Dieselgate: VW set to recall around 3,20,000 units in India

VW India finally wakes up

According to a report in Autocar India, Volkswagen India has admitted to the Ministry of Transport that around 3,14,000 cars were carrying the ‘defeat devices’ or software that was designed to allow cars to cheat on emission tests. With the German automaker continuing to sell cars in India despite the whistle being blown over this controversy, the number of affected cars in all likeliness is expected to go up.

President and Managing Director, Volkswagen India Private Limited, Andreas Lauermann went on to tell the website that the company’s solution for most of the engines affected by the diesel emissions scandal is the same as the one used in Europe.

Fix: Same as Europe

Earlier last month, the CEO of VW Matthias Müller had let out the corrective measures that will be adopted to fix the faulty engines. He had said that Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority has signed off on a software update to fix vehicles carrying the affected 2-liter diesel engines that were installed with the cheating software. The regulator has also given the “basic go” to a fix for the 1.6-litre vehicles that will involve replacing an air filter cartridge and grill. Details are yet to be finalised on a software fix for 1.2-litre motors. 

The carmaker claims neither solution will impact engine performance or fuel economy. However, these claims are unverified as of now.

Indian pollution norms still unclear

Another website has reported that the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) recently investigated some of VW's diesel models in India and found "significant variations" between the laboratory test figures and the actual on-road emission levels. The affected cars are said to include all cars powered by the EA189 diesel engine family, blanketing cars sold by the Volkswagen, Skoda and Audi brands.

However, it remains to be seen whether these cars are flouting the Indian norms. Allegedly, these cars are emitting three times more NOx than the permitted level in India; though that figure touches 40 in America. 

The final decision in this case is expected to come out soon as the VW officials are set to meet the government representatives this week. 

Meanwhile, the National Green Tribunal has also recently sought response from the central government and Volkswagen Group on a plea seeking a ban on manufacture and sale of Volkswagen’s cars in the country for allegedly flouting emission norms. It has asked them to reply by December 23.