VW chief apologises over emissions scandal on first US trip

Volkswagen chief executive Matthias Mueller has apologised for cheating diesel car emissions tests on his first official US visit since the scandal broke in September.

"We know we deeply disappointed our customers, the responsible government bodies, and the general public here in America," the head of the German carmaker said at a media reception on the eve of the Detroit auto show.

"I apologise for what went wrong at Volkswagen," he added, promising that the auto giant is "fully committed to making things right.