VW recalls 3.24 lakh cars in India over emissions scandal

Volkswagen has since responded in a statement saying it will present a solution to the Automotive Research Association of India and the Ministry of Heavy Industries.

A day after the scandal-ridden German auto major Volkswagen group’s Indian arm announced the recall of 3,23,700 cars fitted with emission cheating software, diesel cars manufactured by other companies have also come under the government’s scanner.

In the wake of Volkswagen’s emissions-testing cheating scandal, the company’s USA sales for November dropped by almost 25 percent from this time a year ago.

The revelations have sparked investigations in several countries but they turned out to be only the beginning as Volkswagen also admitted that it also understated carbon emissions, for 800,000 vehicles.

One must note that despite the recall, Volkswagen will continue the production and sales of the cars with EA 189 engines in India.

Before issuing the notice, Chairperson questioned the petitioner how the tribunal could be seen to have jurisdiction to stop the sale of the vehicles allegedly violating emission norms.

Till November end, approximately 323,700 cars of Volkswagen, Skoda and Audi in India were equipped with EA 189 diesel engines.

A rollout schedule has yet to be indicated for affected owners of around 9000 VW, Audi and Skoda vehicles in this country, but VW New Zealand head Tom Ruddenklau is confident a local recall will be completed in that time.

ARAI director Rashmi Urdhwareshe did not respond to phone calls or text messages.

Volkswagen says a “customer-friendly” remedy has been determined for most of the affected vehicles, and the vehicles remain otherwise technically safe and road worthy until the respective technical measures can be implemented. The automaker reportedly wants to add an air filter for the 1.6-liter motors, to avoid more costly changes to engine components.

The EPA discovered that VW had manipulated its diesel engines to mislead emission tests to the effect that certain pollutants met U.S. standards.

“We are requesting the examination from the USA school because the Korean authorities failed to find (the defeat device software in the new engine cars)”. Volkswagen has confirmed that the installed software will not affect the performance, technical safety and roadworthiness of the diesel vehicles.