The German KBA has approved the proposed software fix for the 2-litre diesel engine and has given a general approval for software and hardware fixes proposed for the 1.6-liter diesel engine.
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Mueller says “for about 90 per cent of the group’s vehicles in Europe the solutions are confirmed”. Europe is chiefly affected by the cheating software with a recall planned for as many as 8.5 million vehicles. He didnt elaborate on the cost of expected regulatory fines and lawsuits in the USA and Europe.
Our assumption that substantive changes to the motor would be necessary have not come true, Mueller said in the speech. Though Volkswagen has generally tried to place the blame for its own cheating on a small number of rogue actors inside the company, the incentive to cheat seems to have been strong: engineers were able to accurately program engine software to identify official emissions tests, helping the company advertise stronger fuel economy – a key sales driver – while still meeting requirements.
Starting the European recall would be a step forward in resolving the crisis that’s engulfed Volkswagen since becoming public on September 18.
And the US negotiations on larger cars could close a new front that opened up in the probe just last week.
Volkswagen told the EPA and the California Air Resources Board the software is on about 85,000 Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche vehicles with 3-liter engines going back to the 2009 model year. VW had rejected the initial claims, straining its relations with the regulators.
VW’s flagship luxury division said it failed to properly disclose the use of three AECDs, adding one which is created to adjust the working temperature of catalytic converters is viewed as a defeat device by US authorities.
Clearing up the emissions scandal “will still take several months”, the CEO said in the text of a speech to managers seen by Reuters, though VW plans to publish intermediate results of the investigation next month. Ultimately, he plans to present a new strategy by mid-2016.
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“We’re driving cautiously over the coming months, but we know where we want to go and we want to ensure that the Volkswagen company comes out of the current situation strengthened”, Mueller said in a statement.
