Volkswagen confirms measures needed to address 'defeat devices'

Date: 25 November 2015   |   Author:

Volkswagen has presented technical measures needed to address the 'defeat devices' fitted to a number of its vehicles in Europe, to the German Federal Motor Transport Authority.
 
The company has confirmed that 2.0-litre diesel models affected require a software update, while the relevant 1.6-litre diesels will require a 'flow transformer' to be fitted in addition to the new software. The manufacturer has stated that it is aiming for vehicles to experience "no adverse effects on fuel consumption or performance" following the updates.
 
Consequently, affected vehicles should comply with "the applicable emissions standards" after they have received new software and, in the case of the 1.6-litre engine, hardware. Meanwhile, a solution for the firm's 1.2-litre diesel engine is set to be presented to the Federal Motor Transport Authority by the end of the month.
 
The required fix for the 1.6-litre engine is likely to take less than an hour to be fitted, while the larger engine's software update should take around 30 minutes. Volkswagen is aiming to implement these updates as part of a recall to be introduced in January, with the recall process likely to extend over the whole calendar year.
 
The company has also reiterated that customers will not be left out of pocket and will be offered "appropriate replacement mobility options free of charge", should they be left without their car. Meanwhile, the other VW Group brands - Audi, Seat, Skoda and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles - are planning their own corresponding measures.

Meanwhile, a Volkswagen Commerical Vehicles spokeswoman confirmed to BusinessCar that its vehicles are not affected by irregularities over CO2 values.

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