Former BP boss Lord Browne has weighed in on the Volkswagen scandal.
The seasoned company leader, who was at the helm of BP during its Texas refinery scandal, said the car company would overcome the emissions scandal.
Speaking to The Observer, Lord Browne said: “VW could have a faster recovery than somebody else.
“VW’s reputation for affordable quality will stand it in good stead, so will the speed with which it has apologised and promised to put things right.”
The German car maker admitted last week that it used special software to fool US emissions tests for its diesel vehicles. Some 11 million VW diesel cars built since 2008 are affected by the scandal.
Germany’s car regulators have since given Volkswagen 10 days to draw up a new emissions plan.
The Federal Motor Transport Authority has asked the crisis-stricken car company to submit a plan by Oct 7 for if and when its fleet will meet national emissions requirements.
The request for a “binding” programme comes after the VW chief executive Martin Winterkorn stepped down in the wake of the scandal.
Former Porsche boss Matthias Mueller has since taken over the leadership role.
The new leader has already pressed the VW board to agree to a company reorganisation.
It’s thought VW could have known as early at 2007 that software at the centre of the test-cheating scandal was illegal.
VW has since launched its own internal investigation.
Lord Browne’s remarks are timely.
The former BP chief executive has just released a book, Connect, which examines how companies weather a reputational storm.
He speaks from experience.
Five years after finding himself at the centre of the Texas City refinery exploration, which killed 15 and injured more than 170, Lord Browne watched as his former company battled its greatest reputation challenge to date.
“I was in Fort Worth to see Before the Night Falls, an opera about Aids and destitution,” he said.
“But I was also watching in real time the oil pouring out into the Gulf of Mexico.
“I knew everybody that was on the television screen speaking about it. It was real workout of me, though nothing like what it must have been for those involved or those who died.
“I kept thinking, how big is this going to be, what is going on?
“BP was scrambling a lot.”
In his latest book, Lord Browne breaks down the crises which have spent the most time in the headlines.
“People tend to treat companies as they do other human beings,” he said.
“If we trust someone and believe them to be of good character we are likely to forgive them when they make a mistake.”
As for BP’s chances at public perception recovery.
Lord Browne added: “It’s too early to tell.
“It’s taken a very long time to sort out he legal side, and the group hasn’t yet been able to do what other companies might have been able to do.”
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