More Volkswagen vehicles have emissions issues

As it grapples with an ongoing emissions cheating scandal, Volkswagen is “driving cautiously” – financially speaking.

Bosch built key components in the diesel engine used in six Volkswagen models and one Audi model that the automaker has admitted to rigging to defeat emissions tests.

While the problems were first associated with 2.0-liter engines, the EPA announced earlier this month that certain 3.0-liter engines had problems as well.

As a result, VW cars could pass the test – then drive off and release up to 40 times more pollution than legally allowed.

Among the cars affected were the VW Touareg, the Porsche Cayenne and various Audi luxury models, the US Environmental Protection Agency said.

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.

Officials at the German auto giant have said the defeat devices were isolated incidents perpetuated by “rogue” employees in Germany. Audi’s R8 supercar was featured prominently in Avengers: Age of Ultron, which grossed more than $450 million at the USA box office and is the No. 2 movie of 2015.

Participating customers must bring the cards to a Volkswagen dealership, along with the vehicle, a driver’s license and proof of ownership, in order to activate them.

The revelations have sparked investigations in several countries and the company is facing potentially tens of billions of dollars in fines and compensation to vehicle owners.

To date, the regulators are examining the vehicles to determine if the equipment should be regarded as “defeat devices”. It was recently revealed that the gas emissions test scandal came as the result of a mistake made in the manufacturing process that was kept under wraps by Volkswagen engineers. “EPA and CARB will review the proposal”. The company is cooperating with the agencies and wants to continue to have productive conversations with them, she said. It separately soon stopped selling all three-liter diesel-engine models in the US amid discussions with regulators.