Emissions-Cheating Software Found in Volkswagen Group's 3.0-Liter Diesels: Report
Three unapproved software programs were found on Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche models outfitted with 3.0-liter diesel engines, a German newspaper reports.
The publication Bild am Sonntag said that U.S. authorities discovered the software, though it didn’t reveal a source for the information, according to Reuters (via Automotive News).
The software programs were reportedly designed to shut down the vehicle’s emissions systems after 22 minutes of driving, cheating emissions tests that normally run for 20 minutes.
The automaker recalled about 85,000 diesel-equipped Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7 and Volkswagen Touareg models in the U.S. in the wake of the diesel emissions scandal. It maintains that it will be able to fix those vehicles, which aren’t included in the $15.3 billion buyback settlement.
The California Air Resources Board recently rejected Volkswagen’s proposed 3.0-liter diesel fix, calling it “incomplete and deficient in a number of areas.” A nationwide fix for the vehicles needs approval from both CARB and the Environmental Protection Agency.
After creating a buyback program for its 475,000 U.S. 2.0-liter diesel models, the automaker wants to avoid a similar fate for its larger engines. The 3.0-liter engine is found in high-end SUVs, making any buyback program extremely costly.
Audi built the affected engines, and its engineers created the emissions-cheating “defeat device” software back in 1999. Executives from Audi will appear in a hearing with U.S. regulators on August 10, Bild am Sonntag reports.
[Image: Volkswagen of America]
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So the question for me is... Are they suggesting that penalty period might date all the way back to 1999?
Takes about about 1/2 hour to warm up for some reason, then goes like hell.
Sales of the 3.0L TDIs are already stopped here. What is the news? Was is suspected before and they finally proved it?
Why not compel VW to perform engine swaps with bigger in house engines (and all other required upgrades) or provide diesel vehicle replacements from BMW or MB, as well as cash reimbursements to owners. There should be a hefty punitive price exacted on them for this foot dragging foolishness.