German motor vehicle watchdog widens diesel probe to 23 brands

Germany’s diesel pollution probe in the wake of the Volkswagen cheating scandal has found signs of elevated emissions in a few cars, authorities said.

German authorities say automaker Volkswagen will likely need to make more than just software changes to almost a quarter of its 2.4 million diesel cars being recalled in the country. A few 11 million vehicles are fitted with the software worldwide.

The KBA’s findings seem to echo the conclusions of various campaign groups, which have long argued that cars emit far more carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides in the real world than in outdated European laboratory tests.

KBA said the tests were triggered by Volkswagen’s admission that it had rigged such tests but also cited “verified indications from third parties regarding unusual pollutants emissions”. KBA has yet to announce which brands and models are under this investigation.

“On the basis of raw data, a few elevated measurements of nitrogen oxide were made in various driving and environmental conditions”, the Federal Office of Motor Vehicles (KBA) said in a statement. Since late September, two thirds of the review have been completed. Only then would the agency have sufficient grounds for any legal action, it said.