Wolfsburg, Germany - Volkswagen says it has found technical solutions for more than 90 percent of the vehicles affected in Europe.
The recall process is now viable “technically, financially and in terms of manpower”, according to chief executive Matthias Mueller.
““For over 90 percent of the Europe group's vehicles, solutions are now confirmed,” he told about 1000 VW executives at the company's headquarters in Wolfsburg, without giving more detailed figures.
Volkswagen has admitted to fitting 11 million diesel engines worldwide with sophisticated software designed to skew the results of tests for nitrogen oxide emissions.
That admission has triggered both regulatory and criminal investigations in several countries, including Germany and the United States.
READ MORE
#Dieselgate spotlight falls on Bosch
Volkswagen has subsequently revealed that beyond the nitrogen oxide scam, it had also understated carbon dioxide emissions of 800 000 vehicles, including petrol cars.
It now faces the sizeable task of recalling 8.5 million vehicles throughout Europe including Audis, Seats and Skodas as well as its trucks and commercial vehicles.
Mueller has promised that the company would submit its recall plans to German authorities by the end of November.
The fixes will range from simple software update for two-litre diesel engines, to more complex solutions for 1.6-litre models.
Mueller said VW's internal enquiry into the scandal was “very complex” and would take many months to complete, though he promised a report on its progress in mid-December.
“Our main concern is not sales figures or operating results. Our main concern is the credibility and confidence in our brands,” he added.
Volkswagen car sales fell 5.3 percent in October as the pollution cheating storm hit European demand.
#DIESELGATE TO COST AUDI €50 MILLION
Meanwhile, Audi has said it will spend about €50 million (R750 million) upgrading software that regulators believe flouts US pollution limits in larger diesel cars in the US.
The repairs will cover auxiliary emission control devices for V6 three-litre turbodiesel cars that the Environmental Protection Agency has since early November alleged violate US emissions laws.
The EPA said on Friday that Audi had told US regulators all three-litre diesel models since 2009 contained the device; it alleges the AECD enabled the cars to evade US emissions controls.
Audi maintains that the system was not devised to evade the emissions limits, but to redirect gases in order to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide.
However, Audi has admitted it did not disclose the AECDs as required under US law.
The models affected are the A6, A7, A8, Q5 and Q7. The problem affects about 85 000 Audi, Porsche and Volkswagen vehicles in the United States.
AFP
TALK TO US: