Cars in India not equipped with defeat device, meet norms: VW

More and more countries are putting pressure on Volkswagen to recall and fix the cars fitted with the illegal software.

On continued sales of vehicles powered by the EA189 engines, VW said: “Based on the current situation, Volkswagen Group India will continue the production and sales of the cars with EA 189 engines in India”. In the 1.5-litre and 1.6-litre engines, a “flow transformer” will be fitted in front of the air mass sensor.

The company will have to recall cars belonging to its own brand along with Skoda and Audi brands across the country that are equipped with EA 189 engines. In September, the company stopped sales of its 2.0 litre diesel engines, followed by a halt in sales of its 3.0 litre diesel units in November – both of which contained the controversial “defeat devices”.

The emission scandal has taken a toll on Volkswagen, which previously said will cut up to €1bn next year to cover the costs of the recalled vehicles.

In a statement, VW Group India said it had presented recall details of cars with EA 189 diesel engines to the Ministry of Heavy Industries and ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India). The existing installed software does not affect the handling, technical safety or roadworthiness of the cars.

“Once approved from the competent authorities, the respective brands of the Volkswagen Group in India will carry out necessary actions in a step-wise manner”, it said.

I am, of course, talking about the huge skid in overall sales the brand saw in the US last month.

Volkswagen Group India remains fully committed to the Indian market and will not deviate from its future planned investments, product plans and launches.

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

A government probe, conducted by ARAI, found a “defeat device” in the engines. They welcomed the heavy industry ministry’s move to revalidate diesel passenger cars for emission standards, saying that it would bolster consumer confidence.

As per the records of Volkswagen Group India, from 2008 to November-end, approximately 198,500 cars from Volkswagen, 88,700 cars from Skoda and 36,500 cars from Audi sold in India were equipped with the EA 189 engine series.

Several countries around the world and Europe had started independent inquiries to find out whether the fudging practice also took place there.