The federal Environmental Protection Agency, which is probing the VW emissions scandal with CARB, said last Friday that Audi had told USA regulators that three-liter diesel models since 2009 contain the auxiliary emissions control devices (AECD).
Advertisement
Announcing the results of the tests, the environment ministry also said it was fining the company 14.1 billion won (US$12.3 million).
Based on the approach of the Volkswagen brand, the Group’s other brands – Audi, Seat, Skoda and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles – are also planning corresponding measures for their affected vehicles.
Earlier in the day, the Ministry of Environment said it has confirmed that around 125-thousand diesel vehicles sold by Volkswagen Korea were equipped with faulty emission schemes, ordering a recall of the problematic vehicles.
Seoul made a decision to conduct its own tests on VW vehicles after the German giant admitted in September that it haf installed software in up to 11-million diesel vehicles worldwide that vastly understated their actual emissions of smog-causing nitrogen oxides.
The carmakers have 45 business days to present a recall plan. Volkswagen was not immediately available for comment.
The faulty software manages the recovery of energy, which can be used to recharge auto batteries – an essential component that keeps the vehicle’s lights and air-conditioning or heating running.
In the second week of November, as a goodwill measure, Volkswagen has offered $1000 each to US customers with 2.0 liter diesel engine cars that failed to meet the emission standards.
Volkswagen said it respects the investigation results.
It is still unclear how Volkswagen will fix the affected vehicles in the U.S. The company said the fix approved in Europe isn’t applicable to the U.S. vehicles.
So-called “defeat device” software limits emissions when the vehicle undergoes statutory tests, disguising excessive amounts of the exhaust gas nitrogen oxide under normal driving conditions.
Advertisement
Surprisingly, just 22 per cent of diesel vehicle owners have concerns that their cars will be harder to sell second-hand and only a third believed the second-hand value will be lower than it was before the VW revelations.
