The number of Irish cars affected by Volkswagen’s emissions scandal totals 106,752 after the firm’s Irish operation said 27,404 privately imported used cars currently on Irish roads from Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda and Seat were also affected. It follows last week’s confirmation that 79,348 cars sold through its dealer networks were affected.
It now says 12,929 used imported Volkswagen cars, 1,117 imported VW commercials, 12,684 imported Audis and 674 imported Seats all feature in the recall.
Volkswagen Group Ireland has launched a website allowing owners to check if their cars are affected by the current scandal over software designed to cheat US emissions tests.
The website, campaigncheck.ie, is designed for Irish owners of diesel Volkswagen, Audi, Seat, Skoda and Volkswagen commercial vehicles to quickly check if their engine is one of those due to be refitted with engine management software.
They can do so by simply entering the registration of the vehicle.
The site features a statement from VW Group Ireland managing director Lars Himmer where he explains what happens next.
“In October, Volkswagen Group will present the relevant technical solutions and measures to the responsible authorities. Volkswagen has repeatedly stated that it will actively inform all the customers who are concerned and this continues to apply over the coming weeks and months.”
The scandal arose after it VW admitted that it had fitted “defeat device” software to cheat on US emissions tests for nitrogen oxide (NOx). It has since emerged up to 11 million cars may have the software fitted, including nearly 80,000 cars sold in Ireland across all four of the firm’s brands.
A further 30,000 privately imported used cars from the firm may also be on Irish roads and would also be due an engine software adjustment.
Volkswagen’s new chief executive warned yesterday that the financial impact from the company’s emissions cheating scandal would be more damaging than previously acknowledged, saying the company would delay or cancel planned new investments and might have to cut jobs.
New Volkswagen chief executive Matthias Müller signalled that the company was preparing to slash costs to help foot the bill for the diesel emissions scandal, in moves that he warned would “not be painless”.
Addressing 20,000 employees at VW’s headquarters in Wolfsburg yesterday, Mr Müller said that it was still not possible to give a final estimate for the cost of the scandal, which involves about 11 million vehicles.
He said VW would need to “save massively to manage the consequences of the crisis” and to preserve the carmaker’s “good” credit rating. It has investment grade status.
“Therefore we have initiated a further review of all planned investments,” he added. “Anything that is not absolutely necessary will be cancelled or postponed. And that’s why we will be intensifying our efficiency programme. To be clear: this will not be painless.”
It remains unclear whether the scandal could lead to job losses at VW, which employs almost 600,000 workers – about a quarter of a million more than Japan’s Toyota, which produces a similar volume of cars each year.
Mr Müller said VW would “do everything” to ensure VW continues to provide secure jobs in the future but he stopped short of providing a guarantee.
– (Additional reporting Financial Times Ltd)
