Audi had initially denied that the 3.0-liter diesel engines, offered in a number of models in North America, contained any kind of software that acted as a “defeat device”, but had nevertheless halted sales of new and used models that feature that engine.
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“We continue to fully cooperate with EPA and CARB (California Air Resources Board) as we work to develop an approved remedy as quickly as possible”, VW said in a statement late Friday.
The German premium vehicle brand, which is part of the Volkswagen Group, was responding to a notice of violation (NOV) issued by the US Environmental Protection Agency on November 2.
The engine is used on diesel versions of the Audi A6, A7, A8, Q5 and Q7 starting in the 2009 model year.
Volkswagen and Audi executives have now told EPA officials that more cars contain the defeat devices that surpass emission limits on Thursday.
Now it includes all Volkswagen and Audi U.S. vehicles with 3-liter diesel engines from the 2009 to 2016 model years, the regulators said. For most of the cars, VW can either alter the exhaust system (cutting performance and gas mileage) or install a chemical treatment process (requiring multiple hardware changes).
CEO Michael Mueller said the German car-maker will cancel or postpone investments that aren’t “absolutely necessary” to help it cover the costs of recalling and repairing millions of vehicles that emit too much pollution because of illegal software that turns off emissions controls.
The Volkswagen emission scandal never seems to stop growing.
VW made the disclosure on the day it was meeting with the agencies about how it plans to fix 482,000 four-cylinder diesel cars equipped with emissions-cheating software.
While the problems were first associated with 2.0-liter engines, the EPA announced earlier this month that certain 3.0-liter engines had problems as well.
The diesel scandal has affected more than 11 million cars worldwide with the 2.0 litre diesel engine.
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The revelations have sparked investigations in several countries and the company is facing potentially tens of billions of dollars in fines and compensation to vehicle owners.
