The VW scandal broke in September when the company was caught by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency using a so-called “defeat device” created to cheat on emission tests. The company disclosed no details on where the affected vehicles were sold, the brands affected or whether they had diesel or gasoline-powered engines.
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Mis-stating carbon dioxide emissions also implies that fuel consumption data has been unreliable.
The statement also appeared to avoid specifically identifying problems with gasoline engines, instead obliquely noting that “the majority of the vehicles concerned have diesel engines”.
Surprisingly, the automaker has already named a monetary amount representing the financial risk of this latest development: 2 billion euros, which works out to approximately $2.2 billion.
That notice alleges at least 10,000 vehicles in the USA are affected, which include V6 diesel versions of the 2014 VW Touareg, 2015 Porsche Cayenne, and 2016 Audi A6, A7, A8, and Q5.
Investors wiped another 3 billion euros off Volkswagen’s market value on Wednesday after it said it had understated the fuel consumption of a few cars, opening a new front in a scandal that initially centred on rigging emissions tests.
“From the very start I have pushed hard for the relentless and comprehensive clarification of events. For us only one thing counts, and that is the truth”.
In an included statement, Volkswagen CEO Matthias Müller noted that the admission of these subsequent engine investigations is “a painful process, but it is our only alternative”.
In cooperation with the responsible authorities, Volkswagen will do everything in its power to clarify the further course of action as quickly as possible and ensure the correct Carbon dioxide classification for the vehicles affected.
“The Board of Management of Volkswagen AG deeply regrets this situation and wishes to underscore its determination to systematically continue along the present path of clarification and transparency”, Muller added. The company assured customers that the safety of the vehicles in question “is in no way compromised”.
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Earlier this week USA authorities accused VW of fitting defeat devices on its larger 3.0-litre diesel vehicles.
