Tuesday 17 January 2017

EPA and CARB approve VW dieselgate 'fix'

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Registration Board (CARB) have a proved a 'fix' for 67,000 of the 475,000 Volkswagen and Audi 2-litre diesel engines programmed to 'cheat' US emissions tests.
Late last month, the EPA reached a settlement with VW in respect of 80,000 vehicles with 3-litre V6 Diesel engines. Such engines appear in Audi, Porsche and VW cars and SUVs.
This deal, which will cost VW some $1 billion, allows owners of 20,000 vehicles the opportunity of 'buyback', leaving VW with the view that it can 'repair' the other 60,000 units. Further compensation may be offered but details have yet to be revealed.
However, in respect of the 2-litre diesel engines, which are also the subject of 'cheating' allegations, it is understood both the EPA and VW claim the new 'fix' will not affect the economy, reliability or driving characteristics of the vehicles affected.
Some 58,000 of the 67,000 vehicles are in the hands of owners with the remaining 9,000 in dealerships. He 'fix' affects 2015 Beetles, Beetle Convertibles, Golfs, Golf Sportwagons, Jettas, Passats and Audi A3s.
The 'fix' does not apply to older Audi and VW vehicles dating back to 2009, even though it is understood VW has submitted  a 'fix' for these and for which the EPA has yet to approve.
It is understood the 'fix' for the 2-litre engines is undertaken in two stages. The first stage involves software reprogramming while the second stage, taking place a year later, involves fitment of a particulate filter.
The fix is part of a $15 billion settlement approved last October by a Federal judge. Under this, owners and lease owners could sell their vehicles back to Volkswagen or have them repaired by the company.
As of 3 January 2017, VW has bought back some 36,000 vehicles and scheduled 130,000 appointments for future ‘buy backs’.


1 comment:

Alan Bunting said...

Once again VW, this time with the EPA agreeing with the claim, asserts that its 'fix' for its 2 litre diesels 'will not affect the economy, reliability or driving characteristics' of the vehicles involved. If that's the case, the EPA should be asking why the emissions test cheating was necessary? It looks like on some models it saved the up-front cost of a DPF, but where it's just a software reprogramming, there's no logical answer to the 'why cheat?' question.