Volkswagen emissions news reignites models with diesel engines

Volkswagen’s emissions cheating scandal widened Friday after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said the German automaker used software to cheat on pollution tests on more six-cylinder diesel vehicles than originally thought.

But on Thursday, the German car-maker told the EPA and California Air Resources Board that the same software is on vehicles going back to the 2009 model year.

As a result of this admission, EPA and ARB will continue to investigate and take whatever action is necessary and appropriate under the enforcement authority that they have.

Following the latest revelation, it remains unclear precisely how many Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche vehicles were equipped with emissions-control software in the United States and the rest of the world. The charges applied to VW and Audi vehicles from model years 2009 through 2015 that were equipped with 2.0 liter diesel engines.

Audi of America had previously issued a stop-sale order for the A6 Quattro, A7 Quattro, A8, A8L and Q5 models from the 2013 to 2016 model years, company spokeswoman Jeri Ward said.

Audi spokesman Brad Stertz conceded that VW never told regulators about the software, in violation of US law.

Since their initial scandal regarding gas emissions, Volkswagen has been facing a lot of trouble regarding their diesel cars, and the company may even have to recall a number of their cars.

Earlier this month the auto giant offered £650 in gift cards and vouchers to customers caught up in emissions cheating scandal in a move which will cost it £313 million.

Steiner is expected to conduct talks with regulatory agencies in the USA and other markets in regards to the higher nitrogen oxide emissions now believed to have been generated by VW AG cars, as well as the misstated Carbon dioxide figures involving another large group of vehicles.

A fix has yet to be announced, but a solution to the problem is likely to either hurt the cars’ fuel economy or their performance on the road.

Many VW owners are angry at the automaker and want the manufacturer to buy back their cars.

Volkswagen AG now admits the emissions issue concerns the models named by the EPA, indicating that models from the 2009 through the 2016 model years are affected.