<p>Volkswagen’s Indian unit has agreed to recall 3,23,000 diesel cars, starting this month, for violating the country’s anti-pollution norms, a senior government official said on Tuesday.<br /><br />In November, India found cars made by Volkswagen’s local business had violated nitrogen oxide emissions norms. The government found significantly higher variation in some of Volkswagen’s and sister brand Audi’s diesel cars.<br /><br />Ambuj Sharma, additional secretary in the ministry of heavy industries, said on Tuesday that the vehicles to be recalled by Volkswagen would also include Audi and ŠKODA cars. <br /><br />Meanwhile, Volkswagen Group India on Tuesday said the recall was voluntarily and said all the cars involved are equipped with EA 189 diesel engines.<br /><br />The EA 189 engines of Volkswagen became infamous recently after they were found to have a software that could fool emission tests in some geographies.<br /><br />Giving the breakup of the 3,23,000 diesel cars, the company said the affected brands are approximately 1,98,500 cars from Volkswagen, 88,700 cars from ŠKODA, and 36,500 cars from Audi across various models sold in India, which include 1.2-litre, 1.5-litre, 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre diesel engines. <br /><br />As per the records of Volkswagen Group India, these cars were sold from 2008 till end of November 2015, the company said in a release.<br /><br />The recall comes after the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), the government agency, found that diesel cars manufactured in India by Volkswagen having EA189 engine were fitted with the “defeat device”, which may lead to excess nitrogen oxide emission levels in on-road vehicles.<br /><br />Method of recallVolkswagen said the company will first present the technical released solution to the Ministry of Heavy Industries and ARAI. <br /><br />Once approved by the competent authorities, the respective brands of the Volkswagen Group in India will carry out necessary actions in a step-wise manner.<br /><br />The existing installed software does not affect the handling, technical safety or roadworthiness of the cars, Volkswagen group India said.</p>.<p>All the owners of vehicles with EA 189 engines will be informed by Volkswagen Group India through the respective brands about the technical measures that will be implemented in their cars. All necessary technical measures will be implemented in the vehicles at no cost to the customers, the group said.</p>.<p>Volkswagen Group India remains fully committed to the Indian market and will not deviate from its future planned investments, product plans and launches. All brands of Volkswagen Group in India will work strongly towards regaining the customer confidence and trust, the group added.</p>
<p>Volkswagen’s Indian unit has agreed to recall 3,23,000 diesel cars, starting this month, for violating the country’s anti-pollution norms, a senior government official said on Tuesday.<br /><br />In November, India found cars made by Volkswagen’s local business had violated nitrogen oxide emissions norms. The government found significantly higher variation in some of Volkswagen’s and sister brand Audi’s diesel cars.<br /><br />Ambuj Sharma, additional secretary in the ministry of heavy industries, said on Tuesday that the vehicles to be recalled by Volkswagen would also include Audi and ŠKODA cars. <br /><br />Meanwhile, Volkswagen Group India on Tuesday said the recall was voluntarily and said all the cars involved are equipped with EA 189 diesel engines.<br /><br />The EA 189 engines of Volkswagen became infamous recently after they were found to have a software that could fool emission tests in some geographies.<br /><br />Giving the breakup of the 3,23,000 diesel cars, the company said the affected brands are approximately 1,98,500 cars from Volkswagen, 88,700 cars from ŠKODA, and 36,500 cars from Audi across various models sold in India, which include 1.2-litre, 1.5-litre, 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre diesel engines. <br /><br />As per the records of Volkswagen Group India, these cars were sold from 2008 till end of November 2015, the company said in a release.<br /><br />The recall comes after the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), the government agency, found that diesel cars manufactured in India by Volkswagen having EA189 engine were fitted with the “defeat device”, which may lead to excess nitrogen oxide emission levels in on-road vehicles.<br /><br />Method of recallVolkswagen said the company will first present the technical released solution to the Ministry of Heavy Industries and ARAI. <br /><br />Once approved by the competent authorities, the respective brands of the Volkswagen Group in India will carry out necessary actions in a step-wise manner.<br /><br />The existing installed software does not affect the handling, technical safety or roadworthiness of the cars, Volkswagen group India said.</p>.<p>All the owners of vehicles with EA 189 engines will be informed by Volkswagen Group India through the respective brands about the technical measures that will be implemented in their cars. All necessary technical measures will be implemented in the vehicles at no cost to the customers, the group said.</p>.<p>Volkswagen Group India remains fully committed to the Indian market and will not deviate from its future planned investments, product plans and launches. All brands of Volkswagen Group in India will work strongly towards regaining the customer confidence and trust, the group added.</p>