Volkswagen's Audi to Pay Millions to Update Engine Software in U.S. Model
24 November 2015 - 9:00PM
Dow Jones News
FRANKFURT—Volkswagen AG's premium brand Audi expects to pay a
mid-double-digit million euro amount for updating software
installed in 3.0-liter diesel engines in Audi V6 TDI U.S. models
and is seeking approval from U.S. authorities for the renewed
software.
Audi AG also acknowledged that three auxiliary emission control
devices in the engines weren't declared when it previously sought
U.S. approval. One of these devices—the software for controlling
the temperature in the exhaust-gas cleaning system—could be
considered a defeat device under U.S. law, according to a company
statement released late Monday.
In discussions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and
the California Air Resources Board late last week, Audi agreed to
revise the software and resubmit it for approval, it said. It also
agreed to extend the sales ban on the models in the U.S. until
further notice. All three brands—Audi, Porsche and Volkswagen—are
affected. The updated software will be installed once approval has
been received, the car maker said.
EPA and California regulators said Friday that all 2009-2016
Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche diesel models with three-liter engines
contain software regulators previously alleged could dupe emissions
tests, a violation of U.S. and state clean-air laws. Some 85,000
models could be affected.
Volkswagen previously disputed that its three-liter
diesel-engine models contained illegal software. U.S. and
California regulators on Friday declined to say whether the auto
maker continues to maintain that position. A Volkswagen spokeswoman
on Friday declined to comment beyond confirming that the disputed
software exists on all three-liter diesel models.
The engine was developed by Audi and is used in the Audi U.S.
models A6, A7, A8, Q5 and Q7 from model year 2009 onward.
Volkswagen uses the engine in the Touareg, while Porsche has used
it in the Cayenne since model year 2013. All affected models
continue to be safe and roadworthy, Audi said.
Audi parent Volkswagen is embroiled in a global emissions
scandal that involves diesel and gasoline engines and could
potentially cost tens of billions of euros in fines and litigation,
in addition to installing new software and hardware. It has
conceded it evaded nitrogen oxide emissions standards on up to 11
million diesel-powered cars. Also, it has said about 800,000
vehicles understate fuel consumption and emissions of carbon
dioxide, a greenhouse gas.
The emissions scandal cost Volkswagen's former chief executive
Martin Winterkorn his job and prompted the auto maker to set aside
$7.3 billion to finance the cost of fixing the tainted engines.
William Boston contributed to this article.
Write to Ulrike Dauer at ulrike.dauer@wsj.com
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
November 24, 2015 04:45 ET (09:45 GMT)
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