Tag: noxgate

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Audi Skoda Volkswagen

Volkswagen Group Australia suspends TDI sales

Volkswagen Tiguan 130TDI

The noxgate issue has become very real for local car buyers after Volkswagen Group Australia this morning issued a statement announcing that all sales of models fitted with 1.6 litre and 2.0 litre EA189 diesel engines have been suspended:

“Volkswagen Group Australia (VGA) met with the relevant government authorities yesterday to advise them of its strategy in Australia to address concerns that have been raised around the world regarding the diesel emissions issue.

“In its first step, effective immediately VGA has temporarily suspended the sale of affected vehicles fitted with 1.6 or 2.0-litre EA189 diesel engines. The suspension will remain until the emission issues are addressed in those vehicles.

“VGA will make further announcements next week.”

If you already own a vehicle with one of these diesel engines it remains safe to drive.

Other Volkswagen Group models fitted with different diesel engines do not feature the controversial defeat device, designed to cheat emissions tests, and remain unaffected.

It’s understood there are over 1000 affected vehicles in holding yards around the country. A list of suspended models is shown below:

Audi

  • A4 2.0 TDI
  • A5 2.0 TDI
  • Q5 2.0 TDI

Skoda

  • Yeti
  • Superb

Volkswagen

  • Caddy
  • Jetta
  • Passat
  • Passat CC
  • Tiguan

This list may not be exhaustive, if you have concerns please check with the relevant manufacturer using the numbers below:

  • Audi: 1800 502 834
  • Skoda: 1800 607 540​
  • Volkswagen: 1800 607 822

[Source: motoring.com.au | Thanks to John for the tip]

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Porsche Volkswagen

Porsche boss takes on VW CEO position

Matthias Muller

Matthias Müller will move from his role as Porsche CEO into the Volkswagen Group CEO seat left vacant by the disgraced Martin Winterkorn.

On his appointment Müller said: “My most urgent task is to win back trust for the Volkswagen Group—by leaving no stone unturned and with maximum transparency, as well as drawing the right conclusions from the current situation.

“Under my leadership, Volkswagen will do everything it can to develop and implement the most stringent compliance and governance standards in our industry.”

Of course, you’d expect there to be glowing praise for Müller coming from inside Volkswagen and Bernd Osterloh, Chairman of the Group Works Council, has stepped up stating: “When it comes to leadership appointments the Volkswagen Group does not need hasty decisions. We know and value Matthias Müller for his determination and decisiveness. He does not work on his own, rather he is a team player. That is what Volkswagen needs now.”

Müller began his Volkswagen Group with Audi in the 1970s and and has also held positions with Seat, Lamborghini and Volkswagen during his rise to the top of the Volkswagen Group tree.

Meanwhile, Volkswagen says that five million of the 11 million vehicles affected worldwide by the noxgate scandal are Volkswagen products and those fitted with the affected EA189 2.0 TDI engines include the Golf VI, Passat VII and Tiguan.

Dr Herbert Diess, CEO of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand stressed: “We are working at full speed on a technical solution that we will present to partners, to our customers and to the public as swiftly as possible. Our aim is to inform our customers as quickly as possible, so that their vehicles comply fully with regulations. I assure you that Volkswagen will do everything humanly possible to win back the trust of our customers, the dealerships and the public.”

For its part Volkswagen Australia remains eerily silent on the issue, with no official press releases or comment on its website about the noxgate drama.

Continue reading “Porsche boss takes on VW CEO position”
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BMW

BMW responds to noxgate claims

BMW X3

German publication Auto Bild has dragged BMW into Volkswagen’s noxgate scandal. It claims the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) conducted tests on the diesel-powered BMW X3 20d Xdrive and found it produced more than 11 times the allowed NOx emissions under Euro6 regulations.

BMW has been quick to respond with an official statement saying all of its vehicles comply with relevant laws and that it “does not manipulate or rig any emissions tests.”

