Volkswagen manipulated the carbon dioxide emission levels of more gas-powered vehicles than previously disclosed, a spokesman for the carmaker said Monday. The proposal isn’t as complex or expensive as Volkswagen initially feared and could be used across Europe if it’s approved in Germany, the person said.
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While US recalls of diesel cars fitted with “defeat device” software still haven’t been announced, Volkswagen has begun the process of trying to market its way out of the current emissions scandal. CEO Martin Winterkorn resigned, but his replacement, Matthias Mueller, is a longtime company employee, as is the board chairman, Hans Dieter Poetsch.
ICCT said in a statement that it “was never informed by anyone about possible cheating on vehicle emissions tests”. He also added that “sale drop was already expected by Volkswagen and they were passing through a worst time in the history of the company”.
“We will overcome this crisis, and Volkswagen will emerge stronger from the situation”, works council chief Bernd Osterloh told newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung on Saturday.
Volkswagen is the one of the biggest automaker in Europe. That’s probably because repairing those cars will require not just a software upgrade, but also the installation of mechanical devices.
Initially, when VW admitted they’d faked the emissions and economy of up to 800,0000 cars, they pointed the finger at just the 1.4 litre cylinder on demand engine in the Polo.
The revelations of cheating on NOx emissions involving a few 11 million cars have sparked investigations in several countries.
Volkswagen’s global auto sales plunged 5.3% in October, after it admitted rigging pollution tests on millions of its vehicles.
The company is under pressure to speed up its reaction to the scandal. Audi has only one model affected, the A1 supermini. The program is aimed at owners of vehicles affected by the scandal and offers a $500 prepaid Visa card that can be used for any purchases, and a separate $500 “dealership card” that can be used for purchases at VW dealerships.
The legal proceedings have been filed before Castlebar District Court by the owner of a 2013 Skoda Superb, who is bringing the case against the local dealer, Monaghan and Sons (Castlebar) Ltd, VW Group Ireland, and ultimate parent firm Volkswagen AG.
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The fraud became public last September, after the ICCT notified USA authorities that there was something fishy about the test results of Volkswagen.
