Headquarters in Germany announces technical correction for affected cars
Volkswagen AG has admitted its commercial vehicles arm is affected by the diesel emissions scandal that has engulfed the passenger car business, according to news reports.
Affected are 2009- to 2014-built, Euro 5, 1.6- and 2-litre, type EA 189 engines that German media reports link to Transporter, Caddy, Crafter and Amarok models.
That possibility that the unit that makes the vans was involved was canvassed in passing by German transport minister Alexander Dobrindt on Friday.
VW’s admission yesterday comes as the group’s headquarters announced an “action plan to correct the emissions characteristics of diesel vehicles” to start next month for passenger vehicles.
However, reports from Germany’s Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper quote the company’s commercial vehicles unit as saying 1.8 million of its light commercials are affected while giving no further details.
“Under the action plan, Volkswagen and the other Group brands whose vehicles are affected will present the technical solutions and measures to the responsible authorities in October,” the group says in a statement.
“Customers with these vehicles will be kept informed over the coming weeks and months.
“All of the Group brands affected will set up national websites to update customers on developments.
“An internal evaluation on Friday established that a service procedure is required for some five million vehicles from the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand out of a total eleven million Group vehicles worldwide.
“These vehicles from certain models and model years (such as the sixth generation Volkswagen Golf, the seventh generation Volkswagen Passat or the first generation Volkswagen Tiguan) are fitted with Type EA 189 diesel engines.”
Volkswagen in Australia says it is awaiting information on which vehicles in this country are involved and will advise the market as soon at it is available.