We knew this day would come.From the moment the news broke last month that Volkswagen had rigged nearly half a million vehicles to pass U.S. emissions tests,it was clear that one day, a VW executive would have to testify in front of a congressional panel and try to explain the company's actions.Today, that executive was Volkswagen of America's CEO, Michael Horn.NPR's Yuki Noguchi reports.It's a scene now familiar to many executives at companies embroiled in scandal ― the barrage of cameras and lawmakers' questions.What did he know, and when did he know it?In this case, members of the House Oversight and Investigations subcommittee questioned whether Horn knew that VW was cheating on diesel emissions tests a year and a half agowhen a university research report first surfaced showing problems.Horn says he did not.At that point of time, I had no understanding what a defeat device was, and I had no indication whatsoever that a defeat device could've been in our cars.Horn repeatedly insisted he only found out in early September, two weeks before the general public,that his employer deliberately installed the software system to hoodwink regulators.Horn was contrite and unflinching, admitting that fixing and paying for the subterfuge would be complex and massively expensive.He said a common fix might involve installation of urea tanks to clean emissions.Diana DeGette, a Democrat of Colorado, wondered how long that might drag out.Those cars don't have the urea tank right now.
