Volkswagen proposed a recall plan for the 2.0-litre diesel engine

On Thursday, November 19, VW and Audi’s officials told the EPA that all 3-litre diesel engines from model years 2009 through 2016 had higher emissions than allowed.

The latest allegation means that more Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche owners could face recalls of their cars to fix the software, and VW could face steeper fines and more intense scrutiny from USA regulators and lawmakers.

The confession marks the conclusion of a slow, 180-degree pivot by Volkswagen.

“Determinations regarding potential penalties and other remedies will be assessed as part of the investigation EPA has opened in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice”, an EPA spokeswoman said in a statement.

The automaker has not announced a timeline for the recall procedures since the solution still has to be approved by regulators.

The engines in question were built by Audi and distributed to Porsche and Volkswagen as well, said David Clegern, a California Air Resources Board spokesman.

The company acknowledges that so-called “auxiliary emissions control devices” – the software used to help the cars pass the tests – were “not sufficiently described and declared” for US approval, and that one “is regarded as a defeat device according to applicable USA law”.

A copy of the speech obtained by The Guardian revealed that regulators in Germany had signed off on a software update to fix 2.0-liter engines in Europe.

Audi said the focus “will be on finding quick, uncomplicated and customer-friendly solutions”.

The vehicles are the Audi A6, A7, A8, Q5, and Q7 equipped with V6 diesel engines from the 2009 model year and later.

The diesel scandal has affected more than 11 million cars worldwide with the 2.0 litre diesel engine.

Despite the upgrades, Volkswagen says while it wants to meet the emissions targets it set using the cheat software, “all model variants first have to be measured, (and) the achievement of these targets can not yet be finally confirmed”.

Clearly, VW are going to have another mess to clear up in the USA with the 3.0 litre diesel engines, but it’s unacceptable – if it proves to be the case – that they will escape any kind of sanction in Europe because the regulations are so flawed that the actual emissions of NOx are not subject to limits. They have been used in several Audi models, as well as the Volkswagen Touareg and Porsche Cayenne SUVs.