Volkswagen admits 11m vehicles in emission scandal

Volkswagen has admitted 11 million vehicles worldwide are fitted with software to cheat emissions tests.
The company's reputation has taken a hammering. Picture: GettyThe company's reputation has taken a hammering. Picture: Getty
The company's reputation has taken a hammering. Picture: Getty

The German car-maker is facing deepening scrutiny after being forced to admit it cheated on the tests for nearly 500,000 vehicles.

VW boss Martin Winterkorn said he was “endlessly sorry” over the scandal which has prompted questions about his future. The firm’s US chief Michael Horn reportedly said: “We have totally screwed up.”

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The US findings covered 482,000 cars built in the last seven years including the Audi A3, VW Jetta, Beetle, Golf and Passat models.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States said that cars had been fitted with sophisticated software to switch engines to a cleaner mode when they were undergoing official emissions testing.

This is a type of software known as a “defeat device”.

Once on the road, the cars produced nitrogen oxide pollutants at up to 40 times the legal standard.

Volkswagen now faces the cost of recalling millions of vehicles as well as a fine of up to 18 billion US dollars (£11.6 billion) in the US.

Authorities across the world have launched further probes and UK Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has written to the European Commission to call for an immediate investigation.

He wrote: “Like the UK, I am sure the commission is keen to reassure drivers and use this moment to demonstrate the European engine-testing regime is robust.

“I am writing to seek your assurances the European Commission will investigate this matter thoroughly and take appropriate action to avoid a reoccurrence.” Volkswagen announced that it was “working at full speed to clarify irregularities concerning a particular software used in diesel engines” and had uncovered “discrepancies . . . involving some 11 million vehicles worldwide”.

The manufacturer said the issue related to “type EA 189” engines.

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It said: “A noticeable deviation between bench test results and actual road use was established solely for this type of engine.”

The company said it was “working intensely to eliminate these deviations through technical measures” with German and other authorities.

It added: “To cover the necessary service measures and other efforts to win back the trust of our customers, Volkswagen plans to set aside a provision of some 6.5 billion euros (£4.7 billion) recognised in the profit and loss statement in the third quarter.”

Brussels-based campaign group Transport and Environment claimed the technology used in VW’s cars was also utilised by other manufacturers, meaning millions of vehicles in the UK might have to be 
recalled.

But the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders insisted there was no evidence manufacturers in the UK had attempted to mislead emission testers.

Shares in the company, down 19 per cent on Monday, fell by a further 18 per cent.