大众汽车首席执行官辞职

AS IT IS 2015-09-25 Volkswagen Chief Resigns Over Pollution Cheat 大众汽车首席执行官辞职

The German carmaker Volkswagen is facing investigations² and fines for a computer software problem in millions of its vehicles. The head of the Volkswagen Group, Martin Winterkorn, resigned over the issue this week.

In a statement, Mr. Winterkorn took responsibility for what he called “irregularities” found in diesel³ engines. He added that he was “not aware of any wrongdoing.”

Earlier, the United States said Volkswagen secretly equipped eight popular models of vehicles with the software. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said the software could recognize when emissions⁴ tests were being performed. The software turned on pollution controls during the tests, but disabled the controls when the car was being driven.

In a statement, the EPA said that 482,000 diesel-fueled passenger cars sold in the United States since 2008 were affected⁵. Volkswagen had advertised the affected models as being better for the environment. The Justice Department announced on Monday that it plans a criminal investigation¹ of the case.

Volkswagen says 11 million vehicles worldwide had the software. On Tuesday, a French official called for a European investigation into vehicle emissions, after the company admitted to cheating on U.S. emissions tests. Finance⁶ Minister Michel Sapin said on French radio that French-made cars should also be tested. But he said he had no reason to suspect French carmakers of wrongdoing.

South Korea also said it will investigate Volkswagen’s actions. South Korean officials called company representatives to Seoul to discuss the issue.

Volkswagen announced on Tuesday that it is putting aside about $7.3 billion to pay for changing the software and other costs. The company said in hopes to win "back the trust of our customers." Volkswagen said it is working intensely to solve the problem.

The Volkswagen Group is based in Wolfsburg, Germany. The company produces a number of car brands, including Audi and Porsche.

Earlier this year, Volkswagen surpassed⁷ Toyota as the world’s biggest carmaker. Shares of Volkswagen stock dropped sharply⁸ on Monday on news of the company’s problems.

German Chancellor⁹ Angela Merkel called the issue “difficult.” She urged the company to explain its action fully¹⁰.

Words in This Story

Irregularities –n. the quality or state of being irregular; not usual or proper

Equip –v. to provide with a particular feature or ability

Emissions –n. something sent out or given off

1 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

2 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

3 diesel   

n.柴油发动机，内燃机

参考例句：

• We experimented with diesel engines to drive the pumps.我们试着用柴油机来带动水泵。
• My tractor operates on diesel oil.我的那台拖拉机用柴油开动。

4 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

6 finance   

n.财务管理，财政，金融，财源，资金

参考例句：

• She is an expert in finance.她是一名财政专家。
• A finance house made a bid to buy up the entire company.一家信贷公司出价买下了整个公司。

7 surpassed   

v.超过( surpass的过去式和过去分词 )；优于；多于；非…所能办到

参考例句：

• This realization of our dreams surpassed even our wildest expectations. 我们梦想的实现甚至超越了我们最大胆的估计。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Mao's fame surpassed well beyond the limits of China. 毛泽东的名声远远超越了中国国界。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 sharply   

adj.锐利地，急速；adv.严厉地，鲜明地

参考例句：

• The plane dived sharply and rose again.飞机猛然俯冲而后又拉了起来。
• Demand for personal computers has risen sharply.对个人电脑的需求急剧增长。

9 chancellor   

n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长

参考例句：

• They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
• He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。

10 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。