but a lot more high tech," he said. "We want to make people happy with our cars."
That includes a modern WV bus. Dubbed the BUDD-e, the all-electric concept van is "truly social," letting passengers merge videos, music, and other content from their personal devices on a large central screen so everyone can enjoy it.
"They experience the journey as a group instead of everyone staring at their own devices," Diess said.
Specifically developed for long-range rides, the BUDD-e could get 233 miles on a charge, VW said, and can be charged to 80 percent in 30 minutes. And besides diesel, the WV bus of the future is slated to lose another key feature – door handles, which Diess said are "so 2016." Instead, the car would, theoretically, recognize you and let you open the door via voice commands or simple hand gestures.
"This is what WV electric cars will look like in the future," Diess said.
In October, Volkswagen said it will focus more heavily on electric vehicles in the future. Among the vehicles getting an electric overhaul is the Phaeton. "The specification features a pure electric drive with long-distance capability, connectivity and next-generation assistance systems as well as an emotional design," Volkswagen said.