Volkswagen's 3.0-Liter Diesel Fix Won't Require Buybacks: Report
After agonizing over a fix for its 2.0-liter diesel models, Volkswagen is close to finalizing a plan for vehicles powered by the 3.0-liter TDI V6.
The first fix forced Volkswagen into a wildly expensive buyback-and-fix program for the nearly half million 2.0-liter TDIs sidelined by the diesel emissions scandal, but that won’t be needed for the bigger engines, sources close to the issue tell Bloomberg.
Testing is underway on a software fix for the 3.0-liters, but that could be accompanied by a catalytic converter swap, the sources say. Together, the upgrades would bring the engines into environmental compliance and keep 85,000 U.S. Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche models on the road.
No deal has yet been reached between the automaker and U.S. regulators. The Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board have to sign off on any agreement, but that side of the issue is currently on ice, given that the initial 2.0-liter agreement won’t be finalized until June 21.
The cost of all emissions fixes, including the U.S. buyback, will be covered by Volkswagen’s $18.2 billion scandal fund. If that sum doesn’t cover all expenses, a brand selloff could be in the works.
Volkswagen’s stock rose 4.7 percent after the report came out, but the automaker’s shares have failed to reach anywhere near pre-scandal values.
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I wonder who was the guy in the assembly line who actually installed the cheat device? What was his life like? Can we have a small independent film about him?
If the performance, MPG, and longevity don't change much after the fix, VW just looks stupid because they could have avoided this mess during design. If any of these items changes noticeably, VW will look stupid for offering a sub-par fix.