VW admits 430,000 2016 models have implausible CO2 ratings

Mon, Nov 16 2015

Volkswagen finally explained more details about its CO2 rating scandal in Europe and admitted that 430,046 of the estimated 800,000 affected vehicles with "implausible" figures came from the 2016 model year. They included some from Audi, Seat, Skoda, VW, and VW Commercial Vehicles, according to the automaker's list (as a PDF). The problem mostly impacts diesel engines, but the inventory also shows some gasoline mills.

VW will next determine the accurate CO2 emissions for these vehicles, and the German Federal Vehicle and Transport Authority will supervise that process to ensure the data's veracity. The automaker will also launch websites in Europe to let owners enter their model's VIN to check whether it's affected. Because governments there often link vehicle taxes and CO2 production, the company promises to work with regulators in each country to cover any fees that result from the inaccurate figures.

VW announced the CO2 scandal earlier in November and estimated the equivalent of $2.2 billion to fix it at the time. A later report claimed that a group of engineers were responsible for fabricating the emissions data. They allegedly couldn't meet reduction goals from Martin Winterkorn, and between 2013 and this spring the workers did things like overinflate the tires during testing to achieve the desired results.

VW is also closer to a fix in the diesel emissions scandal. According to an anonymous insider to Bloomberg, the company has a repair for the 1.6-liter engine that's reportedly neither very complex nor expensive. German regulators would still need to approve the solution before it could roll out to owners.

Next step in clarifying the CO2 issue

Affected Volkswagen Group models of the current model year have been identified
Customers being informed via website

Discussions with the authorities have begun

The Volkswagen Group reports that the vehicles of the 2016 model year affected by the CO2 issue have been identified. There is thus now clarity about the new vehicles of the current model year out in the marketplace. On 3 November 2015, the Group had already reported that irregularities may have arisen in determining the CO2 figures for type approval of around 800,000 vehicles. This was identified during its own currently ongoing investigations and had been made public.

The internal investigations into the current vehicles of the 2016 model year provide results for narrowing down the actually affected vehicles with implausible CO2 figures. In total for the 2016 model year approx. 430,000 vehicles are affected across the Group. A list of the individual brands' affected models is attached.

In order to expedite any possible reassessment of the vehicles' CO2 figures without delay, the relevant authorities are being informed of the latest findings. At the same time the Volkswagen Group is informing its importers and trading partners.

The next step will now be, for example for the Volkswagen brand, for the new CO2 figures to be determined under the supervision of the German Federal Vehicle and Transport Authority (KBA).

Over the coming week, the brands' national customer information pages on the Internet will also be added to with information on the CO2 issue. By entering their vehicle identification number (VIN), customers can find out here whether their vehicle is affected. For the Volkswagen brand in Germany, for example, the link is www.volkswagen.de/info.

To what extent models of previous years are affected continues to be looked into in conjunction with the authorities. Based on what is known at present, the Volkswagen Group continues to anticipate that this will be the previously communicated total figure of around 800,000 vehicles. The Volkswagen Group is in addition already in dialogue with the respective countries' financial and fiscal authorities so that all taxes arising in direct relation to the CO2 issue are charged straight to the Volkswagen Group and not to the customers.

What is sure is that the vehicles' safety is definitely not affected and there is therefore no need for any technical measures to be taken.

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By Chris Bruce