That means the automaker may be looking at a recall affecting 8.5 million vehicles, which would make it one of the biggest recalls in Europe’s history.
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“Car buyers were initially perplexed and asking themselves what was going on, but all indications are that there hasn’t been a steep drop-off in VW sales”, said Filippo Pavan Bernacchi, chairman of Italian dealer organization Federauto. In addition, all of the vehicles affected remain technically safe and roadworthy.
Volkswagen admitted that 11 million vehicles worldwide could have been fitted with software (now nicknamed “Defeat Devise”) that misled regulators.
Earlier, the German authorities tightened the screws on the embattled carmaker, saying it would monitor the large-scale recall across the country in order to ensure that it is indeed carried out.
The recall applies to 1,946 Tiguan sport utility vehicles and four Passat B6 sedans, all of them imported, the company said on Monday.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images The 2.0 turbodiesel engine of a 2014 Volkswagen Passat passenger vehicle affected by the Volkswagen diesel emissions software scandal stands illuminated under coloured lights on October 6, 2015 in Berlin, Germany.
A few analysts have said the scandal could cost Volkswagen as much as €35 billion ($40 billion) to cover vehicle refits, regulatory fines and lawsuits.
The New York Times also reported that Volkswagen still didn’t say how they plan to fix the affected vehicles, but German authorities have already set a deadline. The Volkswagen scandal has spawned investigations around the world, including a United States congressional probe that is expected to press for details of the German automaker’s actions but also examine how the EPA missed the cheating strategy for years, according to aides.
None of these models have the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) urea-injection system that all other manufacturers use to comply with US emissions standards in force since 2008.
A previous survey by Which? of over 2,000 motorists who own a VW diesel manufactured between 2008-15 showed that 90% think they should get compensation.
The ACEA report comes just a day after the carmaker outlined plans to recall 8.5 million of its affected vehicles in the EU.
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Mueller said last week that the recall would begin in January and take the rest of the year to complete, angering groups such as environmental campaigners Greenpeace for taking too long.
