Volkswagen to refit vehicles after diesel emissions scandal

Volkswagen has announced plans to refit its vehicles following the diesel emissions scandal.

The German car-maker pledged to keep drivers of affected vehicles informed “over the coming weeks and months” about what work needs to take place.

It insisted that its vehicles are “technically safe”.

The firm has admitted that 11 million of its diesel vehicles worldwide were fitted with defeat device software which conned testers into believing their vehicles met environmental standards.

The brands that had the software include five million VW cars, 2.1 million Audis, 1.8 million VW commercial vehicles, 1.2 million Skodas and 700,000 Seat vehicles.

The Environmental Protection Agency said 482,000 of VW’s 2009-15 models in the US were fitted with the sophisticated software, which switches engines to a cleaner mode when they are undergoing official testing.

Once on the road the cars produced nitrogen oxide pollutants at up to 40 times the legal standard.

VW said it will carry out work on vehicles fitted with EA 189 engines. New vehicles compliant to Euro 6 emissions standards are not affected.

The firm announced details of its plans to refit vehicles in a statement which read: “In a first step, the customers affected will be informed that the emissions characteristics of their vehicles will be corrected in the near future. All vehicles are technically safe and roadworthy.

“Under the action plan, Volkswagen and the other group brands whose vehicles are affected will present the technical solutions and measures to the responsible authorities in October.

“Customers with these vehicles will be kept informed over the coming weeks and months. All of the group brands affected will set up national websites to update customers on developments.”