Volkswagen says 1.2 million United Kingdom cars involved in emissions scandal

Volkswagen recently admitted that 11 million of its diesel vehicles worldwide were fitted with cheat device software which conned testers into believing their vehicles met environmental standards. A spokesman wrote in a statement: “In a first step, the customers affected will be informed that the emissions characteristics of their vehicles will be corrected in the near future”. Owners will be contacted after the company has issued licence plate details to retailers. Volkswagen Ireland said it was still working to establish the exact number affected here and the breakdown between the brands. It also announced the launch of national websites for those brands affected to keep its customers up to date. “The inconceivable misconduct that has come to light in Volkswagen over the past days pains me and angers me immensely”, Mueller said. However it is not yet known whether vehicles in South Africa will be recalled.

11 million diesel vehicles contain this “cheating” software, reported U.S. News and World Report.

Audi said their vehicle count is 2.1 million and Skoda totaled 1.2 million.

Volkswagen insisted that its vehicles are “technically safe and roadworthy”.

Independent vehicle dealerships sued VW in California on September 24 over losses they said they would incur following the company’s admission.

Spanish subsidiary SEAT said it fitted 700,000 vehicles with the EA 189 diesel engines in which Volkswagen has said there are “discrepancies”.

EPA VW engineers deliberately used a defeat device to make its diesel engines pass emissions tests.

The German transport ministry has said the company manipulated tests in Europe too and regulators across Europe and in parts of Asia and central America are investigating, though none have so far estimated likely penalties. Recently resigned Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn is under investigation by German prosecutors.

Analysts have projected that the refitting of the affected vehicles may cost the company an additional $6.5 billion.