Germany orders recall of 8.5 million emissions-cheating Volkwagens

Volkswagen (VW) failed to keep pace with European competitors as the German vehicle maker’s market share slipped last month in the wake of the diesel-emissions test scandal.

This week, Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), approved a timetable and proposed fixes submitted by VW, allowing the company to move forward with a recall in that country. The technical solutions can involve software as well as hardware measures.

German prosecutors investigating Volkswagen’s use of the software said Friday they’re putting together a special team of detectives to evaluate the massive amount of data seized from the vehicle manufacturer.

Volkswagen faces possible fines after USA authorities discovered it had equipped 482,000 cars with software that disabled emissions controls except when the cars were being tested.

Volkswagen is expected to create a software fix that will be implemented on all affected cars by the end of 2016.

“That a separate device was included in the redesigned 2016 cars could suggest a multi-year effort by the company to influence USA emissions tests that continued even after regulators began pressing the company last year about irregularities with the emissions produced by the older cars”.VW is now working with regulators to continue the certification process needed to sell its 2016 diesel cars.

Volkswagen has been battling to retain consumer trust after admitting it deliberately rigged diesel engines to circumvent emissions regulations.

Furthermore, the Italian police raided the Lamborghini head office in Bologna as well, with Lamborghini being the subsidiary of Volkswagen Group.

Along with Volkswagen, other brands affected by the scandal are SEAT, Audi, Skoda and commercial vehicles.

Volkswagen’s USA market share also narrowed.

Earlier, the German authorities tightened the screws on the embattled carmaker, saying it would monitor the large-scale recall across the country in order to ensure that it is indeed carried out.

Not only does the company have to report those who are responsible, it will also be paying over $7 billion for repairs required once the cars are recalled.

Meanwhile, the new chief executive of VW said the company had “a good chance of shining again in two to three years”. Volkswagen has estimated that it may have to fix as many as 11 million vehicles worldwide.

Earlier this week, the German magazine Der Spiegel reported that “at least 30 people” were involved in the deception.