In a statement released today, the Volkswagen Group admits that 11 million vehicles around the world equipped with the 2.0 TDI EA189 engine had software that circumvented anti-pollution tests.
The Volkswagen scandal broke out last Friday, when the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States revealed that almost half a million vehicles of the Volkswagen Group sold in that country, had software that allowed to bypass the emission control tests of polluting gases, violating current US environmental regulations. The fine could reach 18 billion dollars (16 billion euros) and Volkswagen has already set aside 6.5 billion euros to address the irregularities detected in the engines in question: o 2nd TDI EA189.Motorization that according to a statement from Volkswagen, equipped around 11 million vehicles worldwide. “A notable deviation between test results and road use has been demonstrated exclusively for this type of engine. Volkswagen is working intensively to eliminate these deviations through technical measures”, says the German giant in a statement.
The 6.5 billion euros will be used to cover the measures needed to regain consumer confidence and preference. According to the brand “the values in question may be subject to revaluation”. The scandal caused the company's shares on the stock exchange to sink and has already prompted a decision by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is closely following the Volkswagen scandal.
Meanwhile, US authorities have opened a criminal investigation against Volkswagen. A severe setback for the Volkswagen Group brands that have been trying for several years to increase their presence in the United States.
Source: NY Times