Same cheating devices for Audi and Porsche models in Europe

This second diesel-related notification of violation for the year from the U.S. EPA – sent to Volkswagen AG, Audi AG, Volkswagen Group of America, Porsche AG and Porsche Cars North America – outlines that the diesel engines containing the alleged defeat devices from model year 2014 through 2016 vehicles emit up to nine times the EPA’s standard of nitrogen oxide.

The first batch of affected cars, with four-cylinder diesel engines, included the following USA models: the 2009-2015 Jetta and Audi A3, the 2010-2015 Golf, and the 2012-2015 Beetle and Passat.

Separately, Volkswagen’s powerful works council chief railed against the billion-euro programme of cuts announced by management as the costs of the scandal quickly piled up.

The emissions scandal widened on Tuesday with the EPA accusing the company of concealing the level of nitrogen oxide emissions during tests with the help of a special device fitted on its larger 3.0 litre diesel engines used in large sports vehicles. On November 4 it also recalled nearly 92,000 recent models, saying they had been equipped with faulty camshaft lobes that can break, reducing braking effectiveness as well as engine power, which could increase the danger of a crash. However it reiterated that they need have no concerns over their cars’ safety. For us, the only thing that counts is the truth’.

German Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt said earlier this week that customers should not have to cough up additional levies because VW deliberately understated the vehicles’ Carbon dioxide emissions.

It is yet to say if it will pay compensation to owners. New registrations of VW-branded cars in Britain also fell 9.8 per cent last month compared with October a year ago, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said yesterday.

“Around 11 million vehicles worldwide manufactured between 2009 and 2015, including 5 million VW cars, 2.1 million Audi, 1.2 million Skoda, 700,000 Seat and 1.8. million vans, are confirmed to have been built with these so-called “defeat devices”. Volkswagen faces big fines from governments and possible criminal charges.

The EPA had ordered a recall of 482,000 cars in the United States in September after it detected the existence of a special software, which allowed cars to pass emission control tests by showing much lower levels of pollution than during ordinary use. And the company has yet to unveil the findings of an internal investigation being led by law firm Jones Day.