Germany orders Volkswagen to recall 2.4m cars

German automotive regulator KBA (Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt) on Thursday ordered Volkswagen to recall 2.4 million of its vehicles containing software rigged to outsmart vehicle emissions tests.

“We are going to issue the order”, the spokesman for the KBA or Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt said, adding that “2.4 million vehicles are concerned” and that the authority would monitor the recall.

Volkswagen had said previously there were around 8 million vehicles affected in the EU. Apart from the company’s VW brand, Audi, SEAT and Skoda cars can also be checked.

The Federal Motor Transport Authority in Germany has rejected VW’s proposal for a voluntary recall of the cars, which would have meant that motorists only took their auto in for repairs if they wanted to remove the defeat device.

Dobrindt refrained from publicly criticizing Volkswagen, saying cooperation with the German automaker was “extraordinarily good”.

The European announcement follows a claim from VW’s United Kingdom boss that it is “implausible” and “absolutely inconceivable” that the company deliberately tried to mislead people over its emissions cheating software.

Volkswagen has said it aims to complete a refit of all affected vehicles by the end of 2016, with a few requiring more complex and expensive changes to hardware.

Meanwhile, the EPA has begun examining the software used on 2016 versions of a few diesels that Volkswagen use different software code also aimed at fooling emissions tests. In addition to the costs of recalling so many vehicles, the once-respected automaker now faces billions of euros (dollars) in potential fines and legal costs, not to mention the still incalculable fallout in terms of lost sales and customer trust.

German media reported earlier this week that up to 30 Volkswagen managers were suspended due to the scandal.

Mr Willis said he did not think more revelations would emerge over devices fitted to an estimated 11 million diesel vehicles – including 1.2 million in Britain.

Mueller, the CEO, said in his letter Thursday that a “concerted and reliable approach” by all European Union members would be in the best interest of customers.

The cars are fitted with software that makes their engines produce far fewer toxic emissions in official tests than on the road.