Volkswagen Australia has announced its Amarok ute will be first vehicle family to undergo #Dieselgate rectification work. It says owners will be contacted via email this morning.
#Dieselgate was the name given to the scandal which found millions of Volkswagen Group vehicles were fitted with emission regulation ‘defeat’ software.
Volkswagen Australia has maintained while Australian delivered vehicles’ engine management systems included the software, there were no issues with breeching local emission limits.
In a statement just issued, the company said: "Volkswagen Group Australia has begun its voluntary recall program to address vehicles affected by the global emissions matter, starting with 8694 affected Amaroks. Other models in the program will follow in the coming months.
“Owners of affected Amarok vehicles have been contacted via email this morning, and will also receive a letter from Volkswagen Group Australia, inviting them to make an appointment with their local Volkswagen dealer.”
Volkswagen says the rectification requires only a software change and should take less than 30 minutes.
No performance changes will occur, it claims.
“Volkswagen Group Australia assures its customers that the implementation of the measure does not lead to a deterioration of the fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, engine performance, torque and vehicle acoustics and all vehicle values related to type approval remain unchanged; and continue to outperform the minimum emissions requirements of both Euro 4 and Euro 5 standards,” the statement read.
Volkswagen Australia spokesperson Kurt McGuiness told motoring.com.au: “The software update removes some lines of code. There is no engine retune.”
Volkswagen Australia says recalls for other Volkswagen Group models with the affected 2.0 litre EA189 turbo-diesel engines will “continue throughout the year, progressing model-by-model”.
Affected 1.6-litre turbo-diesel models will be dealt with “later this year”, Volkswagen said.
Volkswagen has establish a dedicated #Dieselgate customer line on tel 1800 504 076.