Volkswagen issues India’s largest vehicle recall – Dieselgate

Volkswagen Group India will inform all customers through the respective brands about the technical measures that will be implemented in their cars and carry out the same at no cost to the customers. The vehicles are tested in-house by the manufacturer, and they come to the market with the declaration that they meet all the norms.

“Volkswagen Group India will implement technical updates in accordance with the timelines presented to the authorities”, the statement said.

Ambuj Sharma, Additional Secretary in the Heavy Industries Ministry told PTI, “From the end of this month, we will start testing all passenger diesel vehicles in India to estimate whether they have committed emission violations”.

NPR’s Sonari Glinton reports that while Volkswagen sales tanked, USA sales for vehicle companies such as General Motors, Chrysler and Toyota rose.

Apex automotive testing agency ARAI has found that diesel cars manufactured in India by Volkswagen having E189 engine were fitted with the defeat device, which may lead to excess nitrogen oxide emission levels in on-road vehicles. “The company was guilty of fitting emission cheating software in cars, calling it a “well thought-out” crime”, he said.

When asked if Volkswagen will face any penalty or action, he said MoRTH will take a decision on the matter in a couple of days.

Autocar India, Autocar Professional’s sister magazine, had exclusively reported on Monday, November 30, 2015, that the Volkswagen Group was bracing itself to initiate a recall of its cars affected by the diesel emissions scandal.

Last month the automaker was issued notice by the Indian government over the alleged charges of fudging the emission norms, as it has done in the US.

The 2.0-litre diesel engine will require a software upgrade whereas the 1.6-litre EA 189 diesel engine will need a hardware and software fix according to the company. Overall global sales at the Volkswagen brand were down 5.3% in October.

The results suggest Americans are turning their backs on the German brand since it admitted in September to installing software to cheat on emissions tests on 11 million diesel vehicles worldwide.

“Volkswagen in September halted sales of almost 500,000 diesel-powered vehicles with two-liter engines sold in the USA since 2008 that contained illegal software capable of duping emissions tests”.