South Korea said it had ordered Volkswagen to recall 125,500 diesel vehicles, after tests confirmed the German automaker had faked emissions results from the cars’ engines.
Advertisement
Volkswagen was not immediately available for comment.
Those companies to be included in the investigation include top names like BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, Volvo, Peugeot and Ford, as well as South Korea’s Hyundai Motor and its sister company Kia Motors. Audi, the company that manufactured the engines found on VW and Porsche vehicles, aims to work closely with the regulatory board to see the issues resolved as soon as possible, Ruegheimer noted.
In its statement today, Audi said that it failed to disclose three emissions control software functions, known as auxiliary emissions control devices, to the agencies as required by us law. The giant auto manufacturer has already admitted that it installed defeat devices in 11 million diesel cars all over the world.
“While motorists are not oblivious to the harmful effects of diesel emissions, they are – perhaps understandably – far more concerned about fuel economy because of the impact that this has on household finances”.
Volkswagen will not lower planned provisions of €6.7bn for the costs of its diesel emissions scandal, although the technical fix for 8.5 million cars in Europe have turned out to be simpler than expected.
“It sits largely at odds with their (VW Australia’s) apology and the public PR position of contrition and doing everything they can to do the right thing by the customers”, class actions principal at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, Jason Geisker said outside court.
In U.S. alone, Volkswagen has plans to recall around 75,000 diesel vehicles. But country’s regulators will not limit the investigation only to Volkswagen, 15 other automakers will be also tested by April next year to check if their diesel engine models are complying with the emission standards.
But Volkswagen subsequently revealed that beyond the nitrogen oxide scam, it had also understated carbon dioxide emissions of 800,000 vehicles, including petrol cars.
Advertisement
Volkswagen has been given until December 17 to decide whether it will pay any compensation.
