In those test, emissions from a BMW X5 sports utility vehicle matched or came in under what the vehicle produced in laboratory tests, the researchers said they found. But two Volkswagen models, a Jetta and a Passat, far exceeded emissions levels from lab testing.
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While there was no indication that BMW had cheated in pollution tests – suggestions it hotly denied – the report nevertheless shook investors.
Signs seem to show that other manufacturers faked their diesel emission tests as well, the first one in the crosshair right now being BMW.Unfortunately for the Munich-based manufacturer, a German magazine is claiming that their xDrive20d X3 model has the same issues as the cars from Volkswagen involved in the Dieselgate scandal. “We do not use any software that can influence emissions in a test cycle”. Volkswagen said up to 11 million diesel cars were affected by the software.
“We are not familiar with the test results mentioned by Auto Bild on 24 September concerning the emissions of a BMW X3 during a road test”, BMW said.
Discussing the scandal that’s now been dubbed “dieselgate”, European Commission spokeswoman Lucia Caudet says, “We need to have the full picture whether and how many vehicles certified in the EU were equipped with defeat devices”.
If you haven’t already heard (sarcasm), #Dieselgate is one of the biggest scandals to ever hit the auto industry, after Volkswagen Group was found cheating EPA emission tests.
“In other words, our exhaust treatment systems are active whether rolling on the test bench or driving on the road”, BMW said. “Volkswagen needs a fresh start – also in terms of personnel”.
However, Volkswagen shares – which had closed up 5.2 per cent on Wednesday – advanced 1.3 per cent as investors welcomed the resignation of CEO Martin Winterkorn as a sign the company was taking steps to tackle the problem.
The crisis that ignited in the U.S. when the environmental watchdog said 482,000 diesel-powered VW cars sold there broke emissions controls limits – opening up the company to multi-billion-dollar fines – has now spread across the Atlantic.
It now needs a chief executive to steer it through the hard terrain ahead.
The global empire owns brands such as SEAT in Spain, Skoda in the Czech Republic, Audi and Porsche in Germany, Lamborghini in Italy and Bentley in Britain.
Three men appear to have emerged as candidates.
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Volkswagen, which is at the heart of the probe and has lost about €20 billion in market value since Monday, recovered some of its losses, rising as much as 7.8 per cent. BWM said there had been no manipulation and it was unaware of tests cited by the German magazine.
