VW reveals more cheating

The Volkswagen Group scandal over false CO2 emissions figures affects more engines than previously disclosed. The company has now identified 430,000 Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda and Seat models from the 2016 model year as part of its disclosure it may have understated CO2 emissions in up to 800,000 vehicles. Most of the powertrains affected are diesels, but the list also includes petrol engines previously not implicated in the deception. VW announced on November 3 that it investigating irregularities that may have arisen in determining the CO2 figures for type approval of about 800,000 vehicles. At the time, it named one petrol unit – the 1.4-litre ACT in Polo with cylinder on-demand technology. Its latest statement says it has identified “implausible” CO2 data in the one-litre three-cylinder TSI petrol engine used in the Polo, and Seat Ibiza and Leon hatchbacks, as well as the four-cylinder 1.8-litre TFSI offered installed in the Leon SC coupe and Sport Tourer wagon. The four-cylinder four-litre TFSI in the Golf and Passat was also listed, as are Jettas with four-cylinder 1.2 and 1.4-litre TSIs were also listed. All Audi and Skoda models listed have TDI diesel engines. Out of the 430,000 cars with false CO2 emissions, some 282,000 are VW-brand vehicles, 83,000 are Skodas, 32,000 are Seats and nearly 16,000 are Audis. Some VW Caddys and Multivans are also on the list. VW is informing the relevant type-approval authorities of the latest findings, including the German Federal Motor Transport Authority. The CO2 emissions disclosure has added a new dimension to the scandal, which previously focused on defeat devices in up to 11 million diesel cars worldwide to fool official tests for harmful NOx emissions. The CO2 deception is potentially more serious because some European countries – including Germany, France and the UK – tie vehicle road taxes to CO2 emissions. VW is talking with financial and fiscal authorities in those countries so all taxes arising inform this issue are charged to the VW Group and not its customers. VW owners may demand compensation because CO2 emissions are related to fuel economy so their cars are more costly to drive than they had been led to believe. The fuel efficiency deviations were in some cases between 10 and 15 per cent, according to VW. Click here to download list of VW Group vehicles with false CO2 data.

COMPANY MASS-MARKET MARQUES SUFFER

Volkswagen’s European sales and market share slipped in October. Across all marques, passenger car registrations in the EU and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) trading bloc rose by 2.7 per cent last month on a year ago to 1.14 million units, according to the Association of European Carmakers (ACEA). The increase marked the 26th consecutive month of growth in the region but at a slower rate than in the preceding months, although last month’s figures were for one fewer selling day than in October 2014. However, sales for the Volkswagen Group, which is Europe’s biggest carmaker, dropped 0.8 per cent last month, while its European market share slipped to 25.2 per cent – down from 26.1 per cent in the same month last year. VW’s mass-market brands suffered sales falls last month with Seat down 11.2 per cent, Skoda down 2.9 per cent and the carmaker’s namesake brand down 0.4 per cent. But premium brands Audi and Porsche recorded healthy growth by 3.5 per cent and 13.3 per cent respectively. Because car deliveries typically occur several weeks after purchase decisions, the full repercussions of the scandal, which started with VW’s admitting on September 18 that diesel-engine emissions test has been falsified, are expected to become more apparent in November’s figures. However, VW’s drop in sales in October compares with a rise of 8.3 per cent in the previous month. Overall growth in the European market last month was mainly driven by German brands Daimler and BMW, rising 20.9 per cent and 12.8 per cent respectively, and by Fiat Chrysler, which is enjoying strong sales of its new Jeep Renegade and Fiat 500X cars. The group’s overall sales rose 7.7 per cent. All the major national markets recorded sales increases in October except for the UK, where registrations fell 1.1 per cent. Among the five major markets, Italy recorded the biggest rise, of 8.6 per cent, and was followed by Spain with 5.2 per cent. In the first 10 months of this year, registrations have claimed by 8.2 per cent to 11.93m units.