Despite this BMW’s shares still took a hit, although nothing as severe as we saw with Volkswagen this week. Fallout continues for Volkswagen with its CEO resigning in disgrace and expectations more executives will be moved on.

[via Jalopnik & CNBC]

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Volkswagen

Winterkorn walks over noxgate

Prof Dr Martin Winterkorn

Martin Winterkorn has resigned as Volkswagen Group CEO over the noxgate scandal. He has released a media statement which reads:

I am shocked by the events of the past few days. Above all, I am stunned that misconduct on such a scale was possible in the Volkswagen Group.

As CEO I accept responsibility for the irregularities that have been found in diesel engines and have therefore requested the Supervisory Board to agree on terminating my function as CEO of the Volkswagen Group. I am doing this in the interests of the company even though I am not aware of any wrong doing on my part.

Volkswagen needs a fresh start – also in terms of personnel. I am clearing the way for this fresh start with my resignation.

I have always been driven by my desire to serve this company, especially our customers and employees. Volkswagen has been, is and will always be my life.

The process of clarification and transparency must continue. This is the only way to win back trust. I am convinced that the Volkswagen Group and its team will overcome this grave crisis.

The Executive Committee of Volkswagen’s Supervisory Board has responded with nine conclusions, which include thanking Winterkorn for his leadership and offer to resign as well as clearing the pathway for more management exits to follow in light of possible criminal proceedings. You can read the board’s statements below.

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Audi Video Volkswagen

Volkswagen CEO’s mea culpa on noxgate

Prof Dr Martin Winterkorn, Volkswagen AG CEO, offers up this mea culpa in response to noxgate; the diesel NOx emissions issue which Volkswagen says affects up to 11 million vehicles worldwide.

In a new statement Volkswagen says all new diesel vehicles which meet EU6 emissions are not affected by this scandal. However, if your diesel powered Volkswagen or Audi A3 is powered by an EA189 2.0 TDI engine then your car is right in the middle of the deceit which Volkswagen has overseen.

For some technical explanation as to why Volkswagen might have thought cheating emissions tests was a good idea, check out this reddit thread.

This is going to be a very sticky mess for Volkswagen to extricate itself from.

If you own a car affected by this deceit please tell us below how you feel. Can Volkswagen ever win back your trust?

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Categories
Audi Volkswagen

Volkswagen shares go up in smoke

VW Golf GTD

Volkswagen’s shares have plummeted more than 18% in Germany as the company suffers the fallout from its diesel emissions scandal in the United States.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency Volkswagen and Audi are in breach of California’s Clean Air Act after the manufacturers created software to deliberately cheat emissions testing. As a result, the EPA claims four-cylinder diesel powered models built between 2009–15 emit as much as 40 times more nitrogen oxides (NOx) than tests showed.

Over 480,000 vehicles are affected and Volkswagen could face penalties of up to US$18 billion, with fines of US$37,500 per vehicle in breach of the relevant laws.

“Using a defeat device in cars to evade clean air standards is illegal and a threat to public health,” said Cynthia Giles, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Working closely with the California Air Resources Board, EPA is committed to making sure that all automakers play by the same rules. EPA will continue to investigate these very serious matters.”

For its part Volkswagen is preparing to take its medicine with Martin Winterkorn, Volkswagen AG CEO, issuing a statement apologising for the breaches.

“I personally am deeply sorry that we have broken the trust of our customers and the public,” Winterkorn said. “We will cooperate fully with the responsible agencies, with transparency and urgency, to clearly, openly, and completely establish all of the facts of this case.

“We do not and will not tolerate violations of any kind of our internal rules or of the law,” Winterkorn added. “The trust of our customers and the public is and continues to be our most important asset.”

Affected diesel-powered models include:

  • Audi A3 (Model Years 2009–2015)
  • Beetle (Model Years 2009–2015)
  • Golf (Model Years 2009–2015)
  • Jetta (Model Years 2009–2015)
  • Passat (Model Years 2009–2015)
Continue reading “Volkswagen shares go up in smoke”