Dieselgate: Volkswagen Australia responds
Local VW arm breaks silence on Dieselgate issue... But there's not much newsAustralia owners of Volkswagen and Skoda models will be able to determine whether their cars feature the 'defeat' software at the centre of the global #Dieselgate emission scandal.
In the first official advice from Volkswagen Group Australia (VGA), just released, the company has announced it has launched an online tool via which owners can determine whether their car(s) are affected. The kicker however is that VGA is stating that no action is open to owners until "a technical solution is made available from the head office of Volkswagen AG".
VGA's statement in parts reads:
"Volkswagen Group Australia (VGA) today announced an online tool so that Australian Volkswagen and ŠKODA customers can check if their vehicles have the affected EA 189 diesel engines, as part of its action plan to respond to the global diesel emissions issue.
Volkswagen and ŠKODA customers who would like to find out if their vehicle is affected can enter their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the relevant brand websites: www.volkswagen.com.au, www.skoda.com.au and www.volkswagen-commercial.com.au. Volkswagen customers can also contact the customer call centre on 1800 607 822 and ŠKODA customers can call 1800 607 540.
Until a technical solution is made available from the head office of Volkswagen AG, customers do not need to take any further action."
VGA says it met with "the relevant government authorities" last week to advise them of the company's strategy in Australia.
"The first stage announced late last week involved the temporary suspension of sale of affected vehicles fitted with 1.6 or 2.0-litre EA189 diesel engines. The suspension will remain until the emission issues are addressed in those vehicles," the statement reads.
No details have been given of subsequent stages of its actions.
Volkswagen has confirmed over 72,000 Volkswagen-badged vehicles are affected. In total 5148 Skodas also have the software issue.
"Volkswagen Group Australia takes this issue extremely seriously and is continuing to gather all the facts from our head office to support any rectification plans in Australia," Volkswagen Group Australia's outgoing managing director, John White stated via the release.
"We understand the disappointment and frustration felt by our customers, dealers and partners in Australia and apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. We are doing everything possible to fix the problem and will be making further announcements in the near future," White said.
"It is important for customers to note that all affected vehicles remain technically safe and driveable and that we will contact them in time to advise what the next steps are," said White.
Yesterday new VW global chief, Mattias Muller, addressed workers at the company's Wolfsburg headquarters, promising "swift and relentless clarification" of the emissions scandal.
Muller stated that what had happened went against "everything the Group and its people stand for".
"We can and we will overcome this crisis, because Volkswagen is a group with a strong foundation. And above all because we have the best automobile team anyone could wish for," Muller stated.
But the ex-Porsche boss warned "while the technical solutions to these problems are imminent, it is not possible to quantify the commercial and financial implications at present."
"That is why we have initiated a further critical review of all planned investments. Anything that is not absolutely necessary will be cancelled or postponed. And it is why we will be intensifying the efficiency program. To be perfectly frank: this will not be a painless process," he stated.
The full list of affected turbo-diesel powered vehicles provide by VGA is below.
Volkswagen Passenger Cars (54,745 cars in total)
Golf (2009-13)
Polo (2009-14)
Jetta (2010-15)
Passat CC (2008-12)
Volkswagen CC (2011-15)
Passat (2008-15)
Eos (2008-14)
Tiguan (2008-15)
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (17,256 cars in total)
Caddy (2010-15)
Amarok (2011-12)
ŠKODA (5148 cars in total)
Octavia (2009-13)
Yeti (2011-15)
Superb (2009-15)
Audi cars are distributed in Australia through a different channel, and the local distributor is making its own arrangements independently of VGA.
Dieselgate related reading:
Huge recall planned, other brands hit
Audis affected top two million
ACCC issues statement on VW emissions saga
Müller locked in as Volkswagen CEO
BMW forced to deny emissions rigging
Volkswagen boss Winterkorn to go as crisis spreads
Dieselgate worsens, 11m vehicles could be affected
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