Volkswagen said that the objective for the development of the technical measures is to achieve the applicable emission targets in each case without any adverse effects on the engine output, fuel consumption and performance; however, as all model variants first have to be measured, the achievement of these targets can not yet be finally confirmed. In addition, a software update will be performed on this engine.
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Volkswagen and Audi have said repeatedly that the software on the V6 engines is only created to heat the engine to enhance reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions.
The Environmental Protection Agency and California said Friday the issue affects 85,000 vehicles in the United States, up from an initial estimate of 10,000.
An estimated 11 million diesel vehicles are affected, including 1.2 million the UK.
The news widened a scandal at parent VW which has led to the ouster of its long-time chief executive and wiped more than 20 billion euros ($21 billion) off the group’s market value. Huber is acting as interim chair after former VW CEO Martin Winterkorn quit the position earlier this month. The company has suspended the sales of various model in different countries.
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“We fully intend to work on solutions to present to regulators within this window of time”, a spokesman for Audi in the USA said in an email response. Meanwhile Seoul has imposed a $12.31 million fine on the company and ordered Volkswagen Korea to submit a recall plan by January 6, 2016. The vehicles were mostly those sold in South Korea between 2008 and 2015, and included Tiguan, Golf and Beetle models equipped with the EA189 diesel engine. Volkswagen Group’s headquarters said it will give $1,000 gift cards, vouchers and three-year free fix service, known as a “good will package”, to each of the 482,000 owners in North America, but Korea and Europe were excluded from the plan. The newer 2.0-liter engines only require a software update. The clients will get a $500 visa gift card and $500 dealership card.
