Audi says 2.1m cars affected by diesel emission scandal

The EPA sent letters to automakers on Friday to warn them that it will take new steps to prevent emissions test cheating.

German weekly newspaper Bild am Sonntag is reporting Bosch was in charge of providing Volkswagen the problematic software, but only for testing purposes.

Some VW cars being sold in America had devices in diesel engines that could detect when they were being tested, changing the performance accordingly to improve results.

The EC, however, added that it also was aware of the need to improve the regulatory framework and that therefore some time ago it proposed modifying the way in which the tests are conducted.

Customers and motor dealers are furious Volkswagen has yet to say which models and construction years are affected, and whether it will have to recall any cars for refits.

In the USA, several lawsuits have already been filed against the automaker. Volkswagen sparked global outrage last week when it admitted that 11 million of its diesel cars are equipped with so-called defeat devices that activate pollution controls during tests but covertly turn them off when the vehicle is on the road.

Mr Mueller’s main goal as CEO will be to lead the group through the crisis unfolding after Volkswagen acknowledged it deliberately evaded standards on emission tests for diesel engines on up to 11 million vehicles.

The Volkswagen emissions rigging scandal is rocking the world’s top selling automaker. The company is also hiring an external investigator, and of course many government agencies have announced investigations.

VW has not revealed whether cars in the United Kingdom are affected but Germany’s transport minister, Alexander Dobrindt, said 2.8 million vehicles in his country have the software.

The company has said it would set aside $7.3 billion (6.5 billion euros) in its third-quarter accounts to help cover the costs of the biggest scandal in its 78-year history, blowing a hole in analysts’ profit forecasts.

“VW needs to be very open about what has happened, how it was possible that this could happen, to make sure that this never happens again in the future”, said a leading Volkswagen shareholder, underlining the importance of the board meeting.

The 62-year-old, who has worked across the VW group for four decades, has conceded the company faces “unprecedented challenges” in overcoming the controversy. Dr. Winfried Vahland (58), formerly Chairman of the Board of Directors at Škoda, who in this new role becomes a member of the Volkswagen brand Board of Management.