According to the RAC, just 24 per cent of United Kingdom motorists said they were concerned about emissions before Volkswagen’s test-cheating admissions – the number has since doubled to 43 per cent in light of the scandal.
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Despite publicly admitting to installing dodgy devices on millions of cars, German auto giant Volkswagen, whose subsidiary includes Audi, still hasn’t advised its local operators what it will admit to following an emissions scam that engulfed the companies globally, the Federal Court heard on Thursday. The investigation of Audi adds another layer of uncertainty, however.
Asked by Donaukurier about potential personal consequences, the 52-year-old said: “What’s at stake now is (to find out) the truth and I will not rest until everything is on the table”.
“And then they said, “We have to assume that in the USA part of the software that controls the [engine] heating function can probably be considered a defeat device”.
“The court made it very clear that it wants some explanation as to the position of the defendants on the allegations made against Volkswagen and Audi”, he said.
An official of the Land Ministry said that it will first look at the data documenting the Environment Ministry’s investigation of the Volkswagen vehicles, including Tiguan Euro 5, by the middle of next month.
The tests are scheduled to be completed by the end of April next year. The larger engine is used in the Audi A6, A7 and A8 sedans; Q5 and Q7 sport utility vehicles; and the Porsche Cayenne and VW Touareg SUVs.
California air quality regulators on Wednesday demanded a recall of up to 16,000 additional Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche diesels as the Volkswagen emissions scandal widened. Volkswagen needs to submit the recall plan of the affected vehicles within 45 business days. The company said in later meetings with CARB that the software in question may be a defeat device under US law. “We take this very seriously and treat responses to the agencies as a solemn responsibility”.
No individuals have so far been charged with wrongdoing in the investigations.
Volkswagen has officially announced “the next step” in reigning in the emissions from its offending EA189 engines caught up in the “dieselgate” emissions scandal.
It also fined the German carmaker a total of 14.1 billion won (US$12.3 million).
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Thursday’s disclosure puts pressure on Mr. Stadler, a veteran Volkswagen executive.
