2.1m Audi models fitted with flawed emissions devices

28 Sep 2015

The Volkswagen scandal is showing no signs of letting up as its Audi brand has admitted that 2.1m cars were fitted with the flawed emissions devices, with eight models included.

Last week, Volkswagen revealed that 11m of its cars worldwide were affected, with Audi accepting that almost 20pc of those were its own models.

Leading figures at Volkswagen, Porsche and Audi have allegedly been disciplined amid the scandal, with Reuters claiming that the latter’s A1, A3, A4, A5, A6, TT, Q3 and Q5 models are affected.

So far no decision has been announced on whether or not those cars will join the 500,000 cars that parent company Volkswagen has already recalled in the US, as the messy fallout crosses the Atlantic and hits Europe.

Regardless of what ensues, the damage to the environment has already been done, with more than 1m tonnes of pollutants concealed in the last few years.

The scandal is easily one of the costliest in motor history, with Volkswagen having to set aside €5.6bn to recall the cars that had been fitted with its Type EA 189 engines.

The device in question basically reduced the amount of emissions it produced when it was being tested, reverting to higher emissions when it is sold commercially.

It’s not just Volkswagen feeling the heat, either, as last week it was revealed that the UK, French and German governments all lobbied for loopholes that would hide real emission quantities during testing.

Main image via Shutterstock

Gordon Hunt was a journalist with Silicon Republic

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