Volkswagen used emission-cheating device: ministry

The company admits that somehow its engineers installed software, called a “defeat device” into the affected vehicles to detect whether they were undergoing an emissions test, which would then turn on the car’s emissions controls in order to pass the test.

In a press release on Wednesday morning, Volkswagen detailed its preliminary plans to fix the emissions of both its 1.6- and 2.0-liter diesel models in Europe.

Hebert’s letter said that, even though the three-litre V6 turbodiesel was designed by Audi, all of Volkswagen’s brands that used it, including Porsche and VW, were responsible, since “they independently certified their products”.

Volkswagen has uncovered yet another software problem affecting its vehicles’ fuel consumption, German media reported Thursday, adding to a massive pollution cheating scandal that has engulfed the auto giant.

The CEO is scheduled to brief the Audi board at a regular meeting on December 3 on the state of negotiations with USA authorities and progress in finding technical fixes for the affected vehicles which include the A6 saloon and the Q5 SUV, company sources said. In Germany, it will recall 2.8 million vehicles.

“Audi, Porsche and VW all independenly certified their products and, therefore, individually responsible for their violations and future recall actions”, it said.

At present South Korea’s Environment Ministry said it had not yet determined whether VW vehicles with the newer EA288 engine (primarily Euro 6 models) had rigged emissions. The recall will begin in January 2016 and is expected spread across the calendar year.

The Environmental Protection Agency and California said Friday the issue affects 85,000 vehicles in the United States, up from an initial estimate of 10,000.

The Environment Ministry’s probe results will likely lead to more lawsuits against Volkswagen.

The Asian peninsula nation has given the Volkswagen the biggest fine it has ever given a vehicle company, fining the company 14.1 billion won ($A1.7m).

South Korea’s move follows mass recall in US and other parts of the globe, as the automaker admitted a defeat device to cover up actual emissions during testing.