Volkswagen Oz recalls 61,000 'dieselgate' cars
Local VW arm readying software solution for second batch of emissions-cheating vehiclesVolkswagen has widened the net on Australian models affected by the global diesel emissions cheating scandal, recalling a further 61,000 vehicles.
After a drawn-out approval process between the federal government, the local distributor and its parent company in Germany, Volkswagen will today issue recall notices for thousands of Australian ‘dieselgate’ models including the Golf, Passat, Jetta and first-generation Tiguan.
The announcement comes 10 months after 9000 Amarok utility models were recalled, and follows what the car-maker has previously described as lengthy red tape delays in getting the fixed approved.
In a statement, Volkswagen Group Australia said that “software solutions are immediately available for more than 35,000 of these newly approved vehicles with the balance to come online shortly.
“With this announcement … total government approvals now number 70,000, including the 9000 Amarok utes recalled earlier this year.”
The recall involves certain diesel models affected by the emissions scandal, namely those fitted with EA189 diesel engines.
The fix involves changes to the software that manages the vehicle’s engine and, in some vehicles, involves a minor hardware fix. The entire process is said to take less than one hour and will be free of charge to customers.
“Major progress has been made in this process,” Volkswagen Group Australia managing director Michael Bartsch said.
“Our confidence in this solution is based on the experience of thousands of Amarok owners in Australia and more than 1.7 million customers internationally who have had the update implemented.
“The type approval authorities in Europe conducted a review and certified that following the update, the fuel figures and CO2 emissions originally listed by the manufacturer were confirmed. Engine performance, maximum torque and noise emissions were unaffected.”
Owners of affected vehicles will receive a letter from Volkswagen Group Australia, the company said, inviting them to make an appointment with their local dealer.
In August, Volkswagen shifted some of the blame for the delay in recalling its other models to the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development [DIRD], which oversees the approval process.
The German car-maker said it first filed details with the agency for rectification work of a further 70,000 vehicles in June.
In Australia there are about 90,000 Volkswagen, Skoda and Audi vehicles affected in total.
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