Volkswagen has found fixes for majority of emissions scandal models

There’s a light at the end of the tunnel for Volkswagen, at least in Europe. But USA regulators may force VW to buy back some of the affected cars, and that won’t be cheap.

The German automaker will update its emissions control software on over 85,000 Volkswagen Group vehicles equipped with the affected V6 TDI engine. He didn’t comment on what affect the fixes may have on the vehicles’ acceleration and fuel economy.

The USA agency alleges that the AECD permitted Audi to evade US emissions controls.

Volkswagen is still working on a fix for 1.2-litre motors, but said it would probably consist of a software update. The time needed for the implementation of the technical measures is expected to be less than one hour.

Volkswagen on Wednesday revealed fixes for the European diesel cars involved in its emissions scandal, saying it would require a massive recall lasting all of 2016. But Europe’s emissions rules are less strict, and VW’s fixes for those cars appear relatively simple. Details of the remedy weren’t disclosed.

EPA said Friday that Audi had told USA regulators that 3-liter diesel models since 2009 contain the AECD.

While the group did not accuse Renault of using a software to cheat emission tests, it points out that the passenger van only met pollution limits when its motor was cold. In this case, the software managed temperatures of the exhaust-cleaning system to account for the fact that engines are colder shortly after starting, Ruegheimer said.

With the solution already proposed, the longer Volkswagen waits to clue its owners in, the more frustrated they will likely be.

Audi A3 2.0-liter diesel owners will receive two $500 pre-paid gift cards as well as free roadside assistance for three years, much like the VW program. Those engines were developed by VW subsidiary Audi.

Meanwhile, Volkswagen’s Audi division will resubmit a revised version of software that the US Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board has targeted in its latest probe. The company reversed its position in a meeting between the state and Audi executives, who said that the engine did have an undisclosed software mechanism to meet emissions standards.

“One of them is regarded as a defeat device according to applicable United States law”, the company noted.