Volkswagen chalks out plan to refit cars affected by emission scandal

Of Volkswagen’s own cars, more than half a million are affected, while 393,450 Audi cars have software installed, as well as 76,773 SEATs and 131,569 Škoda vehicles.

Volkswagen confirmed that nearly 1.2 million vehicles are affected in the UK.

VW has admitted that 11 million of its diesel vehicles worldwide were fitted with defeat device software to con testers into believing their vehicles met environmental standards.

According to a statement issued by the company, customers of the affected vehicles will be informed in weeks and months and the emissions characteristics will be corrected.

VW said this equates to 3% of new vehicle stock.

The charity’s chief executive, Dr Penny Woods, said: ” It is clear there is a dire need for a commitment to routine, independent real-world testing on all cars.

Mueller said that, alongside the company’s internal probe, Volkswagen’s supervisory board has commissioned an external investigation by US law firm Jones Day, and “that will start very quickly”.

Similarly a large proportion of Volkswagen and Skoda cars are affected – 37 per cent of all diesels on the road from these two manufactuers will be recalled.

VW is working out how to refit the software in the 11 million diesel engines involved in the emissions scandal.

Spanish unit Seat has said 700,000 of its cars were also equipped with the technology.

“What is unclear is the extent of the “technical solution” or “service procedure” mentioned in Volkswagen’s press release that’s needed to make their vehicles emissions compliant”, Hilgert told ABC News.

USA lawmakers requested documents from Volkswagen and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding the automaker’s illegal software used to mask emissions for certain models of its diesel cars.

A Renault Group spokesman said: “The group complies with all regulations and legislation for the markets in which it operates”.

German prosecutors are investigating whether Martin Winterkorn, who resigned as Volkswagen CEO last week, may have committed fraud.

Analysts say the recall could cost the company a few $6.5 billion, Reuters reports.