Volkswagen Group India announced Tuesday that it would voluntarily recall all of its cars on the Indian market equipped with emissions-cheating technology. After meeting with the Government of India and ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India), Volkswagen clarified its position about the cheating accusations, the outcome and the way forward on the EA 189 diesel engine topic.
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A government probe found diesel engines fitted with 1.2-litre, 1.5-litre, 1.6-litre, and 2.0-litre EA 189 cheating emission tests. Volkswagen has already submitted solutions for the three affected diesel engines to the German automotive regulator and the fixes have made a “positive” impression, Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt said in a statement. “All technical measures will be implemented as soon as they are available”.
The company will have to recall cars belonging to its own brand along with Skoda and Audi brands across the country that are equipped with EA 189 engines.
It was first revealed in September that VW had given some of its cars software that lets them emit less pollutants in tests than on the roads. The company is still working out the remedy for the 1.2-litre motor. “Once approved from the competent authorities, the respective brands of the Volkswagen Group in India will carry out necessary actions in a step-wise manner”.
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 company] will not deviate from its future planned investments, product plans and launches”, the statement added.
Analysts estimated that industrywide sales increased 2 percent during November to more than 1.3 million vehicles.
The figures come in the wake of an emissions scandal in which the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice to VW Group for violation of the Clean Air Act. The ARAI has been authorised by the central government to conduct an investigation into the matter.
In India, passenger vehicles comply with Euro-IV norms even when the suitable fuel is only available in the top 50 cities.
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The software caused the vehicles’ nitrogen oxide output to meet USA standards during regulatory testing, but actually produced up to 40 times higher emissions on the road.
