'Defeat device' scam has caught up to Volkswagen in India as the German manufacturer will voluntarily recall 323,700 diesel cars after a probe by Ministry of Heavy Industries and Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) found the company using diesel engines equipped with a device to help flout pollution emission tests.
"The company will voluntarily recall 3.23 lakh vehicles, which have been fitted with the EA 189 engines that are equipped with defeat device," a senior government official told PTI.
This latest blow to the Volkswagen Group will also force Skoda and Audi to recall various models equipped with the EA 189 engines. As per the records of Volkswagen Group India, from 2008 till end of November 2015, approximately 198,500 cars from Volkswagen, 88,700 cars from ŠKODA and 36,500 cars from Audi across models sold in India have been equipped with the EA 189 engines, which include 1.2-litre, 1.5-litre, 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre diesel engines.
Volkswagen will first have to present the technical released solution to Ministry of Heavy Industries and ARAI. Once approved by the authorities, Volkswagen India will carry out necessary upgrades and changes in a step-wise manner. The government official further added, "In the wake of the scandal, India will, over the next six months, test diesel vehicles manufactured by all other carmakers to assess if the problem is industry-wide."
All the owners of vehicles with EA 189 engines will be informed by Volkswagen Group India through the respective brands about the technical measures that will be implemented in their cars. All necessary technical measures will be implemented in the vehicles at no cost to the customers.
The Indian recall comes two months after Volkswagen admitted to cheating U.S. diesel emissions tests and this is expected to affect 11 million vehicles worldwide.
Update: Volkswagen India clarifies its position in the emissions scandal
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