BERLIN (AP) — Former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn denied early knowledge of the company's cheating on diesel emissions as he testified Thursday to a German parliamentary inquiry — his first major public appearance since he resigned in 2015. Winterkorn, flanked by two lawyers, told the panel in an opening statement that "it is not the case" he knew earlier than previously thought of the scandal. Volkswagen installed software on diesel engines that activated pollution controls during tests and switched them off in real-world driving. The software allowed the cars to spew harmful nitrogen oxide at up to 40 times the legal limit.