Volkswagen Group had recalled vehicles in India across three brands – Audi, Skoda and Volkswagen – after a government-ordered probe found the group using diesel engines equipped with a defeat device that helps cheat emission tests.
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On continued sales of vehicles powered by the EA189 engines, VW said: “Based on the current situation, Volkswagen Group India will continue the production and sales of the cars with EA 189 engines in India”.
When asked if the government would take any punitive action against Volkswagen, Ambuj Sharma told ET: “We are asking MoRTH (ministry of road transport and highways) to do it, because under the Motor Vehicles Act and Rules there is a set procedure for that”. Also, the Indian authorities sent to Volkswagen a notice last month, after an investigation made by the Automotive Research Association of India revealed discrepancies between on-road tests and those unrealistically official figures.
ARAI director Rashmi Urdhwareshe did not respond to phone calls or text messages.
“The 2.0-litre engines will get a software update”.
In addition to its observations, findings and outlines of possible solutions on the EA 189 engines to the Government of India and ARAI, Volkswagen Group India has also presented its reasons for why it believes that its cars are not equipped with the infamous “defeat device”.
All the owners of vehicles with EA 189 engines will be informed by Volkswagen Group India through the respective brands about the technical measures that will be implemented in their cars. In September, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found the company guilty of installing illegal software in its diesel engines.
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Matthias Müller, the new chief executive officer of Volkswagen AG, said the company will start a global recall of affected vehicles in January, and the process will be completed by 2016-end. The 1.5-litre and 1.6-litre diesel engines will go through certain hardware tweaks. The existing software does not affect the handling, technical safety or the roadworthiness of the vehicle. Volkswagen sold 26,479 cars in India in first third quarters of the year, having a 1.7 percent market share and being on the 8th spot in the country, according to data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers. Volkswagen’s November U.S. sales crashed 25% from the previous year, as the company struggles to fix its tarnished reputation and brand image. “All technical measures will be implemented as soon as they are available”.
