German carmaker Volkswagen on Wednesday announced it was reinstating chief lobbyist Thomas Steg, following an internal investigation into a series of emissions tests carried out on animals.
In a statement, VW auditors said they found no evidence that Steg had committed any legal misconduct in relation to the tests.
Nevertheless, Steg issued an apology Wednesday, saying he regretted not doing more to prevent the experiments on monkeys. “I was convinced that I acted legally when it came to fulfilling my duties and the terms of my employment,” Steg said. “Still, I wonder whether I could have done more back in the Spring of 2013 to prevent these tests.”
Read more: Car exhaust monkey test backfires on VW, German carmakers
In January, it emerged that a US research laboratory had placed macaque monkeys in airtight chambers and exposed them to diesel exhaust fumes. The tests, which were carried out in 2014, were commissioned by the European Research Group on Environment and Health in the Transport Sector (EUGT) — a now defunct organization founded by…
