Volkswagen stops sales of thousands of United Kingdom cars in emissions scandal

The Volkswagen Group distributor in Portugal says it sold 94,400 vehicles fitted with a diesel engine that can cheat on emissions tests.

VW said it will carry out work on vehicles fitted with EA 189 engines.

Volkswagen announced Tuesday that it will be repairing up to 11 million vehicles in an attempt to salvage its damaged reputation following its recent emission scandal.

“However it is our understanding that the software is inactive in all vehicles with the EA189 engine”, said Audi Australia general manager of corporate communications, Anna Burgdorf, when referring to Australian delivered cars.

Apart from this, Volkswagen and the other Group brands whose vehicles are affected will also present the “technical solutions and measures” to the responsible authorities in October.

In Washington, US lawmakers asked the automaker to turn over documents related to the scandal, including records concerning the development of a software program meant to defeat regulatory emissions tests. It will make changes also to 79,838 VW commercial vehicles.

The US Environmental Protection Agency found that the affected vechicles emit 10 times to 40 times the legal limit of harmful nitrogen emissions during normal driving.

It insisted that its vehicles are “technically safe”. It added that it was “committed to supporting its customers and its retailers through the coming weeks”.

Czech-based Skoda said 1.2 million of its cars were involved, but has yet to give a country or model breakdown. He was replaced by former Porsche boss Matthias Mueller. However it is not yet known whether vehicles in South Africa will be recalled.

The plan aims to recall and fix an estimated 11 million vehicles with software created to manipulate emissions testing. German prosecutors said on September 23 they were conducting a preliminary investigation into Volkswagen following a number of criminal complaints from citizens.