Berlin – After the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealed that Volkswagen had developed a software algorithm to cheat their emission tests, details on how many vehicles had the software activated had emerged gradually.
The company admitted that there are up to 11 million vehicles that were inserted with a piece of engine to cheat on a diesel car emissions tests. However, according to the company spokespersons, not all of them have it activated.
On Tuesday, a spokesman for the commercial vehicle units from Guenther Scherelis, which makes vans and pickups, confirmed that 1.8 million of its vehicles were fitted with the software.
SEAT has confirmed to have sold 700,000 vehicles with the EA 189 diesel engines worldwide, which Volkswagen has said to have “discrepancies.”
Since other 5 million VW brand cars, 2.1 million Audis and 1.2 million Skodas were also affected, SEAT ordered to suspend the sales of all SEAT, Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda and Volkswagen commercial vehicles. This would affect 3,320 vehicles currently in stock. Volkswagen in Sweden said 224,746 vehicles of those brands that had been sold in the Nordic country were affected.
“We expect that the number of vehicles actually affected will be smaller,” said newly appointed CEO Mueller in a speech to VW managers, since not all the vehicles had the software activated. In the coming days, customers will know if their cars are affected and technical solutions will be presented in October.
The actions taken
The German government also intervened in the scandal. According to Transport Ministry spokesman Martin Susteck, they are constantly in contact with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
European Union Industry Commissioner Elzbieta Bienkowska met with Volkswagen brand chief Herbert Diess, in Brussels. After the meeting, she commented that they were quite sure they are able to solve the software problem.
An EU representative, who remained anonymous, also said in a press release that the meeting was not about pointing fingers to others, “but to establish the facts – how many vehicles have been affected, since when and in which countries.”
Source: US News