Germany: Gabriel visits Volkswagen HQ in support of employees

German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel joined a team of German prosecutors in the Volkswagen Headquarters in Wolfsburg in their search for any connection or evidence in relation to the emissions scandal, Thursday. Gabriel has travelled to the hometown of VW to offer support to the company's employees and is advising the company to be aggressive in its efforts to clear up the emissions scandal. "I think it is very important to set something straight, that the employees shouldn't be the ones who have to pay in the end for this massively criminal behaviour of some managers," he said, adding that it is "important to defend the honour of the employees, repairmen, engineers, technicians." The emissions scandal involving around 11 million vehicles erupted after US car emission tests. Some experts are estimating that the whole incident could cost the car giant a total of around $18 billion (€16 billion).