Recalled cars may not have ’defeat device’, says Volkswagen Group India

Following meetings with the Government of India and Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), VW has made no direct reference to the emission scandal in the voluntary recall of the cars. In a statement, it has instead described it as a means to keep the EA 189 engines “in line with the latest technical updates” announced for the European market, and says it believes that its cars are “not equipped with a ‘defeat device’”.

VW added that evaluations carried out under the observation of ARAI revealed that the VW, Skoda and Audi cars which have been recalled are not violating the Bharat Stage IV emissions norms. Further meetings with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways are due to take place.

The device in question, found in the cars from the VW Group in the US and Europe, detects when a car is undergoing emissions testing then alters the performance to achieve better results.

The EA 189 engine at the centre of the scandal was found to emit up to 40 times above the normal amount of nitrogen oxide in the US, and the manufacturer has admitted that 11 million diesel cars worldwide are fitted with the device.

In India, a total of 1,98,500 Volkswagens, 88,700 Skodas and 36,500 Audis have been recalled by the German company. The carmaker has claimed that the software will not affect the performance of the vehicles in question and customers with these cars that were bought between 2008 and 2015 will be contacted by the respective brands with regards to the technical changes required for their cars